End-to-End Solution Configures and Manages Broadband Devices, Integrates with Billing Solutions, and Enables Subscriber Self-Registration
SAN JOSE, Calif. -- June 14, 1999 -- Cisco Systems, Inc., the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet, today announced Cisco Subscriber Registration Center (CSRC), a tightly integrated end-to-end solution used to configure and manage broadband devices, integrate with billing solutions, and enable subscriber self-registration and activation.
CSRC is a subscriber self-provisioning solution built upon open standards and proven technologies. CSRC supports high-speed Data-over-Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS)-compliant modems, set-top boxes (STBs), thin clients, game players, hybrid fiber coaxial (HFC) telephony and other devices.
To meet growing demand and revenue targets, CSRC enables service providers and Multiple System Operators (MSOs) to make mass deployments of broadband services such as data, Voice-over-IP (VoIP) and digital video services. CSRC also allows them to easily offer tiered services, and enable subscribers to quickly and easily activate and maintain their account through a self-service Web site, enhancing customer satisfaction while reducing calls for operator assistance, account changes and service orders. Self-provisioning reduces the cost of sending field technicians to the subscriber's home, eliminates the administrative work for the customer service representative in initiating and maintaining subscriber accounts, and frees the service provider or MSO from manually maintaining the cable modems.
"The release of Cisco Subscriber Registration Center is a milestone for Cisco and the cable industry," said Paul Bosco, general manager of Cisco's Cable Products and Solutions Group. "Two of the top broadband online operators, Excite@Home and RoadRunner, have helped define and shape this standards-based solution, and have already begun the integration and deployment of CSRC within their environments. Cisco's focus now is to ensure their success while extending the use of open standards-based provisioning to digital set-top and HFC telephony rollouts."
Service providers and MSOs can increase revenue streams with CSRC by providing new services such as high-speed residential and commercial Internet access, telecommuting, and integrated data, voice and video services. With CSRC, cable subscribers also save money by owning and deploying their own low-cost cable modems and STBs, giving them a choice of modem features and reducing service provider capital costs for customer premise equipment. With increasing acceptance and standardization on DOCSIS worldwide, modem manufacturers are encouraged to produce high-volume, cost-effective devices for consumers. Using CSRC, cable operators can integrate service offerings and billing packages, and create a foundation for flat rate and usage-based billing with third party vendors like Portal Software, CSG Systems, Inc. and CableData, Inc.
"The next-generation provisioning solution for our @Home and @Work offerings include CSRC as a critical solution element," said Adam Grosser, vice president of engineering and operations for Excite@Home Networks, Inc. "We chose CSRC because of its modular, standards-based architecture and advanced capabilities. CSRC will be critical to the success of our modem and set-top box efforts."
"We view CSRC as a fundamental advance in cable's ability to quickly reach mass market acceptance while enhancing the customer experience and satisfaction," said Stephen Van Beaver, senior vice president, operations for RoadRunner. "CSRC delivers us standards-based, directory-enabled solutions for the critical provisioning challenge, enabling user subscription, service selection, account management and retail channel development."
Two other major cable service providers, HSA and SoftNet ISPChannel, are embracing CSRC as a key accelerator for their aggressive plans to roll out DOCSIS-based services. HSA, which recently completed a successful public offering, serves multiple cable providers and passes over 10 million homes. SoftNet ISP Channel is a leading provider of high speed Internet access and content, and currently has contracts with 39 cable operators covering 172 cable systems nationwide including Puerto Rico.
To meet the growing customer needs for provisioning converged data and video,Cisco is forming a provisioning alliance to focus on the integration requirements for billing, billing mediation, customer care and conditional access systems along with thin clients and set-top appliances. Joining the alliances are representatives from CSG Systems, Inc., CableData, Inc., Hewlett-Packard's Service Solutions and Smart Internet Usage divisions, HSA, ISP Channel, Liberate Technologies, NagraVision, Narus, NDS, Pace Micro Technology, Portal Software and XACCT Technologies. The alliance will focus on producing requirements and common application programming interfaces (APIs) for subscriber self-provisioning of data and video services.
As a component of the Cisco Service Management System (CSM), CSRC functions with Cisco Networking Services for Active Directory (CNS/AD) or any industry standard Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) v3 server. CSRC consists of the following modules: User Registrar which enables cable network subscribers to self-provision account registration and activation of the cable modem and PC over the cable network via a Web interface; Modem Registrar which provides dynamic configuration for DOCSIS-compliant cable modems based on network and service policies; Network Registrar for Domain Name System (DNS) and Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) services; and Access Registrar for deployment of high-speed data services in a one-way cable plant requiring broadband telco-return for upstream data. CSRC is also highly scalable and can easily integrate into traditional cable billing systems, Internet Operations Support Systems (OSS) and Telecommunication Management Network (TMN)-based environments.
Availability
Cisco Subscriber Registration Center will be available in July 1999. Prices vary according to configuration and deployment.Cisco Systems
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