This year at HITEC I saw several introductions of solutions utilizing IP over coax.  Interestingly, LodgeNet has been delivering IP services over coax for more than 10 years -- originally with DOCSIS 1.0 and then with other later versions of DOCSIS. 

Over the last several years we have been working with technology that emerged out of the Home Phone Networking Alliance (HPNA) and Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA).  HPNA originally chose a DSL-like technology over twisted pair and recently began focusing on coax-based solutions for the same simple reason that we (LodgeNet) did: coax already terminates where you want it; at the back of the TV.  I have been accused of coax bias but this is far from the truth.  I started my life in the data IT world and arrived in the coax world with a pragmatic POV.  The best economical answer will usually win.

Unfortunately the DOCSIS solutions are too costly to meet the needs of hoteliers today.  While the client end has gotten very cost effective because of cable companies’ scale, the Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) has been very expensive on a per room basis for the average hotel.  These systems also typically suffer from a requirement to put a second set-top box (STB) in the room or if you adopt a lower volume integrated STB solution suitable for hospitality, you do not get the advantage of the economy of scale afforded to cable STBs.

So are these announcements the harbinger that the right answer has arrived?  It’s a good start but I don’t think so.  MoCA and HPNA solutions have been very interesting and we have used them in our labs extensively.  You might query the provider of the technology being announced today and find that LodgeNet provided much of the input that defined the requirements for the solutions in use at HITEC. 

(See more on HPNA and MoCA in the sidebar)

So you ask why haven’t we deployed? A few reasons worth discussing:

First, the HPNA and MoCA solutions come with significant limitations because they were defined to meet the requirements of home networks rather than the multi-room environments of hotels.  They are limited to 64 addresses which means adding switches, reconfiguring the coax trunks or installing a new backbone and recently introduced MoCA or HPNA switches.

Second, these systems are limited to 100 or 200 Mb/s at a time when multi gigabit networks are the standard that we want to install.

Thirdly, current IP over coax solutions do not allow you to deliver the whole converged payload utilizing IP transport.  You must adopt a hybrid solution if you are to provide the full range of broadcast TV, VOD, HSIA, VoIP and other IP services on an economical basis.

There’s one other detail that has been problematic for us.  Beyond the address space limitation, one solution that we examined had some limitations with the ability to reconfigure VLAN settings.  I wonder what other limitations we will find that will limit this from becoming the converged network we all seek.

And finally, while these solutions may be on the path to converged networks over coax, I believe the current solutions fall short when you consider the cost benefits against the lifecycle needs.  Does this mean that current IP over coax technology will not evolve and provide solid technical and economical solutions?  Certainly not.  This technology will continue to develop and the costs will come down with economies of scale.  Be assured that LodgeNet will continue to evaluate and pilot network technologies with an eye towards adoption when the solutions are beneficial for our customers.  The technology continues to move forward and we will keep pace with our efforts as well.  In fact, I am already discussing a 2x bandwidth solution with a provider.

DB