Cable and Broadband Carriers Industry Terminology

ARPU (Average Revenue Per User)

A revenue metric that averages monthly service revenue per subscriber; key for pricing, mix, and upsell strategy.

Our ARPU rose 3% after upgrading customers to gig tiers.; Video cord-cutting is pressuring ARPU.; Bundles with mobile lift broadband ARPU.

Backhaul

Connectivity that carries aggregated traffic from access nodes toward the core network or internet gateways.

This node needs a 100G backhaul to the core.; We’re leasing dark fiber for 10G backhaul.; FWA performance is constrained by microwave backhaul.

BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment)

U.S. federal program funding broadband builds to unserved/underserved areas, administered by NTIA via states.

We submitted BEAD applications for unserved census blocks.; Winning BEAD funds requires a 25% match.; Challenge the map before BEAD allocations finalize.

Carrier-Grade NAT (CGNAT)

Large-scale NAT that shares public IPv4 addresses among many subscribers; can affect applications needing inbound connections.

Customers behind CGNAT can’t host inbound ports.; CGNAT logging requirements add OpEx.; IPv6 rollout reduces CGNAT pressure.

CCAP (Converged Cable Access Platform)

A platform that integrates DOCSIS data and digital video edge functions, enabling higher density and DAA migration.

We consolidated EQAM and CMTS onto CCAP.; R-PHY uses a CCAP core.; Add OFDM channels via CCAP line cards.

CDN (Content Delivery Network)

A distributed platform that caches content closer to users to improve performance and reduce upstream/backbone load.

Edge caches lowered backbone traffic 30%.; We peer with major CDNs.; Cache-fill flows over transit links.

Churn

The rate at which subscribers disconnect service over a period; a key retention and growth metric.

Churn fell after we launched proactive outage credits.; Price increase induced involuntary churn.; Track churn by cohort and tenure.

Coaxial cable

Shielded copper cable used in HFC access networks and in-home wiring; supports high-frequency RF transmission.

Replace the drop with RG11 to reduce attenuation.; Ingress on old coax is driving upstream noise.; Hardline coax spans the HFC plant.

Cord-cutting

The trend of customers canceling traditional pay-TV in favor of streaming alternatives.

Accelerating cord-cutting is shrinking video margins.; Broadband-only offers target cord-cutters.; Leverage FAST/OTT to offset cord-cutting.

CPE (Customer Premises Equipment)

Devices at the subscriber location (modems, gateways, set-tops, ONTs) that terminate or distribute the service.

Self-install kits include CPE and instructions.; We manage gateways via TR-069.; Wi‑Fi 6E CPE improves in-home speeds.

DAA (Distributed Access Architecture)

Architectures that move PHY/MAC functions from the headend toward the node (e.g., Remote PHY/MACPHY) to improve performance and scale.

DAA with R-PHY enables Node+0 designs.; Powering and space were critical for DAA shelves.; DAA reduces analog optics complexity.

DOCSIS 3.1

Cable data standard using OFDM/OFDMA and higher-order QAM to deliver multi-hundred-Mbps to gigabit speeds over HFC.

Enable OFDM and profile management to boost rates.; 3.1 modems are required for gigabit tiers.; MER issues limit 4096-QAM profiles.

DOCSIS 4.0

Next-gen cable standard (FDX and Extended Spectrum variants) enabling higher capacity and potential symmetrical multi-gig over HFC.

We’re planning 1.8 GHz upgrades for D4.0.; FDX can deliver multi-gig symmetrical.; Mid/high-split paves the path to 4.0.

Downstream

Traffic flowing from the network to the subscriber.

Add another OFDM block to raise downstream capacity.; Video QAMs occupy downstream spectrum.; Downstream congestion at peak hours.

EBITDA

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization; a proxy for operating profitability and cash generation.

EBITDA margin improved on lower video costs.; Infrastructure sharing is EBITDA accretive.; Fiber builds depress EBITDA near-term.

Fiber deep

Strategy of extending fiber closer to homes to shorten coax runs, lower noise, and increase capacity.

