Abstract
The success of any triple-play service offered by a teleco or a cable
television operator assumes that the integrated solution offers conveniences
and economies for the customers. Our thesis is that final success in the last
mile may well be determined by the nature of the interface that each carrier
can provide to their end customer. Telcos and CATV providers are pouring
billions of dollars into their network upgrades, with the lion' s share of new
investments going into the network' s edge. Witness the Verizon and SBC
investments pushing fiber into the last mile. For cable operators, investments
have revolved around new set top boxes, cable modems, and residential gateways.
This report examines the various options for a user interface between the
network edge and the end user. That interface could be as simple as a cell
phone or as complex as a portable interactive gaming machine; it could be
tethered to a broadband connection or use wireless technology. Either way,
efforts over the past year have demonstrated that the entire entertainment
delivery value chain is about to drastically change. To understand how new
interface options will impact your network operations, read this report.
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