This document summarizes recent developments in cable broadband access technologies. It discusses the evolution of DOCSIS standards, including the new DOCSIS 3.1 specification which uses OFDM and OFDMA to achieve multi-gigabit speeds while maintaining backwards compatibility. It also covers the CCAP converged cable access platform and distributed architectures like remote PHY. Finally, it outlines one vendor's strategy of focusing on DOCSIS 3.1 CPE and leveraging strengths in related technologies like EPON/GPON as the cable industry transitions to new standards.

1. Cable Broadband
Access Developments
Benjamin Fu
June 5th, 2014

2. Agenda
• DOCSIS Recap
• DOCSIS 3.1
• CCAP & Other Fancy Stuff
• Vendor-X’s Strategy

3. DOCSIS Recap
DOCSIS: Most successful broadband access tech in NA
• DOCSIS 1.0
o Started the broadband access era
• DOCSIS 1.1
o Sophisticated QoS mechanism enabled IP Voice
o Still the stepping stone for today’s QoS
o BPI+, certificate
• DOCSIS 3.0
o Channel bonding
o IPv6
o More security enhancements

4. DOCSIS Recap (cont.)
DOCSIS 3.0 deployment facts
• Actively deployed for 5+ years, fast-growing
• Majority offering: 8x4 (DS/US)
• Some started 24x8
o 1Gbps downstream / 200Mbps upstream peak rate
DOCSIS 3.0 CPE
• Vendors ceased D2.0 in 2012
• D3.0 CPE revenue increased by 85% in 2013
• 16/24 channel D3.0 CPE started shipping late 2013

5. Agenda
• DOCSIS Recap
• DOCSIS 3.1
• CCAP & Other Fancy Stuff
• Vendor-X’s Strategy

6. DOCSIS 3.1 - Why
• EPON/GPON, Google fiber, etc.
• IP Video: YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, emerging 4K video
• Why not just bond more channels?
• Backwards compatibility

7. DOCSIS 3.1 - Basics
• Goal
o Achieve 10G+ bps in downstream & 2G+ bps in upstream
o Backwards compatible all the way back to DOCSIS 1.1
o Spectral efficiency
• Technology
o OFDM, OFDMA, LDPC
o Expanded spectrum
o Greener
• Competitive with FTTH at much lower cost

8. DOCSIS 3.1 - Advantages

9. DOCSIS 3.1 - Technologies

10. DOCSIS 3.1 - Technologies
• OFDM
o No 6 MHz or 8 MHz channel concept any longer
o DOCSIS 3.1 OFDM downstream channel: 192 MHz
o Upstream OFDMA channel bandwidth is 96 MHz
o Possible to turn off some subcarriers
• LDPC
o Existing for more than 4 decades – high computational complexity
o More robust than Reed-Solomon FEC
o Provides up to 4-5 dB gain compared to RS FEC
• Better modulation and network robustness
o 1024 QAM where 256 QAM was present in SC QAM DS (same RF quality)
• Downstream = 25% increase in bits/Hz
o 256 QAM where 64 QAM was present in SC QAM US
• 64 QAM to 256 QAM for Upstream = 33% increase in bits/Hz

11. DOCSIS 3.1 – Backwards Compatibility
• Back office
o Only MULPI and PHY spec published, no OSSI yet
o Shouldn’t be big change requiring back office upgrade
• DOCSIS 3.1 CPE
o Simultaneously support legacy SC-QAM channels and OFDM channels
o Possibility of bonding SC-QAM and OFDM
• Upstream spectral multiplexing
o Legacy SC-QAM and OFDMA able to be time multiplexed
All for Gradual introduction

12. DOCSIS 3.1 – Practical Concerns
• Upstream
o Sub-split, mid-split, high-split
o In relatively long period, many MSO will be stuck at 5-42Mhz
o Higher-split then 42Mhz
• Diplex filter replacement
• Most likely amplifier replacement
o Legacy DTV OOB
• Movable above 120Mhz?
o Return laser upgrade – higher order modulation…
• Downstream
o RF plan upgrade: 860Mhz to 1Ghz or even 1.2Ghz plant
o Very high cost

13. Agenda
• DOCSIS Recap
• DOCSIS 3.1
• CCAP & Other Fancy Stuff
• Vendor-X’s Strategy

14. CCAP
Converge Cable Access Platform
• MSO initiated architecture
• Goals
o Flexible & dynamic QAM usage, across services (SDV,VoD, DOCSIS, etc.)
o QAM replication
o Simplified RF combining
o Agnostic in either uplink and access technologies (Starting from D3.0)
o Modular software architecture

15. CCAP (cont.)
• CCAP Benefits
o Reduce power and space requirements in Head-end
o Optimizing combining network with QAM replication
o Repurpose QAM channels on the fly – No rewiring
• CCAP main players
o Cisco (existing FRGW-10, or NG cBR8)
o Arris (E6000)
o Casa (C100G, mini CMTS)
• Distributed CCAP?

16. Fiber Deep/Remote PHY
I-CMTS
M-CMTS

17. Fiber Deep/Remote PHY
Remte-PHY

18. C-DOCSIS
• C-DOCSIS
o Full feature layer 2 Mini CMTS
o OLT mandate as uplink
• Cisco’s version of C-DOCSIS
o 3G60 based
o PHY on CMC only (long-term goal: remote-PHY)
• Virtualization
o Server based MAC and management
o CMTS in the Cloud

19. Agenda
• DOCSIS Recap
• DOCSIS 3.1
• CCAP & Other Fancy Stuff
• Vendor-X’s Strategy

20. Vendor-X Strategy
• CMTS/CCAP
o Dominant technology in North America but not Asia/Europe
o Is Vendor-X strong in CMTS ?
• Distributed/Remote
o C-DOCSIS – Main drafting member, MA5633
o Very strong in EPON/GPON
o Porting to broader market?
• DOCSIS 3.1
o Sampled back in Oct, 2013
o Very strong in CPE, both technology and marketing
o CPE, esp. DOCSIS 3.1 CPE (gateway)

21. Thank You!
Sources from:
CableLabs,
Cisco Live! 2014 presentation,
Lightreading.com
Vendor’s website.

22. Backup: OFDM Frequency

23. Backup: DS Profiles
• A: Worst
o (say, mostly 256-QAM)
• B: Average
o (say, mostly 1024-QAM)
• C: Better
o (say, mostly 2048-QAM)
• D: Best
o (say, mostly 4096-QAM)

24. Backup: Spectrum Alignment

25. Backup: Energy Mangement