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We speak to Jeff Finkelstein, Senior Director of Network Architecture at Cox Communications.

What developments have you witnessed in the IP cable industry in the past 12 months?

Two significant events come to mind - the beginning of the transition to IP video, and IPv6 deployments.

What impact is the move to IP cable having on your business?

It is causing us to rethink how we deliver video across our network. IP video changes the dynamics of how much bandwidth we need to allocate throughout the network. Unicast and multicast delivery, CDN deployments, IPG, all require new thinking when we consider the paradigm shift in comparison to legacy video delivery.

Does the move to IP cable place an operator on an equal technological footing as, for example, an IPTV rival?

From an ecosystem perspective they may be the same, depending on the specific implementation - it is the delivery vehicle of coaxial cable vs copper vs fibre vs wireless that will differentiate the technology for the customer.

What technological challenges do you believe remain in the migration to IP cable?

I believe there are five areas we need to focus on: we need a common service oriented architecture and service delivery platform to have a consistent OSS/BSS view into the backend for delivery IP video; we need the content user's request to be delivered in the correct format for them to view it with an optimal experience; our user interface must be consistent across all delivery platforms; home gateway devices have become key components for a quality in-home experience; and finally, as service and content providers we must improve our own networks in order to better deal with network growth, security, and dynamic shifts based on current events.

Is the business case for migration to IP cable watertight?

There is little doubt that it is an expensive step to transition to IP video delivery, but it does not have to be done overnight. We can break it into small steps that allow us to spread the cost over many years.

Will all cable TV services eventually incorporate some element of IP delivery?

In many ways we have already begun that process. Many of us already deliver video across our backbone and metro networks using IP. It is only at the edge that we convert video to QAM's. It is just a matter of time until we push IP delivery all the way into the home.

What new business models have arisen with the growth of IP cable?

The primary one to me is the network as a service (NAAS). There are four logical entities in any IP video delivery ecosystem: the physical layer, where the physical cables and electronic components exist to transmit signals through the network; the MAC layer, where media conversion occurs (DOCSIS, PON, 4G, etc.) before transmission to the customer; the routing layer, where packets are routed throughout the network; and the content layer, where content is either created or retransmitted through the lower layers to the customer.

One thing IP video brings into the mix is the ability for the customer to choose their content provider. By creating a NAAS architecture we are able to still monetise the delivery of content to the customer and work out business relationships between content creators and content providers.

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