Broadband Bob Report


9/19/97

  • The CATV CyberLab Celebrates One Year of the BBB Report & Mailing List
  • Geneva or Bust - MCNS Moves Forward / Interview with Rich Prodan
  • Harmonic Lightwaves Acquires New Media Communication
  • Cox Launches @Home Service in Connecticut
  • Internet Ventures Acquires Two ISPs
  • Cable Co-Op Launches Data Services in Palo Alto
  • @Home Creates Partnership with CNET for Content
  • 21st Century to Deploy Harmonic Lightwaves' Equipment
  • NextLevel [formerly GI] to Develop MCNS Modem Within Set Top
  • MediaOne Express Serving 10,000 Subscribers
  • HSAnet Launches Data over Cable Turnkey Service
  • Newnan Water, Sewage, & Light Offering Data Services in Georgia
  • Rouzbeh to Direct MCNS DOCSIS Testing & Verification Stage
  • Online System Services to Resell Hybrid's Cable Modems
  • Rogers Chooses Bay's Cable Modems for Wave Service
  • MultiCanal Taps Superior and Antec for Monitoring Equipment


    The CATV CyberLab Celebrates One Year of the BBB Report & Mailing List
    Happy birthday to us. In August, the CATV CyberLab marked its second year online and this month, the folks here at the CyberLab are celebrating one year of the Broadband Bob Report and the Broadband Bob Cable Modem Mailing List.

    Instead of breaking out the bottle, we engaged in some binge writing, with hopes of delivering a newsworthy issue for the anniversary report. Though we didn't get the opportunity to interrogate John Malone, this special issue does feature an update on the standards effort and an exclusive interview with Rich Prodan, the Senior VP and CTO of Cablelabs.

    We hope that you have found our web site, our newsletters, and the mailing list useful. We look forward to expanding our information services so that the cable telecommunications industry and Internet community can be optimally informed. Thanks to all of you on the mailing list and to our sponsors for your support and participation in our research.

    CATV CyberLab
    http://www.catv.org


    The Broadband Bob Report
    /bbb/


    Geneva or Bust - MCNS DOCSIS Moving Forward / Interview with Richard Prodan
    The standard has the left the building. In fact, the MCNS DOCSIS specification is swiftly moving through meeting halls and desktops, getting stamped and being passed along the route to its final destination - the ITU.

    In the meantime, the IEEE 802.14 Working Group specification remains a draft. Though it has been under development for over two years, it has yet to be distributed outside the group for comment. Though it promises to be technologically superior to DOCSIS, the window of opportunity for market acceptance is looking more like a peephole.

    While the 802.14 gang may not be able to help themselves, a gradual shift towards an industry business model that emphasizes corporate data services over residential Internet access favors a more sophisticated solution such as the one they're developing. Pending vendors will be willing to build headends to support 802.14, it is possible that the specification will not compete with DOCSIS but become a complimentary "corporate" standard.

    With early performance results yielding excellent marks for networks from both Com21 and Terayon, the 802.14 will need to tote enough bells and whistles to bump off proprietary technology that is already penetrating the marketplace. In the worst case scenario, the industry will demand that vendors build mega-headends that support DOCSIS, 802.14, Terayon, Com21, UltraCom, etc.

    However, before vendors can begin entertaining such a nightmare, they must first build a complete network to support DOCSIS.

    So, when will the first DOCSIS modems arrive?

    The compliance testing procedures are being conducted at Cablelabs under the direction of Bob Cruickshank in an area deemed the "cable modem incubator." Testing is being conducted in three phases, which include Z0, Z1, and Z2.

    Currently, testing is in the Z0 phase [a.k.a. subsystem interoperability demonstrations], a three month procedure which includes an initial testing of the PHY layer, followed by both MAC and PHY layer tests. During this phase, Cruickshank divided the vendors into two teams, threw them into separate labs and had the vendors interconnect equipment. After the first round, several ASIC vendors including Libit and Stanford Telecom pushed out press releases claiming successful results from the testing.

