It may happen that very soon the biggest cable TV networks will be offering the Internet with the data rates higher than 100 Mbit/s. The reason is the new DOCSIS 3.0 standard which is being tested also in Poland. The PasjaGSM.pl claims that ultra-fast Internet links will have been offered by the cable TV operators by the end of this year.
Marcin Ułasik from VECTOR describes the DOCSIS 3.0 standard for all readers of PasjaGSM.pl.
What is the DOCSIS 3.0 standard? It is the next version of the fast data transmission standard for cable TV networks (Data Over Cable System Interface Specification). In comparison with the old versions the DOCSIS 3.0 allows:
- flexible configuration of the system including the network traffic reconfiguration and customer demands,
- usage of the up-to-date integrated circuits available on the market in order to reduce system costs,
- substantial increase of maximum data rate which can be offered for subscribers.
The general idea of the standard is “more services for less money” – the subscribers can be offered a broader bandwidth for lower subscription fee. The deployment moment is ideal – increasing demand for bandwidth, more content available in the Internet, higher resolutions of shared files.
The standard is half-baked – the providers announce that next year the proper technologies for 160 Mbit/s download and 120 Mbit/s upload will appear. In practice, the download and upload subscriber speed can be higher, and the cable modem providers announce software updates to the new standard of currently offered modems.
source: VECTOR
In February 2009 VECTOR together with the telecom operator PETRUS for the first time deployed the fast data transmission system based on DOCSIS 3.0 I-CMTS.
The deployment included the creation of the migration plan as well as the system and network configuration for DOCSIS 3.0. In the next phase the old system was replaced by the new one.
The PETRUS company is active in a few towns in the central and northern Poland (Chojnice, Toruń, Człuchów, Miastko, Bytów, Czersk and Tuchola) where it offers services for several dozen thousand of subscribers. PETRUS belongs to the very exclusive club of companies which offer the Quadruple Play service (“four in one” – analog TV + digital TV + Internet + telephone).
“Among many advantages of introducing the DOCSIS 3.0 system in our company the most important one is the reduction of the transmission cost per one subscriber and the flexible configuration of downstream and upstream purchase. The introduced DOCSIS 3.0 standard allows us offering very fast data transmission services – up to 200 Mb/s for one subscriber”, said Mr. Marcin Granowski, the PETRUS Project Coordinator.
The key element of the DOCSIS 3.0 standard is CMTS, which controls subscriber cable modems. PETRUS has ARRIS C4 controllers installed by VECTOR. ARRIS C4 allows the operator offering advanced services of telephony, data and video transmission via convergent IP network for business and individual customers. VECTOR will deploy the DOCSIS 3.0 for other telecom operators in the near future.
source: VECTOR
VECTOR has been designing and deploying DOCSIS systems for many years. We offer turn-key solutions including hardware, software and service support, starting with designing the solution, through the system implementation and integration with the operator’s network and systems, and ending with system maintenance and support during its operation.
The DOCSIS/EuroDOCSIS standard has evolved, offering in each new version the support of more and more advanced services:
- DOCSIS 1.0 – “best effort” Internet access services
- DOCSIS 1.1 – parameter guaranteed services, VoIP telephony
- DOCSIS 2.0 – symmetric transmission services (video conferences, P2P data exchange, private web pages)
The new standard version is DOCSIS 3.0, which offers very fast data transmission (up to 200 Mb/s) or Video over IP services with the Channel Bonding technology.
The deployment of a fast data transmission system can help a cable network operator to achieve many advantages:
- additional revenues thanks to the new interactive services offered to subscribers,
- service offer extension with new services responding to subscribers’ needs,
- TV network transformation into a broadband telecommunication network capable of sound, video and data transmission,
- the increase of the network operator competitiveness.
In order to deploy the DOCSIS 3.0 system, one needs not only proper headend equipment (ARRIS C4 CMTS), but also subsriber’s equipment (cable modems and multimedia terminals). VECTOR wants to offer all elements of the system, so it introduces new subscriber terminals compatible with the DOCSIS 3.0 system:
ARRIS Touchstone ® WBM750A/B Cable Modem 
- DOCSIS/EuroDOCSIS 3.0 RFI Network Interface
- Downstream band: 108 – 1002 MHz
- Single Wideband DS Tuner (100 MHz Capture Bandwidth)
- Upstream band: 5-42 MHz (A) or 5-65 MHz (B)
- Channel Bonding (4 DS x 4 US)
- Dual module (automatic D3.0 or ED3.0)
- 10/100/1000 Base-T Ethernet Interface + USB 2.0vInternal AC/DC power supply
- LED diagnostics (power supply, DS, US, Online, Link)
- CE/CB standard compliant
ARRIS Touchstone® TM702A/B Multimedia Terminal 
- DOCSIS/EuroDOCSIS 3.0 RFI Network Interface
- Downstream band: 108-1002 MHz
- Single Wideband DS Tuner (100 MHz Capture BW)
- Upstream band: 5-42 MHz (A) or 5-65 MHz (B)
- Channel Bondidng (4 DS x 4 US)
- 2 POTs Lines
- 10/100/1000 Base-T Ethernet Interface _ USB 2.0
- Dual module (automatic D3.0 or ED3.0)
- LED diagnostics (power supply, DS, US, Online, Link, Telephone 1&2)
- CE/CB standard compatible
All additional information can be obtained from your VECTOR representatives.
source: VECTOR
Asta-Net is the next cable TV operator which introduces DOCSIS 3.0 I-CMTS in cooperation with VECTOR.
The DOCSIS 3.0 I-CMTS data transmission system allows offering the Internet access services with data speed higher than 100 Mbit/s. It also makes possible to use the IP protocol for video transmission (IPTV services). The new system reduces the operational costs of cable TV operators by the power reduction and increases efficiency and reliability of the solution. It reduces the cost per each Mb of the network traffic.
Astra-Net has appreciated the advantages of DOCSIS 3.0. The company has been present in the Wielkopolska district since 1989. The company offers services in the area of cable TV, broadband Internet access, digital TV and telephony. The offered products have the highest quality and are based on the latest technological solutions responding for increasing customer needs.
“The deployment of the DOCSIS 3.0 system will allow us to offer fast data transmission services up to 200 Mbit/s and to broaden our offer with new services responding for needs of more and more demanding customers. Our competitiveness will be higher thanks to the deployed system. The reduction of the transmission cost is also very important for us, as well as the flexibility of downstream and upstream configuration”, said Mr. Zbigniew Ryczek, the President of the Astra-Net board of directors.
The DOCSIS 3.0 I-CMTS fast data transmission system arouses interest of cable operators offering TV, data and telephone services. VECTOR will be informing about the system introduction by the next cable operators.
source: VECTOR