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Deutsche Telekom's 'open RAN' plan slips after Huawei reprieve
Deutsche Telekom had promised 3,000 open RAN sites by the end of 2026, but the date has now been changed to 2027. And Germany's refusal to ban Huawei has implications.
Also: Suddenlink goes multi-room with TiVo; TW Cable adds an Android app; Rovi swaps CEOs; Comcast expands IPv6; Netflix spreads holiday cheer
Welcome to the cable news roundup, T.G.I.F. edition
The Logitech Ltd. -made Google TV/Revue box is the latest broadband-powered video device to add Sling Media Inc. 's place-shifting TV app, a capability that effectively turns the device into another set-top hanging off the home network, or enables it to obtain programming from a remote set-top connected via broadband. Boxee added a similar feature last month. (See Boxee Adds a Video Sling .)
Suddenlink Communications has added multi-room capabilities its deployment of TiVo Inc. (Nasdaq: TIVO) Premiere DVRs, allowing customers to interconnect the boxes and share recordings over the home network. A Suddenlink spokesman tells Light Reading Cable that there are no current plans to introduce the TiVo Preview, a non-DVR client device that can feed off the new quad-tuner Premiere Q over the home network. "We believe TiVo Premiere offers a superior experience. We're still discussing other options, depending on the features that might be offered," the official said. Charter Communications Inc. 's initial TiVo multi-room approach is similar to Suddenlink's, but the MSO does intend to support the Preview later on. (See TiVo Debuts Whole-Home DVR Gear and Charter Plugs TiVo Into Arris's VoD Back-Office.)
Time Warner Cable Inc. (NYSE: TWC) has launched its TV app for Android-powered phones that sports an interactive program, remote DVR manager, a set-top-tuning feature and other capabilities that closely mirror those that the MSO offers in its recently introduced app for Android tablets. TW Cable has yet to add live TV streaming to its Android platform, something it already offers on the iPad, but expects to offer it when device makers start to upgrade to the Ice Cream Sandwich OS in early 2012.
TV listings and IPG firm Rovi Corp. appointed Thomas Carson as president and CEO, succeeding Alfred Amoroso, who has been in that slot since 2005. Carson, most recently Rovi's EVP of worldwide sales and marketing, joined Rovi in 2008 when the company (still known as as Macrovision Solutions Corp. at the time) acquired Gemstar-TV Guide International for $2.8 billion. (See Macrovision to Buy Gemstar-TV Guide for $2.8B.)
Comcast Corp. (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) recently expanded its deployment of IPv6 to four more states -- Illinois, Florida, Pennsylvania and New Jersey -- and now supports more than 1,000 IPv6 users nationwide, reports Network World. The MSO expects to support IPv6 in "a lot more cities" in the first quarter of 2012, said John Brzozowski, Comcast's chief architect for IPv6.
The number of U.S. homes that use wireless/mobile access as their only means of broadband access will reach 6 million homes by the end of 2011, representing about 6.9 percent of all high-speed connection in the nation, predicts Strategy Analytics Inc. The firm attributes most of those to homes without access to cable, DSL or fiber connections, and doesn't anticipate 4G will take over as the home's primary Internet access medium. (See Moto Mobility CEO: 4G Can't Do It Alone .)
Netflix Inc. (Nasdaq: NFLX) is apparently in the giving mood this holiday season (and perhaps trying to win some much-needed goodwill) in offering DVD subs an extra disc for free as part of a year-end promo. A Netflix spokesman told Bloomberg that this is the first time Netflix has offered a bonus disc to customers who subscribe to its DVD rental service.
— Jeff Baumgartner, Site Editor, Light Reading Cable
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