Charter Communications says it is in talks with NTOP (and others!) re cable telephony deployment in selected markets.
i have been trying to find a tie-in between ntop and MediaOne, which is now part of Comcast (from AT&T) but came into Comcast with its own network -- and because of that Comcast might treat it in a separate way.
At one point MediaOne was being fought over by Comcast and AT&T, and Comcast. AT&T won and lost with the telecom collapse. Comcast bought out all the AT&T Broadband properties, and spent the last year integrating systems.
I ruled out an ntop/Comcast network tie long ago -- but because of the two posts on the Yahoo public thread about it, i am looking. Comcast has invested in Cedarpoint Communications, a very good box -- but not a service provider. It might be like Comcast to test different things.
I don't want to make conclusions based on assumptions. On the other hand, I can see can figure out a reason why Comcast might do it on a 'different' portion of its network -- not part of the dominant switched circuit platform. Because MediaOne came from AT&T, and NTOP came from AT&T, there may have been some sort of management/tech tie in that never germinated. That's supposition, of course.
What I can't figure out, of course, is if it is true re NTOP with any part of Comcast. I don't think we should go there till we see something -- and I hadn't expected it. On the other side, Comcast's decision to utilize voIP is a clear signal that the resurrection is for real. Comcast never does anything tricky but takes cautious and measured steps. That they are getting into this is a signal that the technology, which they will roll out slowly, is a big deal.
What I will do is keep looking.
BUT, while looking, I was also looking for a tie to NTOP/Charter. I found it this morning.
On January 7, 2004, Charter said it was in discussions with NTOP (and others!) re voIP deployment in selected markets. This was a Smith Barney/Citybank presentation.
see below:
Charter has a debt load of about $21 billion. A recent financial analyst said it had the capability of paying or a debt load of $14-15 billion.
media.corporate-ir.net
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS
Smith Barney Citigroup Entertainment, Media &
Telecommunications Conference
January 7, 2004
Technical Profile
Telephony development under way.
High Speed Data Opportunity
Future migration plans expected to address revenue opportunity in high speed data
Churn for data-only and as bundled product very low
Charter’s Telephony Strategy
Charter “Primary Line” Telephony Markets
St. Louis
Ft. Worth
Wisconsin
Michigan
Mass.
LA Greenville/Spartanburg
Birmingham
• Top eight markets expected to be facilities-based, primary line deployments.
• Exploring partnering opportunities for rapid deployment and lower costs.
• CLEC certification in 9 states with applications pending in 10 others.
2004 Telephony Initiatives
Expand serviceable homes and increase penetration in Wisconsin & Missouri.
Increase VoIP deployments to 3 markets.
Determine financial and operational benefits of entering smaller markets via a partnering model – (discussions with Sprint, MCI, AT&T, Net2phone).
Build off of foundation already in place; investment in automation of order processing, provisioning & trouble ticketing.
Leverage telephony infrastructure in Wisconsin & Missouri to support commercial telephone applications in the future.
Utilizing wireless technology to expand addressable market.
2004 - Goals and Objectives
Selectively deploy telephony. |
