Volume 48 No. 3 SEPTEMBER 2026
Subsea cables
n S&P Global reveal new streaming trends n VisualOn and Enhancing Video Quality + Analysis n SCTE ® PRESENTS: The Changing Face of Streaming - in review n Plus: we talk to Netceed, Harmonic, WANaware, Calix, Hyperoptic, HbbTV and Amphenol
IBC2026
Network Flexibility Grounded in Stability Extended Spectrum DOCSIS (ESD) delivers faster, more reliable and symmetrical broadband by boosting an existing HFC network’s capacity — no costly, disruptive fibre overhaul required.
SCTE TechExpo 2026 Visit us at Booth #B344
Connected Britain Visit us at Stand D75
• ISP / OSP • Splitters & Taps • Enclosures • Node Service Cables
• Power Distribution • Fibre Terminals • Feeder & Drop Cable
• Optical Distribution • Cable Management • And More!
Learn more about Amphenol’s 1.8 GHz Devices
contents
editorial Editor’s Letter Welcome to the September 2026 issue of Broadband Journal.
VOLUME 48 NO. 3 - SEPTEMBER 2026
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from the scte SCTE News All the latest news and events from the SCTE.
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ISSN 1751-0791
scte presents Julian Clover, editor of Broadband TV News, reports on our very successful SCTE ® Presents: Changing Face of Streaming event in June.
SCTE ® - The Society for Broadband Professionals
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Officers and Members of the Executive Committee President and Chair Dr Anthony Basham FSCTE Vice President Dave Hodges FSCTE Director Dr Roger Blakeway FSCTE Secretary Beverley Walker FIAM Members Laura Baskeyfield, Keith Bail, Melissa Cogavin, Costas Kyriacou, Ian Nock, Peter Sealey, Chris Swires and Peter Veerman
scte balkans news How Is AI Similar to the Industrial Revolution? scte member focus Trevor Paintain, Managing Director, Antiference
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scte benelux news Benelux News All the latest news and events from the SCTE’s Benelux Group.
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network perspective Network Perspective Phil Scott, Chief Sales Officer at Technetix, shares his take on the fast- changing world of telecoms and how it intersects with technology.
SCTE ® iMex Centre 575–599 Maxted Road Hemel Hempstead HP2 7DX Tel: +44 (0) 1923 815500
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from the industry Industry News The latest global news from the industry. scte long read Subsea cables: litigation, mitigation, exaggeration
office@theSCTE.eu www.theSCTE.eu
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Managing Editor Melissa Cogavin Tel: +44 (0)7501 780342 melissa@theSCTE.eu
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Now is the time for Fibre Operators to address the MDU challenge
Extended Spectrum DOCSIS Expanding the Capacity and Value of the HFC Network 46 Beyond the Pipe: Why Compressed Video Monitoring Is the New Imperative for Broadband Operators 50 Fibre Operators in Transition: The Habits to Break and the Disciplines to Build 54 Impressions from ANGA 2026: A Smaller Show, A Familiar Industry 56 AI Makes Market Perception Observable 58 50G-PON Diminishing Returns on Speed, and What Will Really Define Broadband’s Next Decade 62 The Future of Television 64 Interview with David Whitehead, Senior Director at Harmonic 68 Building resilient fibre networks in a capacity-constrained market 72 HbbTV Symposium heads to Barcelona for its 14th edition 76 Outsmarting Outages: An interview with Jeff Collins, CEO, WanAware 78 Why Production AI in Video Testing Runs at 10 Percent, Not 100 82 Western Europe: differentiation key as streaming giants dominate pay TV bundles 86
Publisher Evolution Print & Design Ltd 143 Cavendish Road, Leicester LE2 7PJ, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 116 274 7700 sales@evolutiondc.co.uk
Broadband Journal is published on behalf of the SCTE ® (Society for Broadband Professionals) by Evolution Print and Design Ltd. Neither the editor nor the Society, as a body, is responsible for expression of opinion appearing in the journal unless otherwise stated. Papers and contributions for consideration for publication in Broadband or for reading at meetings are welcome and should be sent to Melissa Cogavin. Letters Broadband Journal is your forum for debate on issues affecting the industry. Let us have your news and views. Write to The Editor, c/o the SCTE, marking your letter ‘for publication’ or email melissa@theSCTE.eu. For reasons of space, we reserve the right to edit letters published in Broadband .
technical Foundations for the future: How data centres can boost UK economic growth
© 2026 Broadband Journal Information in Broadband Journal may not be reproduced, changed or used without prior written permission from the SCTE ® .
