Cable Telephony

Experiments in providing voice service over cable television systems occurred as long ago as 1979, though it was not until the craze over convergence in the mid 1990s that the world took seriously the idea that both residential and business customers could subscribe to telephony, Internet, and entertainment services through a single cable provider.

AT&T started the industry in early 1999 when, on the heels of its merger with Tele-Communications, Inc., it announced it was forming a joint venture with Time Warner Inc. to offer cable telephony though Time Warner s cable lines in 33 states, giving AT&T access to a total of more than 40% of U.S. households. Services would include multiple phone lines per household, conference calling, call waiting, call forwarding, and individual message boxes.

Ironically, announcements such as these have frightened the Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOCs) to the point where they are offering video services over xDSL in an attempt to nullify cable s intrusion into their territory! But that is another story.

Cable networks are a force to be reckoned with among broadband technologies, and there is little doubt that cable modems will be showing up in quite a few small offices and homes over the next few years. And while it hasn t been accompanied by the same amount of mainstream fanfare, one can argue without much hesitation that voice is going to be a key part of those bundled cable services. Cable telephony is already a reality, and quality Voice-over-IP for cable networks is...