I should clarify that shaw is capable of delivering 4k streams to you. What their current network will not be able to do is deliver 4k streams to the entire neighborhood.
A 4k stream typically uses between 15-25mbps some are higher some are less but for the sake of argument we can use 20mbps. On shaws current setup you are receiving internet and tv on different networks. TV is coming through coax and internet through docsis 3.1 which is copper line still. If shaw is to move to an IPTV model then all of the traffic for TV and Internet would come down the same pipe. Their docsis 3.1 network cannot handle this load plain and simple. They dont publish the acutal numbers but typical is between 200-500 homes per node which has a theoretical max of 10gbps. Compare that to fiber where the theoretical limit is 1 petabit per second (1000gbps). Shaw is usuing a fiber backbone for some of their network but a lot of it is still copper cables over docsis 3.1. If you want more clarification of their network shortcomings ask the internet tech guys why they dont offer duplex speeds (150mbps up and 150mbps down) this is due to limits inside of their own network infrastructure. The marketing answer for this is "no one needs fast upload speeds" instead of "our network cant handle it"
Compare this with Telus who has been investing in fiber networks instead of outdated copper and what they are able to offer through 1 pipeline is greater (4kTV, 1gbps internet (duplex), home phone) fiber also has the advantage of not getting slowed down during peak times as the network can handle much higher throughputs at peak times.
Just to be 100% clear Shaws network can handle 4k streams. It cannot handle it if too many households on your node decide to stream 4k.
What Shaw is trying to do is limp their aging copper network along until they are forced into the higher investment of fiber. Other companies saw the writing on the wall years ago and stopped laying copper wires. Concidering we are now seeing 8k tvs and the occasional 6k and 8k video its only a matter of time before we have another wave of upgrades. its
