The cable industry isn't facing a simple crossroads regarding the future of their widely deployed hybrid fiber/coax (HFC) networks. Instead, operators have a multitude of paths and options to choose from.
Some might stick with DOCSIS 3.1 and beef up the upstream with "mid-split" or "high-split" upgrades that allocate more spectrum to the upstream path. Others could take a closer look at an upgraded version of D3.1 (call it DOCSIS+ or "extended" DOCSIS 3.1) that can boost the performance of the downstream while potentially putting off an upgrade to a distributed access architecture (DAA). Additional options include going for a full DOCSIS 4.0 upgrade paired with DAA or simply shifting investments into fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) overlays and upgrades. Read more here.