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The More I Know the Less I Understand
Broadcast-Equivalent Quality of Experience for Live IP Streaming
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Enhancing Video Quality in Transcoding Pipelines: A Comparative VMAF Analysis
startup zone CovertSwarm Putting connectivity providers under Constant Cyber Attack
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industry events ANGA COM 2027 Exhibitor Registration open
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IBC 2026 Inspire the Debate
Broadband Journal Media Partnerships
spotlight Ground truth is the precondition for autonomous networks — and almost nobody has it letter from the americas Industry journalist Alan Breznick reports on the evolving broadband, telecoms and technology landscape in the Americas
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products
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service finder
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diary dates
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Volume 48 No.23 SEPTEMBER 2026
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EDITORial
Editor’s Letter
Last time I wrote one of these I was complaining about wearing wintry clothes in April and trying to avoid putting the heating on. Seems a long time ago. Since then, like everyone else across Europe I can’t really remember what being cold feels like and a quick Google reveals that as of August 10 we are just days away from breaking 1976 records across almost every metric available. Turning our attention to the latter half of the year and the prospect of cooler temperatures, coats, scarves and cappuccinos seems remote at present, but we have a very busy few months ahead and a September issue absolutely groaning with content. It’ll fly by. After a summer of huge highs and devastating lows, some of us asking why we still haven’t won the World Cup 60 years after 1966, Hyperoptic does a comprehensive job of analysing how we watched it and how well we managed it, and what to look for next time. All on page 39. In June we hosted the third event this year, SCTE Presents: The Changing Face of Streaming, and you’ll see a comprehensive write up of the day’s panels and discussions, feedback and photographs on page 12. Thanks to Julian Clover for covering the event in such detail. Turn to page 23 to find out about our next event, SCTE Presents: Quantum Computing & The Broadband Sector, taking place on October 22. Our Long Read on page 32 this time unravels some of the myths around subsea cable sabotage, a perennially fascinating subject but one that in recent years has gained huge media attention, and this piece examines why. As Official Magazine Partner to both IBC and Connected Britain, you’ll see two different front covers, reflecting our dedication to both shows and both sectors, and an interview with IBC’s Mark Smith detailing what the show this year
entails, on page 114. Ian Nock offers his insight into the future of television on page 65, David Whitehead talks to us about Harmonic’s vision for fibre and the future on page 68, Trevor Paintain is the subject of our Member Focus on page 24, Adam Soccorsy reviews ANGA COM on page 56, plus we have editorial from Calix, Positron Access, Amphenol, HbbTV, Netceed, WanAware and S&P Global. Our technical section covers four white papers this time: data centres, telco delivery models, video quality in transcoding pipelines with accompanying analysis from our President, Dr Anthony Basham and QoE for live IP screening. All on page 104. Finally, from the SCTE we want to acknowledge the very sad passing of Derrick Walker, devoted husband to Bev, well-known industry veteran and a longtime friend to us all at the SCTE. He left an indelible mark on the industry and will be sorely missed by us all. You can read his obituary, written by Bev herself on the opposite page. A jam-packed issue for a jam-packed quarter; between Connected Britain, IBC, Tech Expo and our last SCTE Presents day of the year, the temperatures might drop a bit and I can start complaining about the weather again. You have been warned!
Melissa Cogavin Broadband Journal SCTE ® , Society for Broadband Professionals melissa@theSCTE.eu www.theSCTE.eu
See you in Amsterdam!
Melissa Cogavin
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SEPTEMBER 2026 Volume 48 No.3
Derrick Stanley Walker 1 0 TH JUNE 1944 – 27 TH MAY 2026
Derrick, beloved husband to Bev (SCTE & CAI Secretary), father, grandfather, friend and colleague, passed away peacefully at the age of 81 on 27th May 2026 at Wexham Park Hospital. Derrick was born on 10th June 1944 in London to Marjorie and Stan Walker. He married in 1970 and had two beautiful daughters, Karen and Emma, who gave him four adorable grandchildren whom “Grumps” doted on. Derrick gained an Electrical and Electronics Engineering degree at Enfield Technical College, after which he started working at Belling & Lee. It wasn’t long before he decided to branch out and set up his own flagship company – Teldis – in 1974. Derrick was a born entrepreneur and the company flourished as a well- respected distributor of quality electronic products for MATV and CATV systems supplied by companies such as Fuba, Wisi, Ikusi and Spaun, to name but a few. Teldis was a proud member of the CAI from 1982 to 2019, ie nearly 4 decades.
