Cable network management: where availability is king.

Availability is the name of the game for broadband network management and nine is its magic number. Multiple nines, to be exact - 99.99% availability. For cable operators, achieving or even approaching this lofty level requires extremely reliable and intelligent network elements, integrated network management systems and a leap of faith from existing subscribers.

It's hard to determine existing availability levels for cable systems because measurement capability doesn't exist. Many claim the same is true for plain old telephone service. Regardless, both services suffer and/or benefit from existing subscriber perceptions.

"In today's household, the TV is on most of the day and in …