The future of connectivity will be built on networks that deliver seamless customer experiences. To differentiate themselves in the broadband market, operators must embrace relentless innovation and adaptive service models centered on network evolution, monetization strategies and enhanced user experiences.

As networks evolve beyond traditional boundaries, CableLabs’ ongoing commitment to network platform development, standards and specifications, and vendor interoperability provides a foundation for continuous service innovation.

The shift from infrastructure-centric competition to service-driven differentiation demands a new approach to service delivery. The convergence of fixed and mobile networks — and rapid advancements in satellite network technology — will empower operators to offer next-generation services.

Partnering for Progress in Next-Gen Connectivity

Key to advancing seamless connectivity services is collaborative innovation and problem-solving — a tenet of the Technology Vision for the future of the industry. By joining forces with others in the ecosystem, CableLabs, our member operators and the vendor community can align goals, bring together diverse perspectives, and accelerate the innovation and deployment of new services.

Below, we break down some of the areas of opportunity for differentiated services, what operators should consider now and how they — and other industry stakeholders — can engage with CableLabs in this work.

Fixed Network Evolution: Weighing the Benefits of PON

To meet growing demand for broadband, operators must ensure their networks can deliver higher capacity, lower latency and increased reliability. Passive optical networks (PONs) offer one strategic option to achieve these goals by:

• Extending fiber deeper into networks while maintaining cost efficiency.
• Enabling multi-gigabit speeds and supporting advanced applications to enhance service offerings.
• Providing a scalable foundation for emerging demands such as enterprise SD-WAN, Internet of Things (IoT) and AI-powered services.

Of course, DOCSIS-based HFC networks can also support many of these capabilities, but PON presents an alternative path that could align with some operators’ long-term strategies.

However, deciding when to transition to PON requires careful consideration. Here are three key indicators that may signal the right time to move forward:

• Capacity Constraints and Network Performance: If existing hybrid fiber coax (HFC) networks are approaching capacity limits, PON is one option that can provide the scalability needed to support data-heavy applications like cloud gaming and 8K streaming. When congestion and reliability issues impact quality of experience, operators should assess whether PON can improve performance.
• Long-Term Cost and Infrastructure Strategy: PON simplifies network architecture and supports higher-density service areas. In many cases, it may be a cost-effective long-term investment for operators looking to expand fiber deeper into their networks.

Operator Takeaway: Before switching to PON, operators should consider whether it could help them maximize investment returns and stay ahead of industry demands by aligning network evolution strategies with business objectives.

Advanced Optics: A Path Toward Coherent PON

Advanced optics play a critical role in ensuring that networks can deliver multi-gigabit speeds, support low-latency applications and optimize fiber deployments for both residential and enterprise customers. To meet growing demand, operators need fiber-optic solutions that can scale to meet increasing bandwidth and reliability requirements.

Investing in next-generation optical technologies allows operators to:

• Maximize fiber network efficiency by increasing capacity without requiring excessive infrastructure overhauls.
• Deliver higher-speed, lower-latency services to meet the needs of ultra-HD streaming, cloud gaming and AI-driven applications.
• Prepare for future speeds of 10G and beyond by leveraging advanced optical transport solutions that enable seamless scalability.

Designed for long-term scalability, Coherent PON (CPON) is one such solution. It allows for multi-gigabit symmetrical speeds while also reaching farther and splitting higher, and it improves on spectral efficiency relative to traditional PON technology. It is ideal for high-density areas, enterprise services and next-generation applications that require higher fiber capacity and lower latency.

Operator Takeaway: There is no one-size-fits-all approach to optical network evolution. Operators must assess their growth objectives, market conditions and infrastructure readiness to determine the best path for the future.

Fixed-Mobile Convergence: Leveraging the HFC Network

Fixed-mobile convergence (FMC) is emerging as a key strategy that allows operators to deliver a consistent connectivity experience across broadband, Wi-Fi, cellular and, in the future, satellite networks. As consumer demand for seamless, always-connected experiences grows, operators must find ways to integrate fixed and mobile networks to provide a more unified service.

