Singapore Hosts Historic ITU Meeting
for Standardization of DOCSIS® 3.0

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Singapore, a leader in adopting advanced broadband technology, has hosted the first meeting by an International Telecommunications Union study group in Singapore, with the support of the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA). The Study Group 9 (SG9) meeting resulted in approvals or “consents” that will lead to international standardization of CableLabs®' Data over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS®) 3.0 as well as key aspects of CableLabs' PacketCable 2.0.

In Singapore, StarHub is an advanced broadband provider which has already deployed pre-standardized DOCSIS 3.0 nationwide, and is currently offering customers broadband speeds of 100 Mbps and with capability to offer greater data transmission rates in the near future. DOCSIS 3.0 utilizes channel bonding technology to enable cable companies to offer throughput of these speeds or greater—both upstream and downstream—depending upon how many channels are being bonded together.

“StarHub is very pleased to have successfully launched the pre DOCSIS 3.0 platform in December 2006 and already has customers subscribing to the ultra-high broadband service at up to 100 Mbps nationwide. Our early deployment of pre-DOCSIS 3.0 is a clear show of confidence in this technology. Naturally, we are proud to be one of the sponsors and to have provided local secretariat support for this ITU event. In addition, we are glad that our experience in Singapore has helped accelerate the global development of DOCSIS 3.0 and are excited that the specification is now on its way to becoming an international standard that will enable more innovation and create a global marketplace for these channel bonded services,” said Thomas Ee, senior vice president of StarHub's cable, fixed & IP services. StarHub intends to ramp up its broadband service to 1 Gbps over the next few years using the DOCSIS 3.0 platform, together with upstream service at well in excess of 100 Mbps.

“Singapore is a leader in broadband services and StarHub's deployment of advanced technology continues that tradition. It was ideal to have international standards being considered in a world class technology environment,” said SG9 Chairman Dr. Richard R. Green, President and CEO of CableLabs. “In addition, the Singapore government and StarHub were great hosts for our meetings,” Green added.

SG9, which is entitled “Integrated Broadband Cable Table Networks and Television and Sound Transmission” has the responsibility to develop international standards to meet market needs for use of cable and hybrid (cable/fiber optic) networks designed as integrated broadband networks for television and sound program delivery to the home, voice or other time critical services, such as video on demand, interactive services, etc. and high speed data. It is chaired by CableLabs President and CEO Dr. Richard R. Green. This was the first time that SG9 has met in Singapore.

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