2020 Progress Update: The 10G Platform
Originally posted on 10GPlatform.com The global technology community is about to descend on Las Vegas next week for CES 2020 and one common element of just about every device, service and technology that will be featured is how connectivity – and increasing bandwidth – are powering a whole range of immersive consumer experiences. This trend isn’t surprising, new or groundbreaking but underscores the need for powerful networks to keep up with our digital demands. In anticipation of this growing demand for more bandwidth and uninterrupted connectivity, the broadband industry led by NCTA – The
Reflecting on 2019's Significant Industry Moments
As we approach the end of 2019, and get ready for what will be a busy 2020, we wanted to highlight some key initiatives and milestones that cable providers and TV networks achieved over the last year. It’s been a great year and decade for TV and the internet, and it will be fascinating to see what’s in store for 2020 and beyond. Introduction of 10G In January at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), NCTA – The Internet & Television Association, CableLabs and Cable Europe introduced the cable’s vision for delivering 10 gigabit networks, or 10G™, to consumers in the United States and across the
Cable TV Networks Give Back Year Round
The season for giving continues, but members of the cable industry have programs in place year-round to ensure that kids, needy families, schools, and communities worldwide receive the funds and resources they need to thrive. Cable TV networks in particular have a large reach and impact when it comes to the millions and millions of people they touch around the world through the shows and entertainment they produce, so it makes sense that these networks make it a priority to give back to the viewers and audiences that support them. Through programs that encourage employee volunteerism to
Then and Now: How Broadband Advancement Powered the Decade
The last ten years saw digital assistants, smart light bulbs, streaming sticks, and tons of other disruptive technologies. Those innovations require a steady internet connection to do their jobs, something we now take as a given. That’s because over the last decade, both broadband adoption and speeds saw massive growth. At the end of 2009, just over half of Americans had a broadband connection. Today, that number has grown to 80 percent. Not only are more Americans connected, their connections are faster. According to Akamai, the average peak connection speed in the US was 3.8 Mbps in 2009
Discovery's Spielberg Docuseries Explores 'Why We Hate'
Earlier this fall, Discovery Channel came out with a six-part docuseries that hones in on a unique topic that isn't normally examined or discussed in depth for television entertainment: the human condition of hate. Executive produced by Steven Spielberg and Alex Gibney, "Why We Hate" was first born out of a conversation between Spielberg and Discovery CEO David Zaslav about a passion project they could produce that would have a large global reach and impact—something that Discovery's programming is known for. "It's not just an exploration of the origins and stories about hate, but it also has
Streaming the Decade
Back in 2009, binging a TV show usually meant buying each season on DVD and watching every episode on a TV or laptop with a DVD drive. Maybe if the show was new enough, it would have full seasons available for purchase on iTunes. Or perhaps you were able to find old episodes on-demand to catch up on the latest season. But for the most part, the TV watching experience looked a lot like it had for decades; tune in on time or record the episode to watch later. The next decade would change how we watch and even think about TV. Disc drives have mostly been phased out of computers, and many people
Working Towards Digital Inclusion for Americans with Disabilities
Today, on International Day of Disabled Persons, it's important not only to raise public awareness about people with disabilities, but also to find ways to further empower and equip these individuals with the tools to become participants in our digital economy. Unfortunately, people with disabilities are almost three times less likely to use the internet than those without disabilities, according to research studies. In 2017, Pew Research Center came out with a report that revealed that 23% of people with disabilities said they "never" went online, compared to 8% of those without disabilities
How America's ISPs Are Giving Back to Their Communities
As Americans prepare to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, it's a good reminder for many during the "giving season" to lend a hand to those less fortunate, and to join efforts to revitalize communities in need of help. Many in fact are already doing so through philanthropic initiatives led by America's broadband providers. Very few industries have the reach that cable ISPs have when it comes to interacting with residents in every region of the country. They connect with communities everyday not just through their internet services and products, but through community events, partnerships, and
The Rapid Rise of Esports, Powered by Fast Broadband
Eager fans fill an arena, proudly wearing their favorite player’s jersey. But this isn’t a football game; the crowds are cheering on professional gamers as they compete live alongside their teammates for the championship. This is esports, and it represents a rapidly growing new form of entertainment. Take the fun of video games and combine it with the spectacle of live sports, and it’s no surprise that 84 million Americans are expected call themselves fans by 2021, surpassing all other professional sports leagues but the NFL. In fact, 44 percent of Gen Z say they’ve watched an esports match
How Technetix, NCTA's Newest Member, is Preparing Cable Networks for the Future
Broadband networks have completely transformed life in almost every way possible over the past several decades. Advanced technologies like virtual reality, augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and holograms all rely on the robust broadband networks that internet service providers build and continue to upgrade as the 10G future looms near. In turn, ISPs rely on their partnerships with technology providers to continue to innovate and evolve their networks. Technetix, a global cable broadband technology provider and new member of NCTA, plays a large role in bringing networks up to speed