Charter’s DOCSIS 4.0 clock speeds up—powered by Cox
Charter Communications said its multi-phase HFC network upgrade is expected to be about 50% complete by the end of 2026, progressing from 1.2GHz/high-split upgrades to DAA/virtual CMTS deployments and eventually DOCSIS 4.0 with 1.8GHz in the remaining footprint. The company also told regulators it plans to accelerate DOCSIS 4.0 upgrades in Cox territories after the Charter–Cox merger, which is targeted to close by mid-2026 pending remaining approvals including California’s CPUC. Charter also highlighted recent pay-TV subscriber additions and the inclusion of ad-supported direct-to-consumer streaming apps at no extra cost as part of video packaging aimed at supporting broadband retention and growth.
Key Takeaways
- Charter’s HFC roadmap: 15% done (1.2GHz + high-split), next 50% adds DAA/virtual CMTS, final 35% shifts to 1.8GHz DOCSIS 4.0.
- End-state goal: multi-gig downstream and at least 1Gbps upstream across the footprint.
- Charter plans to accelerate DOCSIS 4.0 in Cox territories post-merger; deal aims to close by mid-2026 pending CPUC and other remaining approvals.
- Cable equipment spending could inflect in 2026 as upgrades move from planning to large-scale deployments.
- Video momentum (including bundled ad-supported DTC apps) is positioned explicitly as a broadband growth/retention tool.
Why It Matters
For streamers and ad-tech, the “upgrade half done by 2026” headline isn’t about bragging rights—it’s about upstream capacity, latency, and reliability becoming table stakes for the next wave of interactive video, live sports, cloud gaming, and in-home creator workflows. Charter’s sequencing (high-split → DAA/virtual CMTS → DOCSIS 4.0) signals cable’s playbook to defend share against fiber without waiting for full overbuilds. The Cox merger adds a second lever: standardize and accelerate upgrades at scale—if California signs off. The emerging meme: video bundles aren’t “TV,” they’re broadband churn insurance.
Read full article at lightreading.com