Can CATV availability reach that of the TELCOs? The road to 5NINES!

Abstract

This paper discusses hardware, software, and human factors affecting cable television availability, and examines what can be done with each of these factors to enhance system availability. Factors are examined from a cost/benefit analysis standpoint. The paper notes that hardware redesign is expensive and yields only a one order of magnitude increase in availability. On the other hand, simple things like better training, education, and sparing of components-all of which are relatively cheap-can enhance availability by up to three orders of magnitude.