By leveraging the HFC network for FMC, operators can:

• Reduce reliance on costly mobile spectrum by offloading mobile data to fixed networks where possible.
• Improve customer experience without service disruptions.
• Optimize network efficiency by dynamically routing traffic based on capacity and cost.

FMC allows operators to maximize their existing fixed network infrastructure while enhancing mobile service capabilities. Here’s how operators can take advantage of this shift:

• Wi-Fi Offload: Operators with extensive HFC deployments can offload mobile traffic to their Wi-Fi networks. This reduces cellular network congestion and improves performance by leveraging home and public Wi-Fi hotspots to supplement mobile coverage.
• Seamless Network Handoffs: With improved integration between fixed and mobile networks, as well as network intelligence, users can transition between fixed broadband and mobile networks without disruption. This is an important way to improve customer satisfaction in densely populated areas where mobile networks may experience congestion.

Operator Takeaway: Fixed-mobile convergence represents the next phase in network evolution, offering cost efficiencies, improved service reliability and a superior user experience. Operators who invest in HFC-driven FMC solutions will be well-positioned to compete in a world where customers expect continuous, high-quality connectivity across all their devices.

Security and Privacy: Leveraging Security as a Competitive Advantage

In today’s digital landscape, network security and data privacy are no longer just compliance requirements — they have become key differentiators that influence customer trust, retention and revenue growth. With cyber threats increasing in both sophistication and frequency, operators must move beyond reactive security measures and instead offer proactive, built-in security features that enhance service value.

Investing in advanced security and privacy solutions enables operators to:

• Differentiate their services by highlighting existing premium security features in networks that customers may not see from competitors.
• Reduce operational risks by preventing cyberattacks that could result in downtime, data breaches or regulatory action.
• Enhance customer trust and loyalty by providing robust protections for user data and privacy.

When security is viewed as a revenue driver rather than a cost center, operators can create value-added services by leveraging cutting-edge technology to protect network and customer data. Here’s how:

• In-Home Security: Enabling experiences in the home that are built upon a security foundation for device connectivity, making secure living easy and automated while providing peace of mind.
• Infrastructure and Operations Security: Implementing zero trust architectures ensures that network components don’t rely upon geography for security, but that every element is credentialed and authenticated. This creates challenges for adversarial lateral movement within the network and enhances security for both consumers and enterprises.
• Privacy-Enhancing Technologies: With increasing regulatory scrutiny on data privacy, operators can differentiate themselves by implementing confidentiality in communications — led by cable networks, through secure onboarding of devices and privacy-preserving practices pioneered by the cable industry.

Operator Takeaway: Security and privacy are no longer just back-end considerations. They are now frontline competitive advantages that impact customer decisions. Operators that proactively integrate zero trust security, privacy-enhancing technologies and intelligent threat detection into their service offerings will not only protect their networks but also gain a strategic edge in the market.

Next Steps for Investment in Service Innovation

Continuous service innovation is the heartbeat of the broadband industry. By investing strategically in network evolution, security and service integration, operators position themselves to capture new revenue opportunities and maintain market leadership.

The path forward for market differentiation begins with a careful assessment of where to invest and what to prioritize. If you’re an operator, here’s how to get started.

• Identify Market Gaps: Start by conducting thorough market research, including customer insights and competitor analysis. Using this analysis, identify unmet customer needs and competitive gaps to inform your technology investment strategy and service development roadmap.
• Leverage Industry Collaboration: Industry collaboration accelerates innovation while reducing individual risk. Participation in working groups and interoperability events helps operators share knowledge, validate solutions and ensure compatibility across vendor ecosystems while leveraging emerging technologies to differentiate.
• Adopt Emerging Technologies Strategically: Prioritize investments that align with long-term service objectives and focus on network upgrades that enable multiple service opportunities rather than single-use solutions.
• Measure ROI and Market Impact: Track key performance indicators such as customer response, technology performance and revenue indicators to measure implementation success. Adjust strategies and next steps based on market response.

