As new entrants into the cable TV market look for more efficient means of delivering video compared to the broadcast signals of coax, more and more of them are turning to IPTV. AT&T is pushing U-Verse while Verizon pushes FIOS, but a number of smaller RLECs are getting into the game too. The advantages? By streaming only a few channels at a time, the compression isn't as aggressive leading to better quality signals and lightning-fast channel changes. As telephone companies seek more creative ways to push new kinds of data over aging copper, turning the whole thing into an IP network to cram as much voice, video and data as possible is the Next Big Thing(TM) until they can afford fiber… or get pummeled int he market, whichever comes first.
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