Push fiber deep to reduce amplifier cascades.; Fiber-deep nodes support high-split upgrades.; CAPEX allocated to fiber-deep conversion.

Fixed Wireless Access (FWA)

Broadband delivered via cellular or point-to-point wireless as a last-mile alternative/competitor to cable and fiber.

We’re losing rural subs to 5G FWA.; FWA speeds degrade under cell congestion.; Bundle to defend against FWA churn.

Franchise agreement

Local authorization for cable TV operations, typically addressing rights, fees, and obligations within a municipality.

The city franchise requires PEG channels.; Franchise renewal negotiates build-out obligations.; 5% franchise fees apply to cable TV revenue.

FTTH (Fiber to the Home)

Access architecture delivering fiber all the way to each premises for high capacity and reliability.

Greenfield FTTH lowers long-term OpEx.; Migrate MDUs to FTTH with XGS-PON.; FTTH avoids ingress and return noise.

HFC (Hybrid Fiber-Coax)

A cable access network architecture using fiber to nodes and coaxial cable from nodes to homes.

Our HFC plant tops out at 1.2 GHz today.; Node+0 HFC enables higher splits.; Maintain HFC actives after storms.

High-split

Reallocation of HFC spectrum that raises the upstream band (e.g., to 204 MHz), increasing upstream capacity.

Moving to a 204 MHz high-split doubles upstream.; CPE must support high-split.; Plant conditioning required for high-split.

Homes passed

The number of serviceable premises a network can reach without new mainline construction.

We added 50k homes passed this quarter.; Penetration is 43% of homes passed.; BEAD builds expand homes passed in rural areas.

Jitter

Variation in packet delay; high jitter degrades real-time applications.

High jitter hurts gaming and VoIP.; QoS smoothing reduced jitter on upstream.; Monitor jitter in QoE dashboards.

Latency

Time it takes for data to traverse the network; critical for interactive applications.

DOCSIS latency improved with LLD.; Peering locally lowers latency to top sites.; Bufferbloat spikes latency under load.

Last mile

The access portion connecting the network edge to each subscriber premise.

Last-mile fiber splicing is delayed by permits.; FWA is a last-mile alternative.; Last-mile congestion drives QoE issues.

Middle mile

Network segments linking access networks to core or internet gateways; between last mile and backbone.

Grant funds will build middle-mile rings.; Outage on the middle mile isolated the region.; We lease middle-mile wavelengths.

MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator)

A provider that resells mobile service using another operator’s RAN/core, often bundled with broadband.

Our MVNO bundle reduces churn.; MVNO costs vary with traffic offload to Wi‑Fi.; Negotiated better MVNO wholesale rates.

Net neutrality

Open internet principles restricting blocking, throttling, and paid prioritization of lawful traffic.

Compliance requires transparent traffic management.; No paid prioritization under net neutrality rules.; Policy shifts affect zero-rating.

Node split

Segmentation of an HFC service group by adding nodes or moving fiber deeper to reduce contention.

Node splits halved service-group size.; BEAD build will preempt some node splits.; Plan splits ahead of peak season.

OFDM/OFDMA

Multicarrier modulation used in DOCSIS 3.1/4.0 (OFDM downstream, OFDMA upstream) for spectral efficiency and resilience.

Add a second OFDM block downstream.; Tune OFDMA profiles for noisy returns.; Pilot patterns affect robustness.

ONT (Optical Network Terminal)

Customer-side fiber termination device in PON/FTTH that converts optical signals to Ethernet.

Install indoor ONTs for MDUs.; Power backup for the ONT is required.; XGS-PON ONTs support symmetric 10G.

OpEx (Operating Expenditures)

Ongoing operating costs (maintenance, support, leases, power) to run the network and business.

DAA reduces truck rolls and OpEx.; CGNAT increases OpEx via logging.; Leasing backhaul shifts CAPEX to OpEx.

OTT (Over-the-top)

Content delivered via the internet rather than managed pay-TV platforms.