Accelerating Service Differentiation Through Collaborative Innovation

While collaboration may seem counterintuitive as a differentiation method, working with other industry stakeholders is one of the best ways to develop scalable, real-world solutions that meet user needs. Industry collaboration drives standardization, accelerates technology adoption and reduces deployment risks. Without it, operator capabilities may be limited and could result in lost growth opportunities, poor user experiences and lagging innovation.

CableLabs remains committed to bringing the industry together by fostering collaboration among our member operators and the vendor community. Working groups, Interop·Labs events and other joint initiatives give operators a platform to help shape the networks of tomorrow by pooling resources, sharing best practices and developing interoperable solutions.

Our member operators can explore the newly updated member portal for details about our ongoing work and how to get involved in our projects, or learn more about working groups using the button below.

Are you ready to strategize and share at CableLabs Winter Conference 2025? In just a few weeks, an exclusive gathering of CableLabs member operators, approved vendors and industry thought leaders will meet in Orlando, Florida, to discuss and collaborate on how to move the industry forward.

Join us March 10–13 as we work to unlock the value of seamless connectivity and capitalize on the opportunities ahead. Member registration closes Monday, February 24. Secure your spot to take part in charting a course for success in the next era of connectivity.

The Path Ahead

Winter Conference sessions will be an in-depth exploration of the Technology Vision, with each session highlighting individual aspects of the framework — the architectures, protocols, technologies and strategies required for building and evolving the network of the future together. Hear from the experts on topics such as Network Evolution, Security Evolution, Differentiated Services and AI and take home practical insights to inform and inspire your own journey.

By aligning on a shared vision and working together to foster more robust, efficient and sustainable industry ecosystems, our member operators and the vendor community can collaboratively unlock new levels of agility and create solutions at scale. The Technology Vision, developed in collaboration with our members, lays out a roadmap for this more connected, intelligent and secure tomorrow.

Key Winter Conference Highlights

Register today to join us for high-impact sessions, plus hours of additional networking and vendor connections during provided meals and Exhibit Floor receptions. Members-only project meetings will be held Thursday, March 13.

Highlights this year for members and exhibiting vendors include Zack Kass, our keynote speaker. The AI futurist and former head of go-to-market at OpenAI will share his vision for a future powered by AI, offering actionable strategies for leveraging technology to accelerate innovation. Also, new this year, discover how four global startups are disrupting connectivity, focusing on solutions to enhance network performance and reduce latency during our neXus: Startup and Scaleup Spotlight.

View the full agenda for more details. All sessions and demos at a glance:

Tuesday, March 11

Sessions

• Shedding Light on Tomorrow’s Optical Access Networks
• The Rise of AI Automation: A Catalyst for Network Innovation
• Broadband Lunch: Insights Into Forecasting Network Demand
• The What, Why and How of Future HFC Solutions (two parts)
• Shaping the Security Evolution: Strategies from Industry CISOs
• The Power of NaaS: Simplifying Connectivity With Zero Touch Onboarding
• The Next Generation of Wi-Fi Access: Transforming the Connected Home and Beyond
• Breaking Barriers: Buildling Scalable Telemetry for Multi-Access Network Innovation

Demonstrations

• Mobile Wi-Fi Steering to Cellular
• Spectrum Monitoring
• Adversarial Machine Learning and Machine Augmented Penetration Testing
• neXus: Startup and Scaleup Spotlight: Redefining the Connected Home Experience
• neXus: Startup and Scaleup Spotlight: Making Wi-Fi Smarter Through AI-Powered Spectrum Slicing
• NaaS Featuring Traveler Wi-Fi

Wednesday, March 12

Sessions

• What Lies Ahead: Shaping the Future of Connectivity
• Spectrum Policy: Opening a New World of Connectivity Options
• API-First Networks: Building the Foundation for Future Services
• Redefining the Road to Reliability
• Security Evolution: Threats, Technology and Product Differentiation
• A Coherent Path to FTTP Deployments
• The Quest for Seamless Connectivity
• Context Is King: Unlocking Differentiated Services With Smart Networks
• Balancing Economic Trade-Offs in the Last Mile

