2021.02.05 – Open Broadband News

Demand for connected home devices boom in 2021 

Increasing demands for faster, more efficient, and more reliable ways to manage connected devices will make 2021 the year of service and device lifecycle management, according to Broadband Forum. Broadband Forum’s User Services Platform (USP) standard offers related data models and the communication protocol to master such needs.

The rapid growth of internet connected devices in the home has accelerated owing to the increased amount of time people have had to spend at home during the pandemic. A new major study which was published last week highlighted that the number of installed connected devices is expected to rise by a further 70% by 2025. Similarly, spending on smart home systems is expected to rise to a projected $157 billion worldwide by 2023.

John Blackford, the Broadband Forum Chairman of the Board and Co-Director of the Broadband User Services Work Area said: “Given that we expect the rapid rise of connected devices in the home to continue this year and beyond, our recent survey report emphasized that the number of users and vendors utilizing USP continues to increase too. The Broadband Forum will be responding to this focus on user services by making regular updates and developments to the USP. We are already working on the next versions of the Device:2 root data model (TR-181) and the USP standard to add new functionality and further solidify USP as the go-to interoperable ecosystem for the Connected Home.”

For more information about Broadband Forum USP developments, please visit: https://usp-data-models.broadband-forum.org/

Charter to deliver broadband access to more than one million locations

Charter Communications announced the launch of a multiyear, multibillion-dollar broadband buildout initiative to deliver gigabit high-speed broadband access to more than one million unserved customer locations predominantly in the US, as estimated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and awarded to Charter in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF). Charter expects to invest approximately $5 billion to support its buildout initiative.

The initiative aim is to mainly expand to lower-density, mostly rural communities that do not have access to broadband service of at least 25/3 Mbps. Preparation for RDOF phase 1 has already begun and the company is expected to hire more than 2000 employees and contractors for the buildout. The network Charter will offer 1 Gbps high–speed broadband access to all newly served rural customer locations with starting speeds of 200 Mbps, enabling consumers to engage in remote learning, work, telemedicine, and other applications that require high-bandwidth, low-latency connectivity.

Tom Rutledge, CEO of Charter Communications said: “As Americans across the country increasingly rely on broadband to work, learn, access healthcare and stay in touch with family and loved ones, bringing broadband access to more unserved areas should be a priority for all stakeholders.”

Ofcom proposes easier solution for switching broadband providers

Switching broadband provider could become even easier after proposals from Ofcom, the telecoms regulator, to introduce a ‘one touch’ process that means customers will only have to contact their new provider, regardless of which network they use.

Currently broadband customers only have to contact the new provider if they are moving between providers that use the Openreach network. However, if they plan to move to or from providers that use their own networks – such as Virgin Media or Hyperoptic – you have to contact both. Ofcom says its new plan will make switching smooth for all broadband and landline customers.

Ofcom’s research found that some 41% of people who decide against switching broadband provider have been put off by the hassle of having to contact more than one provider. Of those who switch, 24% have faced unwanted attempts to persuade them to stay when contacting their current provider. Ofcom has opened the proposal up for consultation – if it decides to move forward with the plans, they will come into force from December 2022.

Rocio Concha, the Director of Policy and Advocacy at Which? said: “The pandemic has highlighted the importance of a good broadband connection, however when it comes to switching to get a better deal or service, some people have faced issues with the current process, which is not as easy as it could be.”

Netflix or Disney Plus? Study reveals rise of ‘Subscription hopping’

Consumer “subscription hopping” among streaming services has gripped the market during a pandemic that has forced people to entertain more at home, TiVo found in its Q4 2020 Video Trends Report. That scenario has likewise been fuelled at a time when a deluge of new premium streaming services have launched.

TiVo’s study, based on a survey of 4,526 adults in the US and Canada, found that 15% had cancelled at least one video subscription due to the pandemic. Almost half (45%) cited household income as the prime reason, followed by “just in case” budget tightening (39%). A smaller group (35%) said they cancelled an OTT service because they were not watching it often enough. On the other side, 25% said they added at least one new video subscription due to the pandemic, with 63% saying being home more often gave them more time to pony up, 38% saying they jumped on a special deal or offer, and 36% saying they were drawn in to stream a specific show.

Interestingly enough, about 79% of those surveyed said they would rather use a free, ad-supported streaming service than subscribe to yet another paid service. And the vast majority (81%) wished that a service such as Amazon Prime Video or Netflix offered a free, ad-supported version.

Report shows 76% of service providers planning to use Broadband Forum’s USP

 A recent survey from Omdia claims that more than three out of  four broadband service providers have either started to implement the Broadband Forum’s User Services Platform (USP) or plan to do so in the next year, according to the Broadband Forum’s new report. 

Users are still buying smart home devices at an alarming rate (a further rise of 75 per cent is projected by 2025) and more and smarter devices means more potential complexity for the home network and whoever is tasked with keeping it running smoothly. The report highlights the problem of fragmentation in home customer-premises equipment (CPE) and middleware as the biggest barriers to home network growth.

Craig Thomas, the Vice President of Strategic Marketing and Business Development at Broadband Forum said: “As the demand for connected home services continues to proliferate, service providers are playing less of a central role in the consumers’ smart homes and have instead decided to partner or concentrate on enabling third parties to play their role within a managed service offering. This has led to the fragmentation which industry wide standards play a pivotal role in combating.”