Introduction
Cable modems and technology based on Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications (DOCSIS®) and EuroDOCSIS allow very high speed data communications over a cable network. You could say that DOCSIS and EuroDOCSIS technology is to cable what DSL is (tries to be) to a traditional telephony network.
Worldwide cable operators have transitioned from a traditional core business of TV entertainment programming to a position as full-service providers of video, voice, and data telecommunications services. EuroDOCSIS is among the fundamental technologies making this transition possible.
EuroDOCSIS defines interface specifications for cable modems, cable modem termination systems and embedded cable modems within a TV set-top box (DVB-C). It is based on the CableLabs DOCSIS® specifications.
There is no difference between EuroDOCSIS and DOCSIS other than the physical specification of a European cable network compared to a US cable network. One frequency channel on a European cable network has a spectrum of 8Mhz, while a US cable network uses 6 Mhz per channel.
EuroDOCSIS 3.0: A lot more speed
The latest version of EuroDOCSIS -version 3.0- is a breakthrough technology for European cable operators and consumers. It already allows data speeds of 160 Mbps downstream and 120 Mbps.
Most remarkable about EuroDOCSIS 3.0 is that it bundles minimum 4 frequency channels of the cable network together whereas previous versions of EuroDOCSIS used only one frequency channel. This makes EuroDOCSIS 3.0 at least 4 times faster than the previous EuroDOCSIS version. As EuroDOCSIS 3.0 has no limit in how many channels it can bundle, the speed for data communications via cable will progressively increase to a multitude of 160Mbps/120Mbps.
EuroDOCSIS 3.0 also responds to the increased demand for IP addresses by integrating the new Internet Protocol version 6 (IP vs6). The demand for more IP addresses is generated by an array of new Internet enabled devices (laptops, PVRs, mobile phones, etc.).
World standards for cable
Cable Europe Labs joined forces with CableLabs to develop the new DOCSIS 3.0 / EuroDOCSIS 3.0 specifications. This has allowed to integrated the specific needs of the European cable operators in this technology from its inception.
The development of DOCSIS 3.0 / EuroDOCSIS 3.0 is an important step forward in the development of world standards for cable technology. For the first time, the DOCSIS and EuroDOCSIS specifications were published in the same document and released at the same time.
Thanks to greater consistency across cable technologies developed for Europe, North America and other regions in the world, consumers will enjoy rapid deployment of innovative broadband technologies, as well as lower prices.
For vendors, standardised cable technologies reduce development risk and allow to invest more research and development in new high-level and cost-efficient cable products.
Previous versions of EuroDOCSIS
The four successive versions of the EuroDOCSIS cable modem, EuroDOCSIS 1.0, EuroDOCSIS 1.1, EuroDOCSIS 2.0, and now EuroDOCSIS 3.0, provide increasing levels of capabilities and functionality, while maintaining multi-vendor interoperability and full cross-version compatibility of EuroDOCSIS.
EuroDOCSIS 1.0
Basic specification derived from DOCSIS 1.0 offering best-effort data communication.
First certification wave mid 2000.
EuroDOCSIS 1.1
Adds service flows that enables quality of service and adds enhanced security based on certificates. First certification wave end 2001.
EuroDOCSIS 2.0
Offers enhanced upstream throughput using advanced (A-TDMA and S-CDMA) modulation techniques. First certification wave end 2003.
EuroDOCSIS 3.0
Introduces channel bonding in the up- and downstream, enhanced security, IPv6.
The first set of specifications is already available.
source: cableeurope