News Release

Cisco Advances Access Architecture for Cable Operators

Advancements will scale access to 10 Gbps, overcome hub space and power constraints, streamline operations and accelerate new services; Key elements now in customer trials
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Apr 29, 2014

Los Angeles – April 29, 2014 – At The Cable Show 2014, Cisco is demonstrating the extension of Cisco’s Service Provider architecture for cable operators to deliver more bandwidth, higher service tiers and greater agility in deploying new applications, while lowering operational expenses. In addition to new DOCSIS and optical networking capabilities, Cisco’s latest innovations apply the Software-Defined Networking (SDN) and virtualization technologies recently introduced in the Cisco Evolved Services Platform (ESP) to virtualize, integrate and automate cable operators’ access architecture.

Key elements of Cisco’s advanced access architecture including the cBR-8, a next-generation terabit converged access platform (CCAP), are now in trials with five MSO customers worldwide.

Key Highlights:

Cisco’s access architecture advancements span three levels:

  • Continuous Infrastructure Advancements:
    • 1Gbps and 10Gbps tier Internet speeds. Cisco is demonstrating enhancements to its uBR10012 CMTS that enable cable operators to rapidly and cost effectively deploy 1Gbps tiers across footprints. Cisco’s Terabit CCAP platform, the cBR-8, will leverage DOCSIS 3.1 to deliver 10Gbps access tiers, enabling MSOs to stay ahead of demand into the next decade.
    • Scaling access networks while leading the path to virtualizing CCAP.  Cisco’s modular and integrated CCAP products enable consolidation of separate networks, saving space and power. Cisco is leading the path to virtualization of elements of the CCAP platform. By distributing DOCSIS remote PHYs close to the customer, they are connected to CCAP Cores that may be implemented in hardware or in software and deployed in local data centers. CCAP and virtualized CCAP products will work together to eliminate scaling concerns as they scale bandwidth without continuing to require more space and power in distributed hubs and headends.
    • Integrating DOCSIS and xPON into the multi-service access network for business and residential customers. Cisco advanced access architecture enables MSOs to address all customer segments via an integrated suite of access services, including DOCSIS, high speed FTTx, Service Provider Wi-Fi and Gigabit services. Cisco’s breakthroughs enable cable operators to blend all these technologies into a single cost-effective and manageable network.
  • Orchestration capabilities help streamline MSO operations
    • SDN automates multi-step manual processes. By applying the SDN capabilities of the recently introduced Cisco ESP, Cisco will help streamline operational procedures. At The Cable Show, Cisco is demonstrating how SDN can be used to configure multiple devices in a single step.
    • Operational integration of previously distinct networks. Today’s cable operators manage residential, commercial and wholesale services via multiple autonomous systems. Cisco is applying its Evolved Service Platform to integrate and orchestrate these separate systems.
    • By the numbers: Using the Evolved Service Platform can reduce the costs of operating integrated networks by up to 77 percent, while reducing time to market by 73 percent
  • Applications and Services
    • Applications virtualization delivers new services faster and cheaper. At the Cable Show, Cisco is demonstrating how the Cisco ESP helps MSOs create and deliver virtualized applications such as parental controls for consumers and end-to-end provisioning for business services.
    • Key benefits: Consumer self-service improves customer satisfaction, while SDN and applications virtualization improve OpEx and time to market for the MSO.
    • By the numbers: Using the virtualization capabilities of the Cisco ESP to deliver existing and new applications can reduce OpEX 65 percent and produce a revenue uplift of 15 percent for MSOs. For end-user customers, it will deliver services in a simpler, faster, more consumable manner.

Supporting Quote:

Joe Cozzolino, Senior Vice President, General Manager, Service Provider Video Infrastructure

  • “When we launched the Cisco Service Provider architecture, our vision was to transform the network from simply supporting business and meeting bandwidth demands, to driving new service revenue opportunities for operators. By extending this vision to cable, Cisco is the first company to blueprint an actionable, five-year plan that addresses key challenges facing MSOs and outlines a clear roadmap for realizing existing and future capabilities.”

Additional Supporting Resources

Tags/Keywords:

Cisco, Video, Joe Cozzolino, Cisco ONE, open network environment, SDN, Software Defined Networking, cable, cable operators, MSOs, service provider, DOCSIS 3.1, Distributed PHY, Remote PHY, CCAP, Converged Cable Access Platform, cBR8, deep fiber, HFC, digital fiber, NFV Virtualization, ESP, EPN, Evolved Services Platform

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About Cisco
Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in IT that helps companies seize the opportunities of tomorrow by proving that amazing things can happen when you connect the previously unconnected. For ongoing news, please go to http://thenetwork.cisco.com.

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