The speed with which operators have deployed digital simulcast is exhibit A. But hold on tight. According to a paper delivered at the SCTE Conference on Emerging Technologies by Adelphia Manager of Advanced Video and Development Basil Badawiyeh, additional simulcast waves (of HD/SD, for instance) are likely to follow. The rise of switched digital video is exhibit B. Drawn from another paper presented at ET by Scientific-Atlanta Director of Network Architecture Lorenzo Bombelli, the related article in this issue indicates significant collaboration between S-A and switched digital pioneer BigBand Networks that may help propel deployments both further within and beyond Time Warner Cable. Also note related developments at Comcast Media Center and NCTC. "Members have adopted digital as a good thing," said NCTC VP Hardware Alan Tschirner. "They’re putting it out as an offensive tool, so they’re getting their box counts up." Meanwhile, some NCTC members are considering whether to leapfrog their larger brethren with the CMC’s Headend in the Sky (HITS) Total Digital solution. "We believe it’s imperative (that some smaller operators) get to the point where they’re…actually operating in an all-digital environment as quickly as possible," said CMC SVP and COO Gary Traver. Did I mention Comcast’s video on demand (VOD) numbers and its real next generation (RNG) set-tops? Expansion of Time Warner’s StartOver service? Industry-wide commitments to downloadable security? Competition? Jonathan Tombes

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Next Frontier: CableLabs Explores More than Speed Connectivity Era

Internet speed records are all the rage these days, with two separate breakthroughs making the headlines recently. One is more in the distant future, but the other hits closer to home.

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