Theoretically, the Nextbox 3 (Cisco/Espial) as well as the Nextbox 4 (Technicolor) can both run IPTV, so a software build of whatever is going to run with Comcast can be done if they choose to keep old inventory in place, but for sure, forcing everyone over to the new boxes, with rental or purchase would help their currently struggling device sales (September quarterly report).
It is in the same way, that we are on Hitron with huge investment on those routers, which are not actually included in the list of currently supported Comcast modems (they prefer Arris, which bought out Motorola in 2003).
So at this point, it is all guessing, we will know when it comes or they make the announcement.
Rogers has certainly been known to push new software to older set boxes hoping that they can be fully operational whether it be Scientific Atalanta (SA), Cisco Nextbox, or now the Technicolor and in the east, Motorola - It is all hardware - just depends upon whether it is compatible with the full Comcast model of Internet, Docsis 3.1, routers, Internet apps and set boxes.
At this point, that information is all on a need to know I am sure and being kept tight as a drum.
Lots of curiousity by us all, but we just have to wait, but one thing for sure that I see - once it comes, and if the 2019 end to non IPTV services (i.e., traditional QAM cable), it puts all the services in Canada on a level playing field, and it will all be feature sets, stability, pricing and customer service that will determine who goes where.
Unfortunately, I have no doubt that companies will stick with proprietary control on what boxes can be used that you can't buy one box and go to another company - they talked about that in the industry and FCC in the States, and it died, it will only come here if CRTC makes it happen and they have had no interest in it in the past either.
Ahh - surprise boxes of what our services will look like in the future.
Bruce
