FROM THE INDUSTRY
Have you developed a solution specifically for that? Yes. It’s a compact remote optical line terminal. It’s very small, low power, easy to install. The key advantage is that it can be deployed without major disruption. It looks like standard cable equipment, so you can install it quickly, even overnight. It solves a very real problem. Traditional telecom equipment is bulky, power-hungry, and requires controlled environments. That doesn’t work in many real-world scenarios, especially in dense urban areas. Rising cost of capital has badly affected growth for the fibre market, but that will have had a positive effect on existing cable networks presumably. Correct, and that’s had a huge impact. A lot of fibre operators invested heavily in building networks, but they’re not yet generating enough revenue to sustain operations. They’ve spent the money, but the business isn’t yet profitable. It’s a familiar story; cable went through the same phase years ago. Eventually, there will be consolidation and restructuring. Meanwhile, cable operators are sitting on infrastructure that’s already paid for. Which gives them a significant advantage. They can upgrade incrementally, at relatively low cost, rather than undertaking massive new builds. The technology works. The IoT Factor One thing that doesn’t get talked about enough is the explosion of connected devices in the home. That’s a huge factor. Five or ten years ago, you might have had a few computers and a smartphone. Now, a typical household can have dozens of connected devices: cameras, doorbells, security cameras, smart speakers, thermostats, appliances. Even lawn mowers and vacuum cleaners.
And they’re all tied into one network. That makes switching providers more complicated than it used to be. It’s not just a case of unplugging one router and plugging in another. You’ve got to reconnect everything, reset passwords, it’s a hassle. Inertia becomes a powerful force, especially if providers are only differentiating themselves on price or speed. Exactly. If the service works, people tend to stick with it. FWA: Straight Outta Options You mentioned earlier that the biggest competitive threat to cable isn’t fibre, it’s fixed wireless access. In North America, operators like T-Mobile have been very aggressive with fixed wireless offerings. They’re cheaper alternatives; sometimes half the price of traditional broadband, and for many users, they’re “good enough.” There are limitations; wireless is inherently less reliable than wired connections, especially for high-demand applications. So, while it will take a share of the market, I estimate around 10-20%, it’s unlikely to grow further and be any threat to really challenge cable or fibre. Heartening stuff. What does the next generation of cable technology look like? One of the key developments is the move towards higher frequency networks of up to 3GHz, even 6GHz. The idea is to future- proof the infrastructure. It is ambitious, but the cost difference between upgrading to next-gen 3GHz and going all the way to 6GHz isn’t that significant. If you’re replacing equipment anyway, you might as well make it as future ready as possible.
What other areas is Technetix exploring? One that we’re particularly interested in is mobile. Specifically, we are looking at small cell and open RAN technologies. There’s a lot of overlap with what we already do, so it’s a natural extension. Also, integrating 5G with cable; that’s another area of research. There’s a concept called network convergence, where 5G technology could be used alongside or even as an alternative to traditional cable protocols. It’s still early days, but there are some promising trials underway. Has your success in North America surprised you? It’s a notoriously difficult market to penetrate. Even Oasis struggled. I think so. It’s been a long journey, but things are coming together very well for us We’ve established a strong presence in North America, and our work in Mexico is very exciting. We are looking at expanding further into South America next. I have to say Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple generated US success much quicker than us! How would you sum up the cable market now, after all the boom and (kind of, not quite, don’t hold your breath) bust cycle of fibre? It’s evolving, not disappearing. The narrative that cable is obsolete doesn’t reflect reality. It’s still a critical part of the broadband ecosystem, and with the right upgrades, it will continue to be for 20 years or more. It’s not about one technology winning; it’s about delivering reliable, affordable connectivity in the most practical way in each market.
www.technetix.com
Volume 48 No.2 MAY 2026
85
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