Harmonic Delivers Software-Based CCAP Solution

Harmonic has announced the introduction of its CableOS system – the industry's first software-based CCAP solution.

The "game-changing" CableOS solution enables the migration to gigabit capacity and resolves operators' space and power constraints in the headend and hub. The end-to-end solution provides unprecedented scalability, agility and cost savings, and enables fast deployment of new IP-based data, video and voice services. The CableOS solution will make its public debut this week during SCTE Cable-Tec Expo, booth 1948.

Patrick Harshman, president and CEO at Harmonic, said: "Today's cable operators have a remarkable opportunity when it comes to rolling out next-generation gigabit broadband services. The software-based CableOS solution provides the tools to take advantage of that opportunity, as well as gain the benefits associated with distributed access architecture.

"Leveraging the full extent of Harmonic expertise in developing software-based technologies, CableOS helps our customers simplify operations, generate new revenue streams and reduce TCO."

Featuring the industry's first software-based CMTS Core server and full-spectrum DOCSIS 3.1 Remote PHY systems, CableOS Core software runs on 1-RU COTS Intel processor-based servers in a headend, hub or data center.

"As we continue to evolve our network and products to deliver leading-edge speed and performance to our customers, it's exciting to see the continuing wave of innovation being driven by our valued partners," said Tony Werner, president of technology and product for Comcast Cable. "Innovation in this space is particularly timely as our industry increasingly leverages software to deliver smart, simple and scalable infrastructure."

A single CableOS Core server offers a quantum leap forward in its ability to support tens of gigs of capacity and multiple service groups in fewer rack units when compared with traditional hardware CMTS implementations. With CableOS, operators can cut space and power by up to 75 percent in a centralized CCAP deployment, or by more than 90 percent in a Remote PHY deployment.

"Cable delivery infrastructure has traditionally been based on purpose-built silicon platforms," Dan Rodriguez, general manager, Communication Infrastructure Division at Intel Corporation, added.

"Scaling hardware-centric infrastructure to meet new services and IP demand growth leads to capacity, space and power challenges. The move to a software-based model that uses standard servers with Intel processors offers cost and time-to-market advantages to cable operators by delivering more computing at the edge of the network to improve service agility and quality of experience."

Beyond streamlining the migration to the new DOCSIS 3.1 specification over existing cable access infrastructure, the CableOS solution offers breakthrough RF port density for centralized architectures, affording operators dramatic cost- savings over traditional cable access architectures.

The CableOS software-based CCAP solution is currently in trials at multiple tier-1 cable MSOs in North America and Europe. The first commercial deployments are expected to commence in Q4 2016.

harmonicinc.com

(MH/CD)