UFB was designed with capability for a dedicated RF TV channel over fibre (as used for years in the US) - is that what is now being trialed? Would not require an ISP as it's not an internet connection.

Alan

yep, announced it for sky and then later freeview today.

It's a win for everyone really, scale-able via multicast over the existing fibre network, offering a cheaper product that supplies more bandwidth. 

For chorus, It's money in their pocket. Not only for the STB connection but then it just makes sense to uptake fibre over DSL or Wireless..

I'm keen to see how it all plays out, Certainly something I'm supportive of.

I do wonder if Fetch TV has been looking at this also?

I read it as a secondary ethernet port, not the utterly pointless RF over coax that the USA uses just to let people keep using legacy wiring in their houses etc.

richms:

 

I read it as a secondary ethernet port, not the utterly pointless RF over coax that the USA uses just to let people keep using legacy wiring in their houses etc.

 

Yes, it's a secondary service.

hio77:

 

yep, announced it for sky and then later freeview today.

 

 

 

It's a win for everyone really, scale-able via multicast over the existing fibre network, offering a cheaper product that supplies more bandwidth. 

 

For chorus, It's money in their pocket. Not only for the STB connection but then it just makes sense to uptake fibre over DSL or Wireless..

 

 

 

I'm keen to see how it all plays out, Certainly something I'm supportive of.

 

So, Chorus would provide the connection to Sky/FV? Not affecting the public's plans, but allowing them to access Sky/FV via Chorus? 

tdgeek:

 

So, Chorus would provide the connection to Sky/FV? Not affecting the public's plans, but allowing them to access Sky/FV via Chorus? 

 

yep, STB will terminate on say, GE2.

More than likely it would be DHCP terminating on the STB and multicast IP from there. 

Wonder what bandwidth they will support etc. Can you hang a switch off it with lots of STB's/whatevers? Will they allow for unicast traffic so that you can netflix from the same box without having to move it to your ISP router and then put back for watching IPTV etc. Lots of things to sort out but this could be the nail in the coffin for DVB-T expansion.

richms:

 

Wonder what bandwidth they will support etc. Can you hang a switch off it with lots of STB's/whatevers? Will they allow for unicast traffic so that you can netflix from the same box without having to move it to your ISP router and then put back for watching IPTV etc. Lots of things to sort out but this could be the nail in the coffin for DVB-T expansion.

 

Agreed it's very broad.

What i suspect it will be is X multicast bandwidth with a limited unicast allotment to cater for communication back for on-demand.

richms:

 

Wonder what bandwidth they will support etc. Can you hang a switch off it with lots of STB's/whatevers? Will they allow for unicast traffic so that you can netflix from the same box without having to move it to your ISP router and then put back for watching IPTV etc. Lots of things to sort out but this could be the nail in the coffin for DVB-T expansion.

 

As we said before, content is king. FTA -T will stay, some will prefer the same via a different transmission. If Chorus can broadcast themselves, and maybe, hopefully, its easy or easy-ish to access FTA or Sky via ethernet in the home that would be great. Sky will have an app in a year to do just that, but if its via Chorus instead thats as good. Ive got 12 ethernet ports ready and waiting here. If an app to do the same, great. Caters for all, wired or not wired. 

What about those of us that aren't on Chorus, eg Enable?

k1w1k1d:

 

What about those of us that aren't on Chorus, eg Enable?

 

It's a trial, assuming it's successful i would expect the likes of sky to pressure to be able to rollout into other areas.

It would not surprise me if behind the scenes chorus has been working pretty hard to offer this... as mentioned, If successful it's a win for them.

Think of areas that providers are using say, Unison. Suddenly chorus have another foot in the door to those homes over unison as a ONT is installed!

It would be multicast rather than unicast.

The only difference vs Vodafone TV is its on a separate ONT port. So won't effect your speeds on your internet connection.

Since its secondary port, you have to have an fibre connection with an ISP. Basically sky is piggy backing on your ISP (technically you) paying for the fibre 

Any idea how people get on this trial ? Too early to say ?

I am wondering if Sky are going to set themselves up as a whole new RSP and deliver it direct so they would need to pay for handovers in each region and backhaul the multicast traffic. Also doesn't indicate how unicast traffic would work as Sky couldn't multicast everything as there isn't enough capacity on the fibre so they would multicast the common channels and unicast the unique ones. Plus with the FTA players in the market it will be interesting how it's technically delivered.

I wonder if Sky are finally waking up to needing to play in the UFB market, but without a freeview / one off cost box and Chorus being happy with not clipping the ticket on a secondary connection just for freeview (unlikely) I can't see it being anything other than Sky moving to UFB to deliver their content that way without needing a specific ISP sub.

Also wonder about people who only want "Sky UFB" being the primary connection. I am sure "someone" would want that, just like some people only want a UFB PSTN connection.