Derrick also joined the CAI’s Executive Council in 1982 and for the majority of his time with the Confederation, he was proud to be their Finance Director. In this way, he gave freely of his time and energies to give back to the industry he cared so passionately about. Derrick was an advocate of training and education and was instrumental in setting up some of the CAI’s original training courses and also helping to write the CAI’s Codes of Practice. He was well respected by his peers for his knowledge, experience, honesty and integrity - Derrick was a man of his word in every way. Derrick was also heavily involved with the SCTE, both with his company’s corporate membership and himself personally from the early 1970’s. Derrick gained an Honorary Fellowship of the Society in 2008 for his services to the cable industry, an honour he greatly cherished. Derrick loved to encourage and nurture younger people by helping them with his love of mathematics, training, electronics, chess and life – he had a great satisfaction in helping family, friends and colleagues reach their true potential … he made a great impact on a lot of people’s lives and careers – he was definitely a people person. For those who only knew Derrick as the astute businessman, they may have been surprised to see his softer side. Derrick met Bev through the CAI, and when they got together in 1995 it was the start of a fairytale romance. Derrick single- handedly arranged a surprise 50th birthday party on the River Thames for his beloved Bev for 75 friends and family and at the end of the evening proposed on bended-knee in front of everyone … naturally Bev said yes and she might have jumped up and down a bit too! The water theme continued to the wedding in August 2010 in beautiful Venice attended by 87 – it was a spectacular few days – a labour of love in the creation - and Derrick was a very proud and happy man with Bev at his side. Derrick was also known everywhere for his beautiful and colourful shirts and outfits he wore – always immaculately attired in the “As dressed by Bev” exclusive range. DJs at SCTE dinners were legendary indeed and heads turned when he walked into the room … and he loved all the attention his outfits gave him too! At the grand age of 75, Derrick retired and the Teldis name was sold - the company meant everything to Derrick and so this was a massive change in his life no longer making the daily trek to Tunbridge Wells. Sadly in his latter years, Derrick’s health deteriorated with multiple life-limiting conditions but he never complained, he just got on with it. Sadly, it was his Alzheimer’s which was the biggest battle as everything else he just took in his stride. He became the Houdini of keys, electric razors, post and glasses – they were always being spirited away by Derrick saying “It wasn’t me”, we all had to laugh and could never be cross at Derrick whose radiant and innocent smile was always in evidence! Derrick, the very funny, charming, loving, kind and generous man that he was will be sadly missed but his legacy goes on with his beautiful daughters, grandchildren and of course Bev, plus the many friends and colleagues he’s helped along the way. Our lives have been richer for Derrick being with us … he will forever be in our hearts and memories.
Rest in peace now our Darling Derrick, your work is done … until we meet again.
Bev x
If you would like to remember Derrick via a donation to Alzheimer’s Research, just scan the QR-code with our thanks.
scte news SCTE at ANGA COM Another unforgettable SCTE Party – this time there was glitter...
In June the SCTE threw another fantastic party for its members at the inimitable Monkey Bar in Cologne. Supported by our great friends from ANGA, plus OpenVault and The Syndeo Institute for the second year running (a huge thank you to you all), we welcomed over 100 guests to a Studio 54 themed party replete with mirror balls, feather boas, flares and moustaches galore; dressing up took on even greater importance this time and we danced our tails off to some killer disco face-melters till the small hours, helped by our good friends in cardboard, John Travolta and the Bee Gees. ANGA COM itself was a huge success, and credit to Peter Charissé and Jenny Friedsam and their team for producing another seamless, impeccably organised and well-attended event. Productive and informative, we all came away better informed, more connected, our broadband cup running over. It is one of the highlights of our year and we are already looking ahead to another ANGA COM in 2027!
ANGA COM takes place next year on June 1-3 and… it’s THE 90’s this time. You have a full year to FIND that costume, no excuses!
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SEPTEMBER 2026 Volume 48 No.3
scte news
Rise Academy Summer School: Inspiring Future Talent By Keera Miller-Howe, Digital Marketing, SCTE
modern media technology sector. It also demonstrated the importance of collaboration, with companies across the industry coming together to inspire the next generation. Volunteering at Rise Academy reminded me that investing time in young people today helps shape the future of our industry tomorrow. I would encourage anyone who has the opportunity to get involved. Supporting the next generation of talent is an incredibly rewarding experience.
to experience everything from outside broadcast and live production to graphics, AI, virtual studios and cloud technology. The atmosphere throughout the event was energetic, collaborative and full of enthusiasm from both the volunteers and the students. One of the highlights for me was meeting so many people from across the industry and hearing about their career journeys. I also found it incredibly insightful talking to the students throughout the event. Seeing them become fully engaged in the activities, ask thoughtful questions and discover new areas of the industry was rewarding. It was clear that the practical, hands-on approach helped build their confidence and opened their eyes to career opportunities they may not have previously considered. The Summer School successfully connected young people with industry professionals, giving students valuable insight into the skills, technologies and career pathways that make up the
Earlier this summer, I had the pleasure of volunteering at the Rise Academy Summer School in London, representing the SCTE. The Summer School is designed to introduce young people to the exciting world of media technology through hands-on workshops and real-life experiences, helping them discover the wide range of careers available across broadcasting, streaming and production. I wanted to get involved because I’m passionate about encouraging more young people to explore opportunities within our industry. As someone representing the SCTE, it was also a great opportunity to support our commitment to developing future talent and promoting education within the broadband and media technology sectors. The two days brought together professionals from organisations including AWS, Vizrt, EVS, Ross Video, Gravity Media and The Finish Line, all volunteering their time to share their knowledge and expertise. Students had the opportunity
https://rise-academy.live/
A word from Sarah Chase, RISE Summer School Event Lead
industry partners and the entire event is powered by industry volunteers who generously give their time, knowledge and enthusiasm to the next generation. Everyone comes together to create a shared experience that no single organisation could deliver alone.
Rise Academy is a charity dedicated to engaging, inspiring and informing young people, helping them discover the many opportunities and career pathways within media technology. Our ambition is to help build a media technology industry that is thriving, diverse and future ready. One that reflects the world we live in and welcomes people of all backgrounds, abilities and experiences.
And that collective effort is something special.
For a few days, a space is created where young minds can explore, experiment, ask questions and imagine themselves doing something they may never have thought possible. It is a place to get hands on with real media tech and discover new interests and, perhaps most importantly, believe they can do this role.
Summer School brings that ambition to life on a big scale.
