Coaxsys launches in-home IP/coax adapter

Coaxsys today announced the development of a technology that will allow carriers to distribute IP video through a home using the existing coax infrastructure.

The IPTV 7000 TVnet technology initially takes the form of an adapter that sits between the DSL modem/gateway and the coax network. However, the company’s goal is to get set-top box and other CPE vendors to adopt the technology as part of their solutions, said Michael D'Addio, CEO of Coaxsys.

“We’re looking to partner with them for the purpose of designing it in,” he said.

Though just publicly unveiled today, D’Addio said the company already is shipping product to 12 service providers and will reveal its first customer by the end of the year. At least one set-top box vendor also said it is looking closely at the technology.

Coaxsys’ announcement comes at a time when carriers are becoming increasingly aware about the issues of distributing video over IP around a home. In many cases, they are being forced to install Category 5 cable throughout homes, a time consuming and costly process.

“We’ve been planning on this gotcha for a couple of years now,” D’Addido said. “Cat 5 works well, but it’s expensive and invasive for the home owner. This works across any topology of coax with the many adapters that exist.”

Like most IP video vendors, the company initially is targeting independent telcos, but it has been in discussion with a couple of Bell operating companies.