Standardized in 2009 and first deployed in 2012, 10 Gbps Passive Optical Network (10G-PON) is the current state-of-the-art technology for fiber to the premise (FTTP) solutions allowing for 10 Gbps symmetric capacity. The emerging 25G-PON and 50G-PON technology will allow cable operators to deploy cost-effective solutions over the same optical distribution network far into the future to meet high-speed data trends. Coupled with CableLabs DOCSIS Provisioning of EPON (DPoE) specifications, cable operators can leverage the common DOCSIS provisioning systems to provision FTTP devices in the same manner they provision DOCSIS devices.

In the emerging Distributed Access Architecture, a massive amount of capacity is required to support traffic aggregation from intelligent edge devices such as Remote-PHY and Remote-MACPHY devices. The Coherent Optics technology leverages the unique characteristics of the cable access network to bring the immense capacity of coherent optics to the access network in a cost-efficient manner. Furthermore, Full Duplex Coherent Optics provides for the ultimate cost reduction of the technology when used in single-fiber deployment scenarios. At 100 Gbps, 200 Gbps and ultimately 400 Gbps rates, and optical wavelengths on the ITU DWDM grid, a single existing fiber can be used to carry upwards of 50 Tbps in each direction.

Deployment of DOCSIS 3.1 technology:

• Provides support for up to 10 Gbps downstream and up to 1 Gbps upstream network capacity.
• Utilizes Active Queue Management to significantly reduce network delay as data traffic grows in the home network, dramatically improving responsiveness for applications such as online gaming.
• Enables a significant increase in network capacity with the ability to transmit up to 50 percent more data over the same spectrum, on existing HFC networks, compared to DOCSIS 3.0 technology.
• Delivers enhancements to the DOCSIS protocols, increasing cable modem energy efficiency through advanced energy management protocols.

An extension of the DOCSIS 3.1 specification, Full Duplex DOCSIS technology allows cable operators to ultimately achieve 10 Gbps speeds downstream and upstream. Full Duplex DOCSIS technology dramatically changes the downstream-to-upstream ratio, easily allowing for multi-gigabit symmetric services over HFC networks. This translates into an increase in spectral efficiency of almost 100 percent. As future applications are developed that require higher upstream traffic profiles, such as IoT applications and virtual reality, the ability to offer symmetric speeds is a game changer.

Our latest DOCSIS specification is the next frontier for broadband performance, delivering meaningful improvement to user experiences and bringing cable broadband customers one step closer to a world of seamless and rapid communication. From gamers to medical patients to everyday internet users, customers are seeking real-time control over their applications—without choppiness, freezing or other latency issues that won’t be improved by simply adding more bandwidth. CableLabs’ Low Latency DOCSIS (LLD) technology is a new approach that can decrease latency to just 1 ms for many applications. This enhancement to cable broadband will ensure that web pages load faster, video calling is smooth and online gaming is highly responsive.

CableLabs worked with the Wi-Fi Alliance to develop the EasyMesh™ technology and the EasyMesh™ certification program that define how multiple access points (AP) in homes and small offices work together to form a unified network. These networks provide smart, continuous and efficient Wi-Fi throughout the home and outdoor spaces. Simple and easy to install, the network self-monitors to ensure optimal performance and offers network intelligence, load balancing, flexible design, scalability and multi-vendor interoperability in networks.

The days of searching for a Wi-Fi connection may soon be over. Tested by CableLabs and developed by the Wi-Fi Alliance, Wi-Fi Passpoint is a foundational ingredient to Wi-Fi roaming standards. The technology utilizes the highest WPA2™ security and automates the access point (AP) authentication process, enabling a seamless connection between hotspots and mobile devices.

Wi-Fi Vantage is the technology suite operators use to deliver performance beyond the access point and the devices connected to it. The technology makes it easier for users to select network devices that provide the best Wi-Fi experience in airports, stadiums, offices, campuses, retail locations, and service provider-managed residential networks.

Micronets is an on-premise network management system that provides adaptive and effortless enterprise-level security. Built on Software Defined Networking (SDN) technologies, micronets leverages device fingerprinting and dynamic identity techniques (e.g., PKI certificates) to automatically organize all network-connected devices into separate trust domains, or micronets, and manages the connectivity between them. By organizing all the networked devices into multiple micronets, the system can effectively isolate any security threats and prevent them from damaging the entire network.

Wi-Fi PNM brings enterprise-level management to residential customers by creating a standard for key performance data elements. Current residential Wi-Fi solutions are proprietary and non-scalable. Standardizing Wi-Fi PNM enables all CPE and analytics vendors to access the same data, enabling economies of scale.

CableLabs developed innovative technologies that enable DOCSIS based networks to support ~2 msec mobile backhaul latencies with low jitter, thus removing the current latency barrier for DOCSIS networks. This will yield effective solutions that can meet 4.5G and 5G low-latency backhaul needs and maximize the performance and spectral efficiency of mobile networks.