Demonstrations

• neXus: Startup and Scaleup Spotlight — Unlocking the True Potential of Advanced Networks
• neXus: Startup and Scaleup Spotlight — Revolutionizing Network Operations with Agentic AI
• Harnessing ATSSS: Seamless Traffic Switching for Uninterrupted Connectivity
• Mobile Wi-Fi Steering to Cellular
• Spectrum Monitoring
• Adversarial Machine Learning and Machine Augmented Penetration Testing

Smaller Market Conference

Ahead of Winter Conference, we invite small and mid-tier multi-system operators to join the Smaller Marketing Conference on Monday, March 10, to discuss the issues that are most important to them and their teams. This event is available for CableLabs members and NCTA guests. Registration for Smaller Market Conference is separate from Winter Conference, so if you are planning to attend, please be sure to register for both.

Make Your Mark at CableLabs Winter Conference

Are you ready to impact the future? Join us at Winter Conference 2025, and be part of the conversation on guiding the industry’s path forward. Beyond simply being an opportunity to

Attendees will not only learn more about the Technology Vision. They will also take part in important conversations that will shape the direction and influence the success of that strategic vision.

Registration for Winter Conference 2025 is open for members through Monday, Feb. 24. Secure your spot today.

As we progress toward a future of context-aware connectivity and adaptive networks, what will ultimately move the needle for the industry is a collaborative ecosystem built on a shared vision of interoperability. Our Technology Vision, developed in collaboration with member operators, provides a strategic framework to accelerate the delivery of next-generation connectivity and beyond — unlocking agility, facilitating industry alignment and creating solutions at scale.

Collaboration is vital to the success of the Technology Vision. At Winter Conference 2025, we will convene industry leaders and other experts to work together to collectively discuss and solve key challenges for our organizations. Together, we can deliver network solutions that are flexible, reliable and capable of enabling new services and seamless user experiences.

Shaping the Discussion at CableLabs Winter Conference

Our keynote Zach Kass, AI futurist and former head of go-to-market at OpenAI, will kick off with his vision of a future powered by AI. He will shed light on the technologies driving its evolution and guide organizations on how to effectively leverage AI’s transformative power to accelerate innovation and streamline operations.

Each session of Winter Conference will focus on a different component of the Technology Vision framework and explore next steps for building and evolving the network of the future together. Some highlights include:

• In a two-part series, The What, Why and How of Future HFC Solutions sessions will explore how future DOCSIS®️ generations align with next-gen networks to boost capacity, reliability and security as well as 6G development by 3GPP, leveraging MSO scale and using HFC assets for mobile offload, small cells and future optionality.
• In Balancing Economic Trade-Offs in the Last Mile, we’ll examine use cases for various access technologies based on market needs, existing infrastructure and competition. Learn how operators can integrate these technologies to craft unique connectivity solutions.
• The Shaping the Security Evolution: Strategies from Industry CISOs session brings industry security executives together to discuss network protection, cyber policy, incident response and collaborating with governments to counter persistent threats. Discover how their strategies shape secure, differentiated services.
• Learn how context-aware network technologies help operators deliver tailored services in Context is King: Unlocking Differentiated Services with Smart Networks. Explore how adaptive responses to customer location, device type and network conditions can optimize performance, prioritize traffic, boost satisfaction and drive revenue.

Collaborate to Impact the Future

Join us at CableLabs Winter Conference 2025, March 10–13 in Orlando, Florida, for an action-packed two days of conference sessions followed by member-exclusive project meetings. Connect and collaborate with CableLabs members, approved vendors and industry thought leaders to strategize on the future of the industry and explore the latest technology innovations at the exhibition.

The days of measuring network performance by speed alone are long gone. Nearly six years ago, the broadband industry launched its 10G initiative, setting in motion significant achievements toward the widespread availability of a future-ready network capable of much more than multi-gigabit speeds. CableLabs has delivered on every commitment of the initiative since, and we continued that momentum in 2024.

