 The factors that will shape the future of the headend, the heart of precision
CATV activity, are already at work, changing the industry. Many challenging technology drivers are now converging, including the competitive necessity to accommodate services like these:
• High-definition TV (HDTV)
• Interactive TV services
• Video on demand (VOD)
• Internet telephony (VoIP)
• High-speed data transmission
• Targeted advertising (zoning)
• Personal communications services (PCS)
• The proliferation of educational and government channels
• Headend consolidation
By 2007, all broadcast television will be digital – by law, and satellite networks have
already made the switch. Analog audio will remain viable in the headend – in order to
serve both digital and analog technologies – but certainly by 2008 the overwhelming
majority of services will be digitally-based. To handle this technology evolution, headend cables will need to be increasingly more high-end in nature. Belden stands alone in its ability to offer a variety of high quality, high reliability cables for every facet of the headend. |