Fourteen papers were presented on convergence topics, as well as over 100 other papers on topics such as workforce transformation, energy management, and network security. Two workshops focused on the technology, with CableLabs moderating a session on “Is Fiber the Key to Transport Convergence?” while Charter moderated a session about “Convergence: HFC, Meet Your New Bestie, 5G!” One of the objectives for current convergence activities is to apply emerging technologies such as network function virtualization across the converged architecture, regardless of access flows, while delivering a seamless service experience to customers.

The virtual experience did not mean the lessons and insights were any less impactful. All attendees were able to connect with the experts leading the transformation of connectivity and convergence. The 2021 online program facilitated an in-depth approach to the ideation for improving consumers’ lives and generating outstanding business results, through a rich selection of live content, including 98 thought leadership sessions, over 200 speakers, and 53 Fall Technical Forum Workshops that covered a wealth of topics.

Ideation to bring innovation to life

At CableLabs and SCTE, ideation and production realization are working together to accelerate their ability to bring products and services to the market. The energy for developing the sessions and workshops on display at this year’s Cable-Tec Expo is an indication of where the industry is today and how it is perceived. The keynote speakers represented the top echelons of businesses where technology is applied to benefit society.Inaugurating the general session was Kevin Hart, executive vice president and chief product and technology officer at Cox Communications, who led this year’s Fall Technical and Program Committee that selected the 123 papers that were presented during Expo. He was joined by powerhouse technology executives whose organizations play a key role in moving the industry forward: Wendell Weeks, Corning’s chairman and CEO, and Eric S. Yuan, the CEO and founder of Zoom Video Communications, Inc. Their insights help us as an industry to build on key pandemic-era learnings and continuously move toward revolutionizing the way we live, work, learn and play.

A unique immersive video experience depicted how SCTE, CableLabs, and all their partners are working every day on “Unlocking the Limitless Network.” SCTE demonstrated through its people and technology that it makes big ideas possible, clearly conveying the message that the essence of SCTE is to develop, engage, and deploy.

SCTE and CableLabs committed to continue to challenge its membership and innovators to develop new solutions. A great example of this is the 10G Challenge, which Phil McKinney, CableLabs CEO, and Michael Powell, former FCC chairman and NCTA CEO, launched during Expo. The purpose of the 10G Challenge is to inspire innovators to leverage the emerging 10G network. This is an initiative that really highlights how the industry is talking about 10G and the applications that are riding on it and will continue to grow and evolve and build.

Planning for 2022 is already underway with the SCTE team gathering insights to create an exceptional SCTE Cable-Tec Expo 2022 hybrid event in Philadelphia, PA, September 19-22. We look forward to working with our show chair Comcast President and CEO David Watson to produce what we expect to be an increasingly international event to elevate the industry.