As we move forward into the next era of seamless, context-aware connectivity and intelligent networks, users will expect more than just faster speeds — including more reliability, lower latency and enhanced security from their network connections in addition to faster speeds.

“Digital transformation demands a future-ready network that is not only fast but smart, reliable and adaptive to the user’s needs at any moment,” said CableLabs President and CEO Phil McKinney.

This year, CableLabs and its members have achieved multiple milestones on our path toward a 10G platform that supports all of these goals. These milestones include breakthroughs that will accelerate the transition from the pursuit of ultrafast speeds to an emphasis on creating adaptable networks that can meet the dynamic needs of users and devices in real time.

Among these breakthroughs are advancements in Network as a Service (NaaS); Low Latency, Low Loss, Scalable Throughput (L4S) equipment; interoperability events and the release of new security frameworks.

Building the Future of 10G

The 10G platform of the future is defined by four themes: increased reliability, lower latency, enhanced security and faster speeds. These themes align with the Technology Vision’s core pillars of seamless connectivity, network platform evolution, and pervasive intelligence, security and privacy.

Reliability: NaaS and Operational Practices

Complex application needs require dynamic network solutions. But without a standardized approach, operator capabilities are limited in potential innovation and user experience advancements.

Earlier this year, CableLabs unveiled NaaS to meet this need for a standard solution. In essence, NaaS enables third-party developers to connect directly to network services and data through a common set of APIs. It closes gaps between application needs and network capabilities, supporting faster development at industry scale.

Collaborating with experts from CableLabs and our operator and vendor communities, CableLabs subsidiary SCTE released an operational practice document specifically intended to guide the industry toward improved network reliability. The publication, released in July, serves as a guide for operators and vendors to help achieve the highest network and service reliability through measurement and management of key performance indicators while also lowering operations costs.

Latency: L4S Interoperability

Latency is the key to better user experiences with real-time communication applications. Over the course of 2024, CableLabs facilitated and hosted a series of events focused on improving interoperability between the next-generation applications that implement L4S and the networking gear (including DOCSIS® 3.1 and DOCSIS 4.0 equipment) that provides the necessary L4S congestion signaling.

At these events, application and operating system developers worked to enable future immersive experiences that require low latency at high data rates. Operators were also able to test network configurations for field trials and deployments of Low Latency DOCSIS (LLD) technology.

CableLabs also facilitated a series of L4S interoperability events this year in coordination with the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). The goal of these events was to provide further opportunities for application developers and network equipment developers to collaborate.

In another significant milestone, CableLabs secured a Differentiated Services Code Point (DSCP) value from the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority to mark non-queue-building (NQB) traffic. After years of consensus-building at the IETF, this assignment helps reduce delays and improve the user experience for latency-critical applications such as voice calls and gaming.

Security: Advanced Cybersecurity Standards and Zero Trust Practices

Because intelligent networks have many points of access, they need a comprehensive security framework that can safeguard against threats at each of those points. This framework should emphasize credential protection, supply chain risk management, policy-based access and consistent control.

In January 2024, CableLabs released the Routing Security Profile, or RSP, an actionable and adaptable guide to enhancing internet routing security. The RSP focuses on helping organizations better identify, protect, detect, respond to and recover from cybersecurity events using the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) 1.1’s core functions.

On Oct. 1, 2024, CableLabs released version 2.0 of the RSP, incorporating feedback from stakeholders.

Speed: DOCSIS 4.0 Interoperability

CableLabs also facilitated and hosted a series of events focused on multi-supplier interoperability across the DOCSIS 4.0 ecosystem this year. These events brought participants from various companies together to advance preproduction and development versions of network hardware and application software.

The April event highlighted developments in virtualization and speed, setting new records in downstream speeds — over 9 gigabits per second through a DOCSIS 4.0 modem. The August event focused on advancing upstream capabilities.

In another key milestone for the industry, CableLabs made strides toward further innovation across technology and business models and from multiple suppliers by advancing DOCSIS 4.0 technology with Full Duplex DOCSIS, or FDX, now extending operation to 1.8 gigahertz.