Across a series of event days across Glasgow, London and Salford, young people are invited behind the scenes to discover the extraordinary range of roles that make media happen. From technology and live production to graphics, studios and the many technical roles are rarely seen, the programme is designed to spark curiosity and show just how many possibilities exist beyond what appears on screen.
That is the magic of Summer School.
All of Rise Academy’s events are free. It provides an open door and also gives young people the confidence to walk through it.
But Summer School is about much more than a day of workshops. Each session is shaped and delivered by
Volume 48 No.23 SEPTEMBER 2026
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scte news SCTE ® Presents: our events during 2026 and what’s new for 2027
So far this year we have been delighted to bring you three sold-out, high profile events on the topics list here. The next one is detailed below.
If you missed any of the content from these days you can catch up via our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@thescte and write ups of each event in Broadband Journal are available on our website https://thescte.eu/broadband-journal and our SCTE Members App, available for download via the Apple App Store and Google Play.
WINTER SCTE ® Presents:
SPRING SCTE ® Presents: The Future of Tech 18 March 2026
SUMMER SCTE ® Presents:
Testing & Measurement 22 January 2026
The Changing Face of Streaming 18 JUNE 2026
And here is our next event:
SCTE ® Presents: Quantum Computing & the Broadband Sector
share and would be interested in speaking at the event, we’d love to hear from you.
Quantum computing will change all our lives but how, exactly? What does the future hold for the broadband sector? What are the use cases, how will humanity benefit and who are the thought leaders in this area? The SCTE is hosting a unique one-day conference to unravel these and other complex questions around quantum computing on October 22 in London. If you have insights, expertise or a case study to
Sponsorship Opportunities Sponsorship opportunities are now available for SCTE Presents: Quantum Computing & Our Sector. To discuss sponsorship packages and how your organisation can get involved, please contact office@thescte.eu
AND A NEW SLATE FOR 2027.
SPRING
SUMMER
AUTUMN
The Customer Service Experience 10 February 2027
Connectivity & Those Next Level Challenges 19 May 2027
Bringing Data to the Edge 21 October 2027
throughout the year. We expect these events to be very popular and will be opening these up for speakers, moderators and sponsors in the coming weeks; if you would like to get involved in any of these please drop us a line at office@thescte.eu.
The SCTE Conference Committee has been hard at work outlining three fantastic new events for 2027, tackling the opportunities and challenges across three critical areas: the customer, the commerce and the tech, all taking place at One Great George Street in London
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SEPTEMBER 2026 Volume 48 No.3
scte news
SCTE Bursaries Each year the SCTE offers bursaries to help with travel and hotel costs for our members to attend important and educational trade shows and events across the industry.
What’s included? E ach bursary package for either ANGA COM or IBC in 2027 includes pre-paid flights and hotel accommodation for up to 3 nights (courtesy of the SCTE) and entrance to the full conference programme (courtesy of ANGA or IBC as appropriate). The full terms and conditions of the bursary can be found on our website. At the end of the event you will be expected to write a report of your experiences, what you gained from attending and to highlight any specific areas that you found valuable or of specific interest.
How do I apply? Please write up to 300 words on why you would benefit from a bursary and email it to office@theSCTE.eu Winners will be notified prior to each event. Please make your application and your subsequent report (for the lucky winners) your original work! No ChatGPT please. Application deadline for ANGA COM is 16 April 2027 and 23 July 2027 for IBC.
This is open to ALL individual members, so do make sure you take advantage of this incredible membership benefit.
Don’t miss out on this incredible membership benefit in 2027 and beyond!
We look forward to hearing from you!
MEMBER APP The Society for Broadband Professionals
SCTE Members can access Broadband
Journal, news, register for events, make bursary applications, check the latest industry standards, access podcasts webinars and presentations via the SCTE Members App. Available on Google Play and the Apple App Store. Download the app today and don’t miss a thing!
Volume 48 No.23 SEPTEMBER 2026
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scte news SCTE Gala Dinner House of Commons – A Right Honourable Time of It
Dining Room complete with entertainers, toasts and speeches.
by how small the House of Commons is, and humbled by the sheer weight of history, both recent and ancient, that is contained within those walls. That evening, at the height of this year’s never-ending heatwave, 170 guests enjoyed a champagne reception in the elaborately decorated Pugin room with views over the Thames to St Thomas’ Hospital, followed by a sumptuous four course dinner with wine in the Members
For our 81st birthday it seemed fitting to host our Gala Dinner and Awards at a truly special location and the House of Commons ticked all the boxes.
Festivities continued back at the Park Plaza Hotel till the small hours with entertainment provided by a jazz band, DJ, casino and a delicious midnight buffet. A memorable night, organised impeccably by Bev Walker. A big thank you to our sponsors who helped make the night so memorable:
We began in the afternoon of June 20 with an incredibly informative,
fascinating 90 minute tour of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, and all the interconnecting corridors, halls and reception rooms in between. We all learned so much and came away surprised
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scte news
SCTE Rising Star of The Year Kesani York
Data Engineer, Virgin Media O2
myself at 20/20 Levels, following in his footsteps.
genuinely proud of. My path here wasn’t conventional.