    The second phase, known as Z1 or prototype interoperability testing calls for vendors to deliver complete DOCSIS networks. While it was scheduled to begin in September, the process has not yet progressed to this phase. During the Z1 phase, equipment will be subject to a multiple system measurement process known as the "test suite." The test suite procedure, which is still under development, has been divided into four categories including interoperability testing, conformance testing, performance testing, and functionality testing.

    During this phase, vendors are expected to demonstrate interoperable DOCSIS networks at the Western Show, which will be held December 10-12 in Anaheim, California. While there is no indication of the exact number of vendors that will be presenting DOCSIS equipment, Cablelabs suggests that approximately 35 vendors are developing DOCSIS compliant products.

    The final phase, known as Z2 or production system interoperablity tests is scheduled to begin in January. The phase calls for a last round of testing, which is slated to confirm that the DOCSIS compliant networks are ready for commercial deployment.

    Testing is being conducted via the "DOCSIS Test Team" which is comprised of seven working groups, headed by a representative of either Cablelabs or a MSO. These include Z0 and Z1/Z2, two groups which are dealing with testing issues and five groups handling subsystem issues including MAC or data transport, PHY or RF, OSS/BSS/NMS, Security and Telephone Return.

    Currently, the DOCSIS testing has over 20 on-site participants. As the testing procedure progresses, Cablelabs expects over 40 folks to be involved at the Louisville, Colorado facility.

    Last week, in an interview with Richard Prodan, Ph.D., Senior Vice President and Chief Technical Officer at Cablelabs, Prodan explained the status of the standards effort and commented on the emergence of a DOCSIS cable modem within an advanced set-top.


    Richard Prodan, Ph.D.,
    Sr VP & CTO - Cablelabs    		 Q. What is the current status of the MCNS [Multimedia Cable Network System] specification?

    Prodan:     "The spec was frozen a while ago by an industry agreement and it was submitted in a previous meeting of the SCTE's Data Standards Subcommittee [DSS], chaired by David Fellows. There were three proposals that were submitted and balloted through DSS including the MCNS DOCSIS [Data over Cable Service Interface Specifications] specification, a draft of the IEEE [Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers] 802.14 [Working Group], which was an early version sent only to the participants of IEEE 802.14, and the Com21 Upstream Proposal, which is a product that they sell internationally. The results were that, overwhelming, the MCNS DOCSIS specification was adopted and approved as a standard by the parent engineering committee of the SCTE.



    After that, it was then sent for consideration for a U.S. position at the State Department, Study Group D, which is responsible for the positions going into the ITU [International Telecommunications Union] Study Group 9, which is [concerned with] distribution over cable. It was approved at a special meeting of Study Group D, which is the old study group that we used to work with in the State Department. It has now been sent over to rapporteurs [A rapporteur is the appointed ad-hoc chair that solicits input on a question leading to a recommendation for an international standard upon approval by participating government administrations group] [comprised of] Dick Green, at Cablelabs and Charlie Sandbank, who is a consultant for the European Technical Standards Consortium, a standards body which works within Europe.

    The position was approved by industry consensus in the State Department here, and will be considered at the upcoming meeting of Study Group 9, in Madrid in November. This will be a special meeting [of the Study Group 9] to consider this and a number of other topics, but primarily this modem standardization effort. [In Madrid] It will be drafted as a recommendation, considered for standardization, and subsequently balloted and probably approved as a standard the following March of 1998 [in Geneva by the ITU].

    Chronology
  • MCNS DOCSIS balloted by SCTE's DSS and approved as an SCTE standard.
  • MCNS DOCSIS submitted to the State Department's Study Group D and approved
    as a US position to the ITU. MCNS DOCSIS submitted to ITU-T Study Group 9.
  • MCNS DOCSIS passed to rapporteurs for the recommendation on cable modem technology
  • MCNS DOCSIS to be included in a new draft recommendation by Study Group 9 in
    Madrid in November for consideration by administrations.
  • Upon a positive determination, MCNS DOCSIS to be approved as
    a new ITU recommendation in March 1998 in Geneva

    Q. What is the current status of the IEEE 802.14 specification?

    Prodan:     "The first draft was completed at the last meeting for a preliminary ballot, which went only to the members of the IEEE 802.14 group for comment. At the next meeting, which is in November, they will add the comments from the working group and have the first ballot to go outside of [the Working Group] to be balloted to interested participants, companies at-large and other IEEE organizations. The results of that will be known shortly afterwards. They will receive a number of comments for missing holes in the spec that they will have to fill in. It remains to be seen how long that will take because they are on a fast track now to try to finish up and get that spec done by next year. By the time it is accepted as a standard, it is going to probably be late next year, if they move along on the rapid schedule they have set out for themselves."