Also this year, SCTE worked with industry and CableLabs experts to publish operational guidelines to aid operators in their transition from DOCSIS 3.1 to DOCSIS 4.0 networks. The December release, which focuses on optimizing the network for the extended spectrum ranges for both upstream and downstream transmissions, is designed to ensure that operators are well-prepared for the upgrade.

CableLabs Members Reach 10G Milestones

Progress toward functional 10G technologies is at the forefront of innovation and development among CableLabs members. Over the past year, several of our members made key advancements:

Charter Communications and CableLabs: Bryte IQ

In September, Charter Communications collaborated with CableLabs to launch a NaaS platform called Bryte IQ. Based on Linux Foundation's open-source CAMARA project, the platform streamlines and secures access for developers on Spectrum’s wired and wireless networks. Bryte IQ will foster innovation through easy-to-use, interoperable APIs, accelerate application development and broaden service possibilities for business-to-business clients.

CableLabs, Charter, Cox Communications, GCI and Rogers Communications: Security and Infrastructure

September also saw the release of the Zero Trust and Infrastructure Security (ØTIS) Best Common Practices (BCP), which aligns CableLabs’ RSP to zero-trust implementation for core and access network infrastructure. ØTIS is a joint initiative with Charter, Cox Communications, GCI and Rogers Communications and focuses on credential protection, secure storage, secure automation and other key security controls.

Comcast and Cox: Speed and Infrastructure

This year, Comcast and Cox both made advancements that will move the industry closer to a 10G platform. Comcast introduced DOCSIS 4.0 and met their goal of reaching 10 million premises with multi-gigabit speeds. Cox committed to a multibillion-dollar annual infrastructure investment in a 10G network.

Comcast: Latency

In November, Comcast successfully completed its field trial of LLD and is now deploying the technology.

Midco: Latency

Midco presented a technical paper at SCTE TechExpo 2024 showing that high-speed data services can be delivered on HFC networks with latency levels comparable to or better than PON performance for NQB traffic.

Midco: Speed and Reliability

As part of its Fiber Forward initiative, Midco is expanding and upgrading its next-generation fiber network its entire footprint which includes Kansas, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. The $500 million investment is on track to deliver 10G speeds to this region by 2030. As a milestone of this next-gen fiber expansion and upgrade, Midco launched multi-gig speeds to all eligible passings and continues to see improved performance, as verified by Ookla Speedtest Intelligence for the fastest internet speeds and highest network Consistency Score.

Rogers: Speed

Also this year, Rogers started trialing DOCSIS 3.1+ cable modems in select neighborhoods in Canada to deliver speeds of 4 Gbps downstream and 1 Gbps upstream, enabled by new DOCSIS 4.0 modem technology, a global first.

Envisioning the Future

The future of context-aware connectivity and intelligent networks is closer than we think.

Heading into a new year, CableLabs continues its commitment to realizing that future through our Technology Vision for the industry. Together with our members and other industry partners, we will work to deliver network technologies that bring us closer to that vision — all made possible by the power of the 10G platform.

Smart networks of the future will be characterized by their ability to adapt to the ever-changing needs of businesses and consumers. Powered by advanced network telemetry and automation, these networks will be highly visible and resilient, able to withstand disruptions and attacks without compromising performance. 

Achieving the goal of pervasive intelligence, security and privacy across networks will ensure information and data security, unmatched performance and reliability in any connectivity context. Security will be built into the network from the ground up, and security policies will be defined and implemented using scalable solutions that evolve with the network.  

Watch the video below to learn how pervasive intelligence, security and privacy — a core pillar of the CableLabs Technology Vision — will ensure that users are always protected, even as the network changes. 

Networks of the future will protect users with intelligence at every point, using AI and machine learning to identify and resolve problems before they impact users. CableLabs fosters collaboration across the industry to achieve these goals, driving industry alignment and prioritizing interoperability.  

Explore our working groups and learn how you can get involved in architecting the future. 

Did you know that there is more to Wi-Fi than plugging in your router and choosing your internet service provider? To unlock faster speeds and get the best connection, it’s helpful to understand how Wi-Fi works and what you can do to improve performance in your home.

