The word "home" has been redefined over the past 21 months during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. For millions of people, the home has become and continues to be a virtual workplace, school, doctor's office, and entertainment space all at the same time. And as technologies advance and even more of society's needs move online, American homes will transform into smart homes that hold a limitless number of connected devices which communicate seamlessly with one another. Fortunately, the cable industry has long prepared its broadband networks to support multi-person households and the myriad of digital needs that lie further ahead. In fact, cable operators are ahead of the curve with developments underway to bring 10 gigabit speeds to households across the country.
Another Step Forward
In 2021, the cable industry's 10G initiative, which first launched in 2019, gained ground when a lab test conducted by Comcast achieved a 10 Gbps connection from network to device for the first time during the SCTE Cable-Tec Expo. The Full Duplex DOCSIS 4.0 technology unlocks multigigabit upload and download speeds over connections already installed in homes, and will be the key to delivering the next-generation speeds that American households will need and rely on.
The 10G Challenge is another initiative created in 2021 that will help businesses, technology leaders, entrepreneurs, engineers, and innovators get started on developing the applications and services that will make the most of a 10G network. Created by CableLabs and SCTE, the contest aims to inspire solutions that will transform the way Americans live, work, learn, and play.
The Future 10G Home
There is no doubt that one of the areas in which a 10G connection will make a huge impact on is the average American home. This is where many of these next-generation technologies will live and enable rich and immersive experiences for distance learning, remote work, telehealth, and entertainment. From home automation, 3D interactivity, connected kitchens, esports, mental and physical fitness wellness wearables, to holograms and light field tables, a 10G broadband network will be a critical component in the home that will deliver the kind of speeds, security, and reliability that bandwidth-heavy technologies and applications require.
While the future is hard to predict with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, one thing is certain. The power of broadband and the upcoming potential of 10G will create a pathway of limitless possibilities in every realm of life, even from just within the walls of an American home.