CableLabs® Re-Qualifies Motorola High-Speed Data Headend Equipment
The cable headend or CMTS qualification process parallels another CableLabs-managed process called CableLabs® Certified™ that certifies cable modems for retail sale. CMTS qualification consists of interoperability, stability, conformance to specification, and manageability of product. There are five companies including Motorola that have received qualified status for CMTS. The other companies are 3Com, Arris Interactive, Broadband Access Systems, and Cisco Systems.
Certification provides the retail customer with assurance that the cable modem they purchase complies with the DOCSIS 1.0 specification and will interoperate with other certified modems and qualified headend systems. So far, some 70 models of cable modems from more than 30 manufacturers have been "certified" interoperable with each other for retail sale.
The qualification process provides the cable operator or broadband service provider with information on how the CMTS will interoperate with multiple vendors' certified cable modems using different silicon.
Qualification is based on the following factors: (1) Vendors provide a signed affidavit affirming that their CMTS meets the published specification and will interoperate with all CableLabs® Certified™ cable modems. (2) The CMTS has exhibited satisfactory performance in various cable operator field trials. (3) The CMTS has passed CableLabs' audit tests in the areas of interoperability, stability, and specification conformance. The qualification program will continue allowing more vendors' CMTS units to be qualified. Qualification does not constitute a CableLabs endorsement or recommendation to purchase. CableLabs member companies may purchase any CMTS they choose.