Wi-Fi operates using a complex system of radio waves. Like sound waves, these waves can experience interference from environmental factors. Signals can bounce off or be absorbed by walls, metal appliances and even water-filled items like aquariums. This interference weakens the signal leading to slower speeds and connectivity issues, especially as the distance from the router increases.

For most users, simple adjustments like moving your router to a different location in your home can improve signal strength and connection quality.

Watch our video, “How Does Wi-Fi Really Work?,” to learn more about how you can reduce interference and enjoy a better Wi-Fi experience.

What would a future built on seamless network connectivity look like in the real world? For users, it would create seamless experiences that never require switching from one network to another due to dropped connections.  

For operators, seamless connectivity means delivering context-aware networks that are self-learning, self-healing and self-securing. Built on fixed mobile convergence, managed Wi-Fi and profile management applications, these networks will create reliable, stable connections across all networks anywhere and on any device.  

Watch the video below to learn how seamless connectivity plays a key role in the CableLabs Technology Vision as one of the three pillars needed to build adaptive networks. 

Achieving this vision will require collaboration across the industry to ensure alignment and interoperability. CableLabs fosters these connections through working groups that bring together our members, vendors and industry peers to develop future-ready solutions. We invite you to join us as we work together to advance connectivity. 

Subject matter experts, innovators and thought leaders from CableLabs, SCTE and the industry at large came together last month for the Americas’ largest broadband event. From inspiring headliners and insightful interviews to hands-on demonstrations and an exposition full of solutions, SCTE TechExpo 2024 provided an in-depth look at the innovations that are shaping the future of broadband.

It was a lot to take in! But the learning opportunities didn’t stop there. Now, many of those track keynotes and sessions are available to anyone to view anytime, anywhere. Whether you want to revisit your favorite sessions or discover the ones you missed, you now have access to exclusive on-demand content from the action-packed event in Atlanta.

TechExpo24 On-Demand Content

Explore recorded sessions by topic — everything from strategy to sustainability — or catch up quickly with highlights from each day of TechExpo. And, in case you missed them, here’s a short recap of just a handful of the sessions our experts participated in.

Artificial Intelligence: Artificial intelligence (AI) featured heavily in many sessions, with speakers discussing its impact on broadband networks. It’s obvious that AI will be critical to industry advancements, and operators are already beginning to find low-risk, low-cost ways to integrate AI into their network operations. Tools are emerging to speed the development of both enterprise- and industry-specific AI platforms. Catch up on how AI can be leveraged to build more secure networks in the session Driving a Proactive Approach to AI-Powered Security.

Technology Policy: Hear more about AI and get an update on its policy implications in A Year After the Artificial Intelligence Executive Order: Current Status & What’s Ahead. In the session, government experts outline federal priorities and the industry-relevant requirements of the Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence.

Wireless & Convergence: In Seamless Connectivity: Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere, learn about the key considerations and how the industry can overcome challenges to achieve seamless connectivity. Then explore how fixed wireless access can meet the ever-increasing demand for network capacity and deliver broadband wireless services more effectively in Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Fixed Wireless Access (FWA)… But Were Afraid to Ask!

Wireline: Operators and vendors are demonstrating their ability to deliver or their interest in delivering 25 Gbps capabilities through DOCSIS®️ technology on the HFC plant. In Practical Strategies for Deploying FTTH, hear an analysis of modern passive optical networking (PON) technologies in the evolutionary path of HFC networks.

Network as a Service: Learn how operators can grow new revenues with Network as a Service (NaaS) and Quality by Design (QbD), which leverages standardized APIs to facilitate communication between applications and the network. Tune in to the recording of the API-Powered NaaS session to hear more.

Security: CableLabs gave an overview of its Zero Trust and Infrastructure Security (ØTIS) Best Common Practices (BCP) document, which was released at TechExpo, and discussed the critical role of zero trust in networks. The BCP serves as a guideline for cable operators and vendors as they implement zero trust concepts and support network convergence and automation. This session wasn’t recorded, but you can learn more and download the document here.