Looking ahead, I want to keep deepening my technical skills while opening doors for others coming into this industry from non-traditional backgrounds. I’m also ambitious about where this takes me. Hopefully progressing into a senior data engineering role, and beyond that into leadership in the future and bringing the data-driven decision making that first pulled me into this industry to bigger decisions and bigger teams. Coming from policing rather than a traditional tech route, I want to prove that path can lead not just into the industry, but up through it. This award feels less like an endpoint and more like a reason to keep going. And that’s exactly who it’ll be!
I spent years as a Metropolitan Police Officer before making the leap into tech, drawn in by how much data-driven decisions/insights could shape better decisions. I joined Virgin Media O2 as a Data Engineer Apprentice on the CTO Insights and Analytics team, and I’m now in the final year of a Level 6 apprenticeship in Digital and Technology Solutions. A lot of what led to this recognition has come from being willing to show up honestly and to keep learning. Technically, but also in how I work and connect with people. Mentorship has also been a huge part of that. My own mentor, CJ Johnson, has shaped how I think about growth and confidence, and I now mentor others
Winning the SCTE Rising Star of the Year 2026 still doesn’t feel quite real. I was nominated by Matt Short, and to know that someone saw my work and thought it was worth putting forward, standing in the House of Commons to collect the award, is truly something I’m
The Richard Harris SCTE Member of the Year 2026 Nusret Kuka HFSCTE Team Manager - Network Operations and Critical Infrastructure & Energy Systems, IPKO
support and collaboration of colleagues, mentors, and teams I have had the privilege to work with throughout my career. Their knowledge, trust, and professionalism have consistently pushed me to grow and maintain high standards in everything I do. Looking ahead, I remain committed to contributing to the engineering community, supporting knowledge sharing, and encouraging continued professional development. As our industry becomes increasingly critical to everyday life, organisations like the SCTE play an essential role in strengthening technical capability and connecting professionals across the sector. I am deeply grateful for this recognition and look forward to continuing my involvement with the SCTE and contributing to the ongoing development of the broadband industry.
Over the course of my career, I have been committed to delivering resilient and high-quality network infrastructure, while continuously improving my technical knowledge in a field that never stands still. Working in areas such as network operations and engineering support has reinforced for me how critical reliable systems are, and how much value comes from disciplined engineering, teamwork, and shared learning. My involvement with the SCTE has been an important part of that journey. It has provided a platform to connect with skilled professionals across the industry, exchange practical experience, and stay engaged with evolving technologies and best practices. Just as importantly, it has reinforced the value of community in engineering, where progress is often built on shared insight rather than individual effort.
“It is a great privilege to receive the Richard Harris SCTE Member of the Year Award 2026. I am sincerely honoured to be recognised by the SCTE, an organisation that has long championed technical excellence, professional development, and collaboration within the telecommunications and broadband industry.
This award represents far more than a personal achievement. It reflects the
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scte news
SCTE Engineer of the Year 2026 Kamer Hoti TFSCTE
TEAM LEADER, IPKO
trust and shared responsibility. Many of the achievements recognised through this award, such as improvements in network performance and optimised maintenance processes, were only possible because of the collective effort of an outstanding team. I also want to thank my managers and fellow engineers who believed in me, supported my development and entrusted me with responsibility throughout my career. Their guidance, trust and encouragement has been instrumental in shaping my professional growth. Winning the SCTE Engineer of the Year award is an inspiration to continue developing my skills, embrace new technologies and support the growth of others in the industry. I look forward to continuing and contribute to engineering excellence and to the future of broadband and network engineering.”
so much to me, both professionally and personally.
My engineering career has been fuelled by a passion for building reliable, high- performance networks and a belief that true success is never achieved alone. I have many years’ experience working on HFC, fibre and DOCSIS-based networks, working on service quality, network stability and proactive fault resolution. One of the most rewarding parts of my role, apart from the technical stuff, has been leading and supporting engineering teams. I would like to thank my team for their continued support, professionalism and dedication. This award is a reflection of their hard work, teamwork and commitment to going above and beyond each day. Leading and coaching engineers and contractors, particularly in challenging operational environments, has demonstrated the strength of teamwork,
It is a great honour and a milestone that I am very proud of to be awarded the SCTE Engineer of the Year Award 2026.To be recognised by the SCTE, the organisation which is the voice of excellence, innovation and leadership in the telecommunications industry, means
SCTE Technological Innovation of the Year 2026 Technetix Mira ORCA bandwidth overlay solution
says Ade. “Unlike traditional methods, it doesn’t require intensive civils, so public disruption and the time works take to complete are significantly reduced.” The solution typifies customer satisfaction and community confidence, something Technetix is clearly proud of. It seems that direct and positive social impact matters just as much to them as the technological sophistication they’re known for. Technetix received their award at the SCTE’s 81st Gala Dinner, held at the House of Commons on June 20. The recognition provided by SCTE’s Technical Innovation award affirms and deepens the company’s commitment to helping broadband operators deploy high- performance, future-ready networks more efficiently and sustainably. The team remains focused on expanding the Technetix Mira portfolio of fibre access solutions, for a faster, more practical, and more accessible journey towards fibre.”
