DOCSIS 3.0 is also seen as one way to increase available spectrum because it removes some of the video from the multicast stream that is part of the traditional spectrum.

The recent announcement by Comcast that it will trial IP video services later this year using the new DOCSIS 3.0 data networking standard highlights the keen interest many cable operators around the world are showing in the possibilities of IPTV.

“The consequences for equipment vendors will be enormous,” says Schatt. “North American cable operators collectively spent more than $80 billion on network upgrades in recent years, and now they’ll have to spend freely once more: the change to IP video affects not only core headend equipment, but the set-top boxes found in every household served by cable. This is going to create a huge equipment turnover.”

source: tvover.net