Business Strategy: In a recording from Growth & Transformation—Lessons from the Video Game Industry, level up your understanding of what the broadband industry can learn from the gaming industry when it comes to competitive differentiation, launching products and entering new markets.

Explore more exciting on-demand video content and continue your learning journey well after TechExpo24 — at your convenience. We’ll see you next year at TechExpo25, Sept. 29- Oct. 1, in Washington, D.C.!

CableLabs Winter Conference 2025

For more opportunities to share insights and discover the technology advancements transforming the industry, join us at CableLabs Winter Conference in March 2025 in Orlando, Florida.

This exclusive gathering provides a neutral meeting ground for CableLabs member operators and our vendor community to exchange knowledge and build meaningful connections. Members can register now, and a limited number of exhibitor tables are still available.

At CableLabs, we talk a lot about the importance of innovation and collaboration. These are the connecting themes in our Technology Vision for the broadband industry to drive competitiveness, scale and alignment while also cultivating technologies for the future.

But there’s another critical piece of the puzzle that comes into play when we talk about the industry’s collective advancements: intellectual property. Specifically, the licensing of patents and software — and how these creative safeguards move broadband technology forward by incentivizing innovation.

Why Are Patents Important?

Patents are a pillar of innovation in tech. They give inventors rights to their creations, allowing them to protect their hard-earned ideas in exchange for sharing the details of their invention with the world and pushing the boundaries of public knowledge. And during the patent protection period, a patent license allows other innovators to create and even build on the original invention. This allows technology to evolve and spark new ideas, even before the patent period ends.

Once the patent's protection runs out, the invention becomes public domain, meaning anyone can use or improve on it freely, fueling further progress. It's a win-win, keeping innovation moving forward!

It’s no surprise that the broadband industry is rife with patents. In fact, as of today, the CableLabs patent portfolio includes more than 850 issued and allowed U.S. patents and 97 foreign-issued patents.

Why Is Licensing Important?

Most standards and specifications carry an associated patent licensing requirement. This means that if you agree to work on and contribute to a specification, you also agree to license your patents that are essential for the specification’s implementation.

Licensing agreements prevent parties from incorporating their patented technology into a specification and later withholding or over-leveraging patent rights against a manufacturer that wants to build products that implement the specification. This is sometimes called patent hold-up, or a patent hold-out.

Adhering to a patent licensing policy establishes a nurturing environment that fosters collaboration, advances development and unifies goals in the industry to ensure the cooperation and interoperability that are critical to innovation advancements. It’s one of the reasons DOCSIS®️ technology was such a success and rapidly adopted, and why it continues to benefit the industry.

Further, in addition to licensing regimes created for specification development, patents and licensing play a pivotal role in broadband technology development more generally, helping industry players navigate a complex legal landscape while contributing to a stronger, healthier ecosystem and ensuring vendor neutrality.

Focusing on the future, CableLabs develops technologies and demonstrates proof-of-concept for innovations that will provide value to our members through an innovation lens that usually targets an impact eight to 10 years out. Developed to benefit the industry as a whole, CableLabs’ patented technologies are available for our member operators to leverage at any time.

Since our first intellectual property license in 1998, CableLabs has made it a tenet of our mission to enable the vendor ecosystem to deliver interoperable, competitive solutions. Licensing also reduces the litigation risk for vendors who contribute to the work we do.

Gridmetrics Available for Licensing

Gridmetrics, which evolved from a project incubated at CableLabs, uses existing broadband infrastructure to deliver actionable insights about the state of power in the last mile of the distribution grid. By providing an out-of-band measurement of the quality and consistency of the power grid, Gridmetrics data can be leveraged for outage detection, power restoration, grid safety and voltage variability.

Gridmetrics is now on a path to expanding its market reach. CableLabs’ research is complete, and licensing of the technology’s intellectual property is available.

Contact us using the button below to discuss licensing opportunities and learn how to join us in our work to achieve this vision for the industry. We’re excited to help put CableLabs’ technologies to work for you!