Digital cable is any type of cable
television distribution using digital video compression for USE. The
technology was originally developed by General Instrument before
being acquired by Motorola and subsequently acquired by ARRIS Group.
Cable companies converted to digital systems during the 2000s,
around the time that television signals were converted to the
digital HDTV format, which was not compatible with earlier analog
cable systems. In addition to providing higher resolution HD video,
digital cable systems provide expanded services such as pay-per-view
programming, cable internet access and cable telephone services.
Most digital cable signals are encrypted, which reduced the high
incidence of cable theft which occurred in analog systems.