Intel Corp and General Instrument Corp have been demonstrating new high-speed modem technologies to enable home personal computers to be used to access a new range of services via the US broadband cable television infrastructure at speeds 1,000 times faster than present modems. The two plan to develop and field-test the technology in 1994 with other participants. While performance in home computers has increased by a factor of more than 100 times over the last 10 years, the communications link hasn’t kept up, commented Andrew Grove, president and chief executive of Intel. Coupled with the personal computer’s multimedia capabilities, this technology will enable the personal computer to continue to be the key on-line interactivity centre in the home. Two major cable system operators, Comcast Corp. and Viacom International Inc are planning to field-test the technology next year, and America On-Line Inc and Prodigy Services Co have agreed to participate in the trials. Hybrid Networks Inc also announced that it has signed Intel and General Instrument to use its technology in the new systems. The networking technology is claimed to offer the first affordable method of delivering a broad range of high speed services to homes and schools over cable and other types of broadband media. Hybrid has been testing its network for professional applications on a number of Tele-Communications Inc- and Viacom Inc-operated cable systems in the San Francisco Bay Area.
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