Cord-cutting accelerates OTT adoption.; Zero-rating OTT is restricted.; Bundle OTT apps with broadband.

Peering

Interconnection with other networks to exchange traffic, often settlement-free at internet exchange points.

Set up settlement-free peering at the IX.; Move traffic off transit via direct peering.; Peering policies define who qualifies.

Penetration rate

Percent of serviceable premises that subscribe to a given service.

Our broadband penetration is 48% of passings.; Higher penetration improves unit economics.; Marketing raises penetration in new builds.

Pole attachment

Right to attach communications plant to utility poles; subject to engineering, safety, and fee rules.

We filed pole-attachment applications with the utility.; Make-ready delays our aerial build.; FCC rules cap pole fees.

PON (Passive Optical Network)

Point-to-multipoint fiber architecture using passive splitters to share fiber among many homes.

Deploy 1:32 split PON for suburbs.; Upgrade OLTs for XGS-PON.; PON reduces active field electronics.

QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation)

Modulation scheme used in cable for digital video and data; higher orders increase capacity but need better signals.

Legacy video uses 256-QAM.; 4096-QAM requires high SNR.; QAM profiles adapt with plant conditions.

QoE (Quality of Experience)

End-user perception of service quality, influenced by speed, latency, reliability, and application behavior.

QoE dipped during last-mile congestion.; Use app telemetry to track QoE.; Latency and jitter drive gaming QoE.

QoS (Quality of Service)

Traffic management techniques that prioritize or shape flows to meet performance objectives.

Prioritize VoIP with QoS policies.; DOCSIS service flows enforce QoS.; DSCP markings preserve QoS across domains.

RDOF (Rural Digital Opportunity Fund)

FCC reverse-auction program subsidizing rural broadband builds with performance obligations.

RDOF winners must meet build milestones.; We’re overbuilding an RDOF area with fiber.; RDOF penalties for missed speeds.

Remote PHY (R-PHY)

DAA approach placing DOCSIS PHY in the node while keeping MAC/control in the headend/core.

Move PHY to the node with R-PHY.; R-PHY reduces analog optics impairments.; Requires a CCAP core in the headend.

Right-of-way (ROW)

Legal rights to build and maintain network infrastructure on public or private property corridors.

City ROW permits are pending.; Trenching in ROW requires traffic control.; Respect ROW restoration standards.

SLA (Service Level Agreement)

Contractual performance commitments (availability, latency, repair times) for business services.

Business fiber comes with a 4-hour SLA.; Credits apply for SLA breaches.; Define SLA metrics: uptime, latency, jitter.

SNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio)

Measure of signal quality relative to noise; higher SNR enables higher QAM orders and throughput.

Low SNR limits upstream modulation.; In-home splitters reduced SNR.; Profile management uses SNR data.

Transit

Paid connectivity to the global internet via upstream providers when traffic isn’t exchanged via peering.

We buy IP transit from Tier 1 providers.; Shift 20% of traffic off transit via peering.; Transit costs scale with peak 95th percentile.

TR-069 (CWMP)

Broadband Forum protocol for remote management of CPE (auto-configuration, monitoring, and updates).

Provision CPE via TR-069 ACS.; Migrate to TR-369 for modern telemetry.; TR-069 enables remote firmware updates.

Upstream

Traffic flowing from the subscriber to the network.

High-split expands upstream bandwidth.; Upstream noise is impacting OFDMA.; Monitor upstream utilization by service group.

Wi-Fi 6/6E/7

Generations of IEEE 802.11 improving throughput, latency, and spectral efficiency, including new 6 GHz spectrum (6E).

Wi‑Fi 6E adds 6 GHz capacity.; Wi‑Fi 7 enables multi-link operation.; Whole-home Wi‑Fi reduces churn.

XGS-PON

10 Gigabit symmetric PON standard enabling multi-gigabit up/down over FTTH.

Offer symmetric 2–8 Gbps on XGS-PON.; Upgrade OLT blades for XGS-PON.; Migrate GPON areas to XGS-PON.