Remote PHY is emerging as the first-choice distributed access architecture (DAA) for many of the leading cable operators in all regions because of its combination of relative deployment simplicity and potential for significant cost reduction. The argument is not entirely settled however with some leading vendors such as Arris holding out for a choice of access architectures on the ground that the best option depends on factors on the ground, especially the operator’s legacy infrastructure. Meanwhile the field remains mired in confusion and misinformation, which is making it harder for smaller MSOs with less expertise to plot the right migration path towards an all-IP future where voice, data and video are all handled interchangeably over a common network fabric from…