The Mira ORCA is a bandwidth overlay solution for multi-gigabit services over existing infrastructure, which launched last year. The resource-saving, quick- to-market approach to ‘impossible’ network modernisation programmes was developed in response to demand for low-disruption HFC-to-XGS-PON migration pathways. Technetix’ VP Customer Insight and Product Innovation, Ade Brittain, says, “ORCA solves some of the most persistent operator challenges in transitions to next-generation fibre.” He explains that delays and inflated costs from logistical, access-related, and bureaucratic snags are typical, ranging from entry permission issues to hazardous material handling. “ORCA uses existing infrastructure. This not only supports a more sustainable and commercially attractive path to multi- gigabit services, it addresses chronic challenges and accelerates deployment,”
“Taking the trophy for this year’s SCTE Awards’ Technical Innovation category, the Technetix team made no attempt to play down their delight. Winning awards feels good, of course. But this was next- level: if they didn’t already know their winning solution will rewrite the industry’s HFC-to-XGS-PON playbook, this was a moment of realisation.
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scte news
SCTE Sustainablity Award 2026 Mainstreaming SPA
“Beyond infrastructure, MainStreaming is certified carbon neutral, offsetting emissions for every customer through verified projects tied to UN Sustainable Development Goals. Since 2022, we’ve offset 603 tonnes of CO 2 . As a founding member of the Greening of Streaming Initiative, we’re also committed to advancing sustainability standards across the wider industry, not just within our own operations. “For MainStreaming, this award is a testament that our approach is delivering measurable results in an industry that urgently needs them. It’s confirmation that broadcasters and OTT platforms no longer have to choose between scale, quality, and environmental responsibility. We see it as a benchmark to build on, and an invitation to the rest of the industry to rethink what responsible, future-ready streaming infrastructure looks like.”
“At the core of this is our Intelligent Media Delivery Platform®, powered by an edge video delivery network purpose-built on energy-efficient hardware, optimised software, and advanced edge architecture designed for a greener future. “By replacing multi-layer CDN architecture with a single-layer caching model and a one-hop network, we cut unnecessary data travel and processing, reducing energy consumption by up to 50% while improving Quality of Experience - proving that performance and sustainability are not trade-offs. That efficiency runs through the full technology stack. Working with Intel, we deploy CPUs optimised specifically for video workloads, cutting power draw at both peak and idle, with software that dynamically manages consumption in real time.
“For MainStreaming, winning the SCTE Sustainability Award is a meaningful milestone on a journey we’ve been on since day one: proving that streaming can grow without costing the planet,” said Paul Martin, SVP Business Operations. “Streaming now accounts for up to 3–4% of global carbon emissions, and as consumption keeps growing, the traditional layered, energy-intensive CDN model is no longer sustainable, technically or environmentally.
SCTE Honorary Fellow 2026 Herman Grooten HFSCTE
In 2003 Grooten formed with Verbree and several others the SCTE Benelux Group.
telecommunications at the Dutch Ministry of Defence and PTT, the Dutch telecom provider at that time. He established a cable company in Gouda, The Netherlands: Gouda Cable. Later on, Gouda Cable became the sole provider in the region, going by the name of Rekam. Grooten retired in 2013 as managing director of Rekam. In 1993 Grooten joined the SCTE as a member at the suggestion of his good friend Aart Verbree, managing director of Caiway. With Verbree he discussed lots of technical issues to find technical solutions in the growing cable networks of the Netherlands.
Since then he took care of the finances with regard to the activities of the Benelux Group. Moreover, he kept in close touch with the SCTE in the UK. Good relationships between telecom engineers and the cable industry can benefit the exchange of new and invigorating ideas. As an Honorary Fellow, Grooten would like to continue his activities for the Benelux Group and in particular stimulate the relationship amongst engineers.
Herman Grooten (77) was very honoured to be awarded with the SCTE Honorary Fellow Award 2026 during the SCTE dinner in London in June. Grooten joined the cable industry in 1977, after a study in Telecommunications at Eindhoven University and a short career in
Grooten and Verbree made good use of the SCTE publications to this end.
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scte PRESENTS
SCTE ® PRESENTS: The CHANGING FACE OF STREAMING Julian Clover, editor of Broadband TV News, reportS on our very successful SCTE ® Presents: CHANGING FACE OF STREAMING event in JUNE.
18 JUNE 2026 The Institution of Civil Engineers, One Great George Street, London
time”, with high-quality, personalised experiences and greater interactivity. “It sort of defines how we’re getting there. They want personal experiences, seamless delivery and the interaction.” He highlighted the growing importance of technologies including cloud computing, artificial intelligence, targeted advertising, FAST channels and low- latency streaming. At the same time, he said, traditional boundaries between broadcasting, telecommunications, cloud services, content creation and advertising technology are disappearing. While engineers will continue to play a vital role in advancing technology, Dr Basham stressed that the challenges facing the sector extend beyond engineering. Success will increasingly depend on how organisations adapt their business models, generate revenue and meet rapidly evolving consumer expectations.
