Helbo: symmetrical broadband shows cable can match fibre

Com Hem’s recent launch of a 1.2Gbps symmetrical broadband trial was designed to ensure that the operator can stay ahead in the fibre-rich Swedish market, according to CTO Thomas Helbo.

Speaking to DTVE at the recent Cable Congress, Helbo said that Com Hem used its fibre-to-the-building network combined with a passive cable network to deliver high-speed symmetrical services in the trial.

While migration of TV to IP could help boost broadband, Helbo said that migration to IP is likely to take some time “because customers are not ready for it”. While catch-up TV is growing, “the technology is not yet ready” to migrate linear TV on the big screen to IP, he said

“We don’t see a need [to migrate the major channels] fast,” he said.

Helbo also said that fixed-mobile convergence in Sweden “hasn’t really happened” yet, but that Com Hem’s merger with Tele2 put it in a good position when it becomes a reality.