    Q. Do you believe the IEEE 802.14 will ever be submitted to the ITU?

    Prodan:     "It has been submitted to the ITU for information at this point. At the State Department, when MCNS DOCSIS was submitted, the IEEE provided a copy of the 802.14 draft, but it was stated that it was only a draft and that it wasn't accepted yet or standardized by an industry consensus. It was added as an informational appendix to what is going to the ITU in November. It says clearly on the contribution that the MCNS DOCSIS spec is already standardized by SCTE and has been adopted by industry consensus and 802.14 is a work in progress.

    [The IEEE 802.14 is] an ANSI due process organization and it is anticipated that [the IEEE 802.14 specification] will be a future contribution and perhaps an extension. It is expected that a specification will be submitted to the ITU, but it probably won't be until the end of '98."

    Q. What is the status of the vendor development of MCNS compliant equipment?

    Prodan:     "There are a number of vendors that have agreed to produce prototypes which will be demonstrated at the upcoming Western Show, the first target date where we will actually see some hardware. Hopefully, it will be interoperable hardware produced to the [MCNS DOCSIS] specification.

    There is a handful of vendors that are committed to that time schedule.

    Q. When do you believe that the first cable modems will be arriving at Cablelabs for MCNS compliance testing?

    Prodan:     "A number of subsystems have arrived at Cablelabs, but not a complete integrated cable modem system. They are starting from the physical layer and moving up. A lot of the subsystems are basically, physical layer subsystems and in particular, the downstream 64QAM modulator/demodulator for J-83 Annex B modulation and some equipment for the first QPSK and 16QAM transmission upstream. [The technology] is being examined and a test plan has been written. They are going through and evaluating performance and looking at the interoperation between different manufacturers' equipment.

    At the lowest layer, if you have compatibility then you go to the next layer up. As you go up the stack, as soon as you get up to a particular layer where you no longer have interoperability, nothing above it is going to work. So, we start from the ground level and go up toward the IP layer and SNMP layer on the top."

    Q. Will there be any other organizations that will be providing MCNS compliance testing or will testing only be performed through Cablelabs?

    Prodan:     "There is a plan to try to get the vendors to put together [their own] compliance test facilities. The way that it is typically done in the aerospace industry is that people will get together and agree on what has to be evaluated and tested to be interoperable. For example, a customer will say 'Here is the spec, here is my purchase order, and I want to buy x-thousand of these things. Demonstrate [compliance] in your factory before I accept delivery.' The customer goes to the vendor site, goes through the procedure, the test equipment is all specified, and [compliance] is demonstrated to the customer. The customer accepts it. We expect a typical model like that between the customer and the vendor will arise. Most of the expertise and cost of that already exists at the vendor's sites."

    Q. Parallel Technologies is working on the development of a PC interface for a cable modem that uses a parallel port. It is an intriguing technology that has only recently surfaced. Is it possible for this approach to be MCNS compatible?

    Prodan:     "Currently, no. Right now, the modem is an external device to the computer which has only one in-home interface specified and that is the Ethernet IEEE 802.3 10BaseT interface.

    There will probably be some other developments. Intel is proposing an IEEE 1394 firewire and a universal serial bus USB interface to be considered as an interconnection media for various peripherals to computers. There is some interest in working with those folks. The IEEE 1394 looks pretty attractive.

    [The concern is] intellectual property issues. Within the MCNS DOCSIS standards, the interfaces have always been specified to be free of royalty. That has been the model. The IEEE 1394 may not fit that model. I am not sure.