Ready for the Future
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Kicking off the latest SCTE Presents on the Future of Streaming, Society President Anthony Basham said the media industry has reached a turning point,
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with streaming no longer viewed as an emerging technology but as the dominant way audiences consume television. He argued that changing viewing habits are transforming both the technology and business of broadcasting, particularly among younger audiences who increasingly consume short-form, on-demand content across multiple devices rather than traditional scheduled television. Dr Basham said consumers now expect content to be available “anywhere, everywhere, on any device at any
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SEPTEMBER 2026 Volume 48 No.3
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scte PRESENTS
The CHANGING FACE OF STREAMING Panel 1: Security & Protocols
provided operators plan their capacity correctly.
parameter will almost inevitably drop as a result. If you want lower latency, that’s going to cost you something somewhere else. It’s always a trade-off.”
Streaming industry prepares for next generation of television The streaming industry is entering a new phase of evolution, with broadcasters and technology companies focusing less on simply delivering content online and more on improving viewer experience, reducing latency, strengthening security and preparing for the next generation of streaming technologies.
Instead, Sebastian Siepe said broadcasters increasingly face operational complexity because
He explained that protocols such as WebRTC (Web Real-Time
Communication) can achieve extremely low latency, but are more vulnerable to packet loss, while TCP-based systems offer greater reliability but can introduce significant delays when networks become congested.
they must support multiple protocols across
thousands of different devices.
Speakers on the Security & Protocols panel included Steve Strong, CTO of streaming server Norsk, Sebastian
“It’s not only protocol complexity, but operational complexity on top of that. Broadcasters have to support many different devices, different streaming formats and different generations of equipment, and that makes operating these services increasingly difficult.” The discussion then turned to MoQ (Media over QUIC), which many believe could become the next major streaming transport technology. Strong described MoQ as an opportunity to innovate in ways existing protocols cannot. “What excites me is that it lets us innovate. WebRTC is designed to be one thing and HLS and DASH are designed to be specific things. They tie the protocol and the media together. Media over QUIC keeps those separate, so people can build new capabilities on top of it.”
Ian Nock said it was important to understand what people mean when
they talk about latency. “When I generally talk about
Siepe of streaming operations company Einbliq.io, and independent consultant and SCTE executive member Ian Nock, ably moderated by industry journalist Neil Howman. One of the biggest topics was latency, particularly for live sport, where viewers increasingly expect streaming services to match the immediacy of traditional broadcast television.
latency, I mean glass to glass – from the camera all the way to the screen you’re watching it on. That’s the latency that really matters. The rest is academic because that’s what the viewer actually experiences.” He added that latency has always existed, even during the analogue television era, but modern digital processing has made delays much more noticeable. The panel agreed that scalability itself is no longer the industry’s biggest technical problem.
Steve Strong said every streaming
technology involved compromises. “There are always multiple parameters. You can’t just make them all good. If you make one parameter good, another
Strong argued that today’s streaming protocols can serve huge audiences
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eliminate them because the content ultimately has to reach the viewer.”
However, the panel stressed that any transition would take many years.
The panel agreed that piracy has become increasingly sophisticated, with illegal streaming platforms now offering polished interfaces that rival legitimate services. Strong said DRM remained essential despite its limitations. “It’s fundamentally an arms race. You’re trying to make it harder for hackers to steal your content, but it’s almost impossible to stop them completely because, ultimately, legitimate viewers have to be able to watch it.” Looking ahead, the panel predicted that consumers will eventually stop thinking about streaming as a separate technology. Nock suggested that within a few years, internet delivery will simply become “television”, while Siepe anticipated increasingly personalised viewing experiences driven by artificial intelligence. Strong concluded that although new technologies such as Media over QUIC may transform the technical infrastructure behind the scenes, viewers are likely to value something much simpler. “If there was a single thing my wife would like when she’s watching Netflix, it’s that she doesn’t have to spend 15 minutes trying to find something to watch. That’s where I think AI could make the biggest difference to the viewing experience.”
Nock pointed out that the industry had already spent around 15 years refining HTTP adaptive streaming. “We’ve had a good run with HTTP adaptive streaming. We’ve improved it over many years and we’ve built a huge installed base of devices that support it. The next transition is going to take an interesting amount of time because we’re now talking about replacing technology that’s already in millions of homes.” Strong predicted that MoQ would initially be adopted for contribution links before gradually reaching consumer services, while older technologies would continue to coexist for many years. Quality of Experience (QoE) was another major focus. Siepe highlighted the growing role of Common Media Client Data (CMCD), which allows streaming players to send performance information back to content delivery networks. Rather than simply measuring whether a stream is working, CMCD provides detailed information about buffering, bitrate switching and playback performance. “What broadcasters really want is observability across the whole delivery chain. They want to know if there’s one specific device that’s failing, or one ISP that’s causing problems, before viewers start complaining. That’s where this kind of telemetry becomes extremely valuable.” He said AI was increasingly being used to analyse enormous volumes of operational data automatically. “We try to code a video streaming engineer that looks at an issue and tries to understand what the root cause could be. The aim is to reduce the engineering effort needed to monitor these systems while spotting problems much earlier.” Security and piracy also featured prominently. Nock described streaming security as an ongoing battle rather than something that could ever be completely solved. “I always describe it as a leaky bucket. The bucket still has to work as a bucket because people have to be able to watch the content. You can make the holes smaller, but you can never completely
scte PRESENTS
The CHANGING FACE OF STREAMING Panel 2: Edge Compute & AI Edge computing and AI will shape the next phase of streaming Steve Miller-Jones, Product Strategy
Mike Gannon of Vecima focused on AI’s role in video optimisation, arguing that artificial intelligence
Director at Netskrt, explained how edge computing is already transforming content delivery. Unlike traditional
Edge computing and artificial intelligence are set to play a growing role in the future of media delivery, but speakers in the Compute & AI session agreed that the technology must ultimately serve one purpose: improving what viewers see on screen. Opening the session, independent consultant and SCTE executive member Ian Nock challenged delegates to define “the edge” – a term widely used across the industry but rarely agreed upon. Nock concluded there is no single definition. “Someone’s edge is somebody else’s centre, and someone’s centre is somebody else’s edge. It all depends on who you are and where you are.” Instead, Nock described the edge as “the logical location for your service delivery” that provides the quickest and most appropriate experience for the user.
