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Network Convergence

As we enter a new phase of the information era, we’ll need a powerful, technology-agnostic network that can deliver a reliable and seamless internet experience anywhere we go.

  • What is network convergence?

    Have you ever been on your mobile phone in your home and the service drops as soon as you leave your front door? Network convergence solves this problem by merging wireline, Wi-Fi and mobile LTE/5G systems into one ubiquitous communication platform where hardware, software and data storage resources are shared across multiple access technologies.

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  • Why do we need network convergence?

    Today, people expect round-the-clock connectivity at home, work and everywhere in between using different wireless and wired services. Network convergence allows for seamless access to video streaming, internet shopping and video conferencing wherever and whenever we need these tools. The result is a simpler, faster and more agile network that can seamlessly transition from wired to wireless and vice versa, delivering the uninterrupted, omnipresent connectivity customers are looking for, at a lower cost. Not only is it more convenient from a customer standpoint, but it also makes sense for cable operators.

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    What problems are we solving?

    For operators, maintaining and managing separate wireline and wireless access networks with overlapping capabilities is not only inefficient and costly, it limits the type of services they will be able to provide in the future. Merging all these technologies into a singular, multi-model communication platform will help reduce network complexity, cut operational costs, improve quality of service and create new business opportunities. 

  • Quality is key

    Creating the opportunity to use a cell phone to access a variety of services is a dream come true for most people. But consumers are looking for quality service that’s seamless, where glitches are practically non-existent. Cable’s 10G platform and high-quality broadband networks are able to provide the speed and overall integrity of the connection.

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White Paper

A Comparative Introduction to 4G and 5G Authentication

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White Paper

Cable: 5G Wireless Enabler

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White Paper

DOCSIS Technologies for Mobile Backhaul

Converged Wired-Wireless Infrastructure 

Both mobile and wired technologies are moving toward a cloud-based architecture and virtualization which offers a great opportunity for convergence. In other words, because there are virtual versions of many network functions, DOCSIS and wireless networks can now share hardware and software resources. CableLabs has already submitted contributions to 3GPP, the governing body responsible for the 5G specification guidelines, detailing requirements for 5G convergence with cable’s hybrid fiber coax (HFC) networks. These specifications are slated to be released by the end of 2019.

Mobile Xhaul

As national mobile 5G rollout draws near, the number of small radio equipment that bolsters the speed and capacity of mobile networks called “small cells” has been skyrocketing. Those small cells require a fast and efficient way to communicate with each other and the core network. That’s where cable’s DOCSIS® networks come in. We’ve developed technologies that allow the wireline network to efficiently carry the mobile traffic back to the mobile network and significantly reduce latency and improve the service quality.

Network Slicing

Network slicing is a form of network virtualization that allows multiple mobile networks to exist on one radio or Xhaul path. For this to work, all individual parts of the mobile network “slice,” including its wireless, IP Core and DOCSIS components, have to act as one whole and maintain the same Quality of Service (QoS)—for example the same low latency. A common operation support system (OSS) can be used to manage both mobile and DOCSIS parts of the unified network.

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