    With an alternative parallel technology, [it would need to be] universally accepted by industry as a networking technology and be offered under the same kind of a model. If we diverge from that model, then some kind of a pool will have to be set up for managing the IP. You don't want to incorporate in a standard, especially in an international standard, something that [would allow] one operation to basically discriminate and stop the wheels of progress by not allowing competition to produce product. That is one thing that we have to avoid."

    Q. Do you think that MCNS' lack of consideration of S-CDMA was based on Terayon's unwillingness to license its technology?

    Prodan:     "I don't know if it was 'not' considered. We have to consider well founded technology that has been around for a number of years, and S-CDMA has certainly not been one in the commercial arena. It has not been around that long excepting [use within] military applications, which are [characterized by] a different cost structure and level of performance that is beyond the consumer market. The reason for choosing QPSK and 16QAM was because this is well understood technology. There are no IP issues associated with that. Some of the techniques have been around for a TDMA burst transmission of data, preamble, scrambling, modulation, Reed-Solomon coding, and all of the components that are part of that transmission system are available without any intellectual property encumberments. S-CDMA is not a thoroughly proven technology. However, [the technology] is something that we are interested in evaluating and we have actually looked at Terayon's S-CDMA performance and it looks promising at this point. But, we evaluated a subsystem and not the complete adaptive system.

    [Support for S-CDMA] may be something interesting to consider and add on at a later date. [Consideration] will happen, both in MCNS DOCSIS and possibly within the advanced PHY group of IEEE 802.14. Terayon is one of the participants of the advanced PHY working group that was just approved as an official working group within IEEE 802.14 at the last meeting and they are proponents of advanced PHY technology."

    Q. In many markets, operators are developing a stronger business case for offering data services to the business community rather than offering Internet access to the home. The change in focus favors an ATM-induced Com21 network that provides quality of service. Do you think the lack of support for ATM in the MCNS spec was a mistake?

    Prodan:     "One has to look at what the business opportunities they were addressing when they put together the standard. At the time, a guaranteed quality of service was not part of the functional requirement of the standard.

    The world will go two ways. There will be IP-based guaranteed quality of service and ATM-based. I am thinking of protocols like RSVP for IP that will be able to differentiate the qualities of service on an IP network. That would be one logical extension, a way of using or extending the MCNS DOCSIS specification.

    There is a hook to carry ATM. However, the complete management plane structure isn't defined. At present, it will not support all the functionality of ATM but it can certainly transmit ATM cells. If the world does go ATM, in the residential market, perhaps the IEEE 802.14 will be one emerging standard that will be supported as an additional technology. In other words, I don't think that ATM technology will overnight, just take over the world and replace all existing technology. But, [ATM] does make sense, and certainly for business telecommuting applications or for something that involves some of the features that you would want to incorporate with an ATM transport.

    There may be multiple products supported on cable networks for different customers that pay different costs for different qualities of service. [ATM] will either be an extension to MCNS DOCSIS or it will be an additional technology like IEEE 802.14. The technologies can coexist. MCNS DOCSIS is basically one subset of the PHY standard in 802.14, so there is a lot of hooks there for commonality and headend equipment and the consumer interface in the modem as well."

    Q. What is "open cable"?

    Prodan:     "There is a need for standardization of digital audio, video and data delivery in the cable industry. This is an initiative to try to define a system that will support an advanced set-top for subscribers and the headend control, multiplexing, and the billing service interfaces for an interoperable multi-vendor produced digital advanced set-top. The set-top will have certain features like downloadable software for providing upgrades, new services, different interfaces to the user, and have some APIs defined. This will allow developers to develop new products for new services that cable providers can deliver on an interoperable set-top that will eventually be sold at retail.

    One of the biggest things that we have to address in the cable industry today is that the FCC has required that we come up with a set-top design for digital services and conventional analog services which can be purchased at retail by the end consumer. If they move to some other system in the country it has to be able to interoperate. So, the two issues that 'open cable' is trying to address include the design of an interoperable set-top and all of the associated peripheral controls and [the design of a set-top] that can be sold at retail to meet FCC requirements."