is beginning to solve one of streaming’s oldest compromises: balancing quality against bandwidth. Rather than replacing encoders, AI can improve incoming video before it reaches them, removing noise, correcting colour and reconstructing damaged images. “The encoder can only work with what it’s given. AI rebuilds that source material into something much closer to mezzanine quality before encoding even begins. The result is significantly lower bitrates while maintaining – or even improving – picture quality.” He said early operator trials suggest streams can be reduced from around 6Mbps to 2.5Mbps while preserving visual quality, potentially reducing bandwidth, transport and storage costs simultaneously.
CDNs built around large data centres, Netskrt deploys software directly inside internet service provider networks, allowing content to be served much closer to viewers. He said live sport is changing the economics of streaming because huge audiences now watch the same event simultaneously, creating traffic peaks far greater than those generated by on- demand viewing. “The variation between the average traffic during the day and the peak event is much bigger than it used to be. The challenge isn’t that more people are watching video overall, it’s that they’re all watching one thing at exactly the same time.” To cope with this, the company’s software continually analyses network conditions and dynamically chooses the best delivery path for every user. “We use a lot of real- time data from our edge locations. We must understand whether that network is performing well for the users it serves and, if it isn’t, change our decisions in real time.”
He also cautioned against unrealistic expectations of artificial intelligence.
Hamid El Gharbaoui of test automation specialist Witbe argued that the industry has become too focused on
“AI is a wonderful thing, but it doesn’t think. It isn’t intelligent and it doesn’t create anything. It looks creative because we’re very good at pattern matching, but it still relies on information created by people. It’s a fantastic, elevated search engine, but knowing things is not what AI is good at. You still need experts.”
engineering metrics and not enough on the viewer’s actual experience.
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more distributed processing across regional facilities and even consumer devices. Google, he said, is already developing both ends of that spectrum, from enormous AI data centres to smaller open-weight models capable of running directly on laptops and smartphones. “The models are getting better and they’re getting smaller. We’re seeing AI moving from massive centralised infrastructure back towards distributed computing on people’s own devices.” The panel concluded that edge computing is no longer simply about where servers are located. Instead, it is becoming an intelligent fabric that dynamically places workloads wherever they deliver the greatest benefit. As Nock observed throughout the discussion, the industry’s challenge is no longer building ever more sophisticated technology, but ensuring that all of it ultimately improves one thing: what the viewer sees on the screen.
As services expand across dozens of platforms, operating systems and software versions, failures often occur after streams have technically started, making them invisible to conventional monitoring systems. To address this, Witbe is using AI to test services on real consumer devices using natural language instructions instead of traditional scripted automation. “We don’t write scripts anymore. We express an intent in plain language and let the AI understand what it’s seeing on the screen. The system adapts instead of breaking every time an interface changes.”
After showing a clip from The Wizard of Oz, he compared engineers to the wizard’s role as “the man behind the curtain”, building ever more sophisticated systems while forgetting where success is ultimately measured. “All this monumental infrastructure exists to serve one main endpoint – the screen of a real device. If it collapses on the last pixel, the entire workflow is perceived as a failure.” He said traditional monitoring often reports everything as healthy while viewers experience frozen pictures, black screens or unresponsive applications. “The problem isn’t a lack of data. It’s the gap between what we measure and what the viewer actually experiences on a real device.” Using the Apollo 13 mission as an analogy, El Gharbaoui noted that astronauts first recognised a critical oxygen leak simply by looking out of the spacecraft window rather than relying solely on telemetry. “In exactly the same way, the data can be blind while the human eye is not.” He argued that the streaming industry’s biggest challenge has moved away from network reliability towards the increasing complexity of consumer devices. “The pipes are solid. The number one challenge today isn’t CDN performance anymore – it’s playback across fragmented players and smart TVs.”
Chris Hampartsoumian,
Customer Solutions Engineer at Google Cloud, described edge computing as fundamentally about
distributing capacity.
“What the edge gives you is distributed capacity. Sometimes you need low latency, but increasingly it’s about having massive computing capacity exactly where it’s needed.” He suggested computing is entering another cycle, moving away from highly centralised cloud infrastructure towards
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