In a groundbreaking development, Casa Systems, a prominent fixed and mobile vendor, showcased its prowess in extended spectrum (ESD) DOCSIS 4.0 technology. The company revealed that its virtual converged cable access platform (vCCAP) and Remote-PHY solution seamlessly integrate with third-party DOCSIS 4.0 cable modems, marking a significant milestone in the industry.
This achievement was demonstrated at a recent CableLabs event, where Casa Systems claimed the distinction of being the “world’s first” to exhibit the full utilization of extended spectrum DOCSIS 4.0. The extended spectrum variant strategically allocates distinct segments for upstream and downstream traffic, enabling impressive download speeds of 10 Gbps and upload speeds of 6 Gbps.
Dell’Oro Group’s Vice President, Jeff Heynen, lauded Casa Systems for achieving full spectrum utilization, reaching up to 1.8 GHz downstream and 396 MHz upstream. This translates to a demonstration of 10-gig download speeds and 3 Gbps upload speeds. Heynen explained that while extended spectrum DOCSIS can push upstream spectrum to 684 MHz, operators are likely to initially adopt configurations like 204 MHz or 396 MHz.
Charter Communications and Cox are among the operators embracing ESD for network upgrades, aiming to enhance downstream speeds to 10 Gbps. Meanwhile, Comcast is pursuing a full-duplex (FDX) DOCSIS 4.0 approach, focusing on simultaneous data transmission upstream and downstream within the same spectrum.
Despite Casa Systems celebrating its “breakthrough” in extended spectrum DOCSIS 4.0, the company reported a decline in cable business revenue during the third quarter. Casa Systems CEO Michael Glickman attributed this to delays in operator network upgrades, emphasizing that the reduction in cable revenue wasn’t a result of market share losses but rather a consequence of transitional challenges in the industry. Despite the temporary setback, Casa Systems’ achievement in ESD DOCSIS 4.0 interoperability signals a significant stride toward the future of high-speed cable internet.