    Q. Has a RFP been issued?

    Prodan:     "There have been some initial invitations to participate in some discussions. You could call it a RFP. I think it is still going out to some additional participants right now. We will get responses back by October 3rd. In November, we will probably be selecting participants. I guess that this is something that will, much like in MCNS, try to drive an industry consensus between the vendors and the operators as to what they want for this future advanced set-top."

    Q. Will this advanced set-top include an integrated cable modem? x

    Prodan:     "It will have to have that functionality as an option. They are looking for a modular design where I could, for example, say that I want in this particular system, in this part of the country, a plain vanilla. In this case, it won't be an option. However, where it makes business sense to deploy cable modems compliant with the MCNS DOCSIS spec, there will be an option.

    One of the options may be that the out-of-band channel which is used for downloading information continuously to the set-top. Even when it is turned off and where it is not tuned to a digital or broadcast channel, [the channel] could be used for up to 1 Megabit of data delivery on one small QPSK channel. That may be the high data service necessary in some systems, whereas a full-blown multi-channel, 6 MHz wide-band high data rate, high speed data service could be an option in the set-top which makes sense in other systems in other parts of the country. So, they are going to look at it as a modular design. Not everybody has to have a gold-plated Cadillac. Some people can get along with just a Chevy …in certain parts of the country."

    MCNS
    http://www.cablemodem.com

    MCNS member list
     /bbb/1997/arch-303.html#standards2

    Cablelabs
    http://www.cablelabs.com

    IEEE 802.14 Working Group
    http://walkingdog.com/catv/

    IEEE 802.14 Draft 2 Revision 2
    ftp://tezcat.com/users/chicago/draft2-rev2.pdf

    ITU
    http://www.itu.ch

    Com21
    http://www.com21.com

    Terayon
    http://www.terayon.com

    UltraCom
    http://www.ultracominc.com

    Libit
    http://www.libit.com

    Stanford Telecom
    http://www.stelhq.com

    Broadcom
    http://www.broadcom.com

    Parallel Technologies
    http://www.lpt.com

    Intel
    http://www.intel.com

    IEEE
    http://www.ieee.org

    FCC
    http://www.fcc.gov


    Harmonic Lightwaves Acquires New Media Communications
    Harmonic Lightwaves has signed an agreement to acquire New Media Communication, an Israeli-based telco return cable modem vendor. Harmonic will pay approximately $19 million to New Media shareholders through the issuance of 1,037,911 shares of Harmonic's common stock and will assume all of New Media's outstanding stock options. The acquisition, which is scheduled for closing in October, is pending approval from the Israeli regulatory commission.

    Harmonic Lightwaves
    http://www.harmonic-lightwaves.com

    New Media Communication
    http://www.nmcfast.com


    Cox Launches @Home Service in Connecticut
    Cox Communications has launched @Home service in Meriden, Connecticut, a suburb of Hartford that includes 38,000 cable subscribers. The Internet access service, which has now been extended to five Cox markets, provides subscribers with the option to buy or lease a Motorola CyberSURFR cable modem. Cable subscribers will pay $399 for the modem and $29.95 a month for service or choose a service/lease package at $44.95 a month. Non-cable subscribers will have to pay an additional charge of $10 a month. The new service will compete with other local high speed data offerings including a service provided by Southern New England Telephone and @Home service offered by TCI.

    Cox plans to expand the @Home service to pass Cheshire by the end of the year and Southington by the end of 1998.

    @Home reports more than 7,000 subscribers, with Cox accounting for more than 1,000 of those subs.

    Cox Communications
    http://www.cox.com

    @Home
    http://www.home.net

    Motorola
    http://www.mot.com/multimedia/


    Internet Ventues Acquires Two ISPs
    Internet Ventures [IV] has acquired two Internet service providers, Tidepool Internet based in Arcata, California and Medford Internet located in Medford, Oregon. Combined, the ISPs currently serve approximately 780 users. IV, a data over cable systems integrator that provides a turnkey solution known as PeRKInet will use the newly acquired companies for ISP connectivity.

