Changeover for many TV viewers: Users must react soon

In the course of this year, Vodafone will make a nationwide cable network out of its patchwork cable network. The cable network of the former mobile phone company has grown over the years through takeovers. First they took over Kabel Deutschland and operated a cable network in 13 federal states. This was followed later by the takeover of Unitymedia in three other federal states.

Since then, Vodafone has gradually modernized the two cable networks and, among other things, introduced DOCSIS 3.1 for Internet access. The programs were also gradually unified here and then. Among other things, this led to the shutdown of some pay-TV channels in the territory of the former Unitymedia. And this year, too, the focus will continue to be on adapting the networks in Vodafone’s nationwide cable network. Vodafone has now announced this.

The final conversion phase will follow this year, according to the company headquarters in Düsseldorf. For the second half of the year, Vodafone is planning to align the frequency spectrum that has been used differently in the different network regions. “The adjustment of the technical parameters to a nationwide uniform fiber optic cable network offers Vodafone much more creative freedom with regard to future market developments,” it says. But it is also much easier for Vodafone to operate a transmitter network in which all transmitters have the same frequency from Flensburg to Konstanz.

Vodafone conversion: Two new TV channels

But there is another reason for Vodafone to significantly simplify the network. The viewing habits of TV customers are changing and broadband internet is the basis for the development of new business models. With these there are “alternative access routes to a wide range of content from content providers and on IP-enabled platforms such as GigaTV”. In plain language: more and more cable users watch content on demand, less linearly. Nevertheless, Vodafone will “soon” feed the two linear DAZN channels as an alternative to streaming in the area of ​​the former Unitymedia. Previously, these channels were only available in the Kabel Deutschland area. At the same time, the GigaTV Cable Box 2 will be available nationwide in all TV tariffs.

When the nationwide switch is due in the second half of the year, experienced users will have to search for channels and possibly have their favorites lists updated. Less experienced users should now arrange to meet someone who is familiar with such settings. The switch will affect all viewers on the Vodafone cable network, not users of Pyur and not reception via satellite, Internet or DVB-T. Vodafone has not yet given an exact date for the changeover.

This article first appeared on inside-digital.de.