scte balkans news
Letter from the Balkans Besim Latifi, our Ambassador-at-Large updates us on what’s happening in the Balkans.
Translating “Want” and “Need” into Technology Demand: A Practical Look at HFC vs. FibRE
In both life and business, what we want is not always what we need—especially when the desire for change leads to costly or irrational decisions. This distinction becomes especially important when evaluating technology investments, particularly the ongoing discussion around Hybrid Fibre-Coaxial (HFC) and fibre networks. There’s a growing perception that HFC is declining in favour of fibre due to rising demand. However, this “want” for fibre doesn’t reflect the reality for all operators—especially those with substantial, long-standing investments in HFC infrastructure. For these companies, the real need is to extend the life and value of their HFC networks—often for another 10 to 15 years—rather than prematurely abandoning them. A key consideration in this decision is user experience. Most customers do not distinguish whether their internet speed
comes via HFC or fibre, as long as it supports their digital lifestyle. While fibre once held a clear speed advantage— especially when HFC was limited to 1GHz—modern upgrades have narrowed this gap. In 2025 we continue to see operators across major markets like the U.S., Australia, Japan, and broader Asia investing in long-term HFC upgrade programmes projected to run for another 15 to 20 years. The desire for fibre is certainly valid in greenfield deployments, where operators are building networks from scratch. In these cases, choosing fibre aligns well with long-term goals. However, in brownfield environments, operators increasingly pursue a hybrid model— deploying both fibre and HFC depending on geography, cost and customer density. In many areas, the same provider is simultaneously expanding both technologies.
Besim Latifi, SCTE Ambassador- At-Large
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SEPTEMBER 2025 Volume 47 No.3
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