Cable industry group Cable Television Laboratories has issued a request for proposals from hardware and software suppliers that could lead to orders for up to $2,000m of telephony equipment. Firms actively participating include Comcast Corp, Continental Cablevision, Tele-Communications Inc, Time Warner Holdings Inc and Viacom International Inc. The group said the equipment being sought would enable cable operators to provide telephone service to residential and business customers over cable television hybrid fibre and coax networks. Deadline for responses is September 23. It will not purchase equipment under the request, but would test and evaluate it as regards its interoperability with the established telecommunications environment.