    Internet Ventures
    http://www.perki.net


    Cable Co-Op Launches Data Services in Palo Alto
    Cable Co-Op announced the launch of commercial Internet access and data services in Palo Alto. The service, which was launched two weeks ago with Com21's cable modems has signed up approximately 60 subscribers. The service features tiered pricing, which hits subscribers for $99, $299 or $599 per month depending on preset maximum throughput.

    Cable Co-Op currently serves 27,000 cable subscribers in Palo Alto, East Palo Alto, Atherton, Menlo Park and parts of San Mateo and Stanford.

    Cable Co-Op
    http://www.cableco-op.com

    Com21
    http://www.com21.com


    @Home Creates Partnership with CNET for Content
    @Home announced that it has signed an agreement with CNET that calls for the electronic media service to provide multimedia content including audio & video programming. CNET operates several sites including CNET, CNET Central, TV.COM, BUYDIRECT.COM, DOWNLOAD.COM, NEWS.COM, GAMECENTER.COM, and CNET Radio.

    @Home
    http://www.home.net

    CNET
    http://www.cnet.com


    21st Century to Deploy Harmonic Lightwaves' Equipment
    21st Century has chosen Harmonic Lightwaves to provide optical equipment and network management products for its Chicago area network that will provide voice, video and data services between Evanston and Hyde Park. Harmonic will supply its PWRLink DFB transmitters, MAXLink 1550 nm transmitters, optical amps, the NETWatch Element Management System, optical nodes and return path equipment.

    21st Century is building a distributed ring star network deploying full duplex wave division multiplexed technology. 21st Century will be spending $12 million over the next 30 months on the optical portion of the network.

    Harmonic Lightwaves
    http://www.harmonic-lightwaves.com

    21st Century
    http://www.21stcentury.com


    NextLevel [formerly GI] to Develop MCNS Modem Within Set Top
    NextLevel is developing a set-top box that will include a MCNS DOCSIS compliant cable modem. The new device known as "Watch N Record" will be an option of the company's existing NLS premium DCT 5000 units. NextLevel expects to offer the option for an extra $50 per box.

    NextLevel (General Instrument)
    http://www.gi.com


    MediaOne Express Serving 10,000 Subscribers
    MediaOne has announced that it has signed up 10,000 subscribers to the MediaOne Express service.

    While it may be a milestone for a service in its first year, the announcement also notes that MediaOne Express passes more than a million homes. A MediaOne representative, who denied our suggestion that the low penetration rate was due to inadequate marketing, stated acceptance of the service has been "disappointing."

    MediaOne
    http://www.mediaone.com

    MediaOne Express
    http://www.mediaone.com/express/


    HSAnet Introduces Data over Cable Turnkey Service
    HSAnet has joined a pack of recent start-ups pitching revenue sharing based turnkey data services. Like others in the field, HSAnet is targeting small to midsize systems that want an easy entry with little initial investment. HSAnet is launching its service known as "Cable Express" at Western Shore Cable TV in St. Mary's County, Maryland. The service will utilize cable modems from Bay Networks. The system, which serves 20,000 subscribers will be offering the service next month at a cost of $39.95 a month for residential use and $195 per month for commercial users. Support for the HSAnet service will be provided through HSAnet's Littleton, Colorado office.

    HSAnet is backed by Joseph Gans, president of Gans Multimedia Properties and an owner of several east coast cable systems.

    HSAnet
     http://www.hsanet.net

    Bay Networks
    http://www.baynetworks.com


    Newnan Water, Sewage, & Light Offering Data Services in Georgia
    Newnan Water, Sewage & Light [NWSL] has launched commercial data and Internet access services in Newnan, Georgia. The utility company is offering Internet access at $15 a month, which includes a fee for leasing the cable modem.

    NWSL has converted a fiber network to a HFC system. The company entered the residential broadband market with an 82-channel video service [being offered at $10 a month] that has attracted approximately 2,000 subscribers.

    Following the introduction of data services, NWSL plans to enter into a partnership that would allow the company to offer local telephone service.

    Initially, NWSL used the network to deliver data and telephony services to local schools. During the effort, BellSouth and Charter Communications assisted NWSL with the development of the network and addition of services.

    However, when the utility company chose to offer services to the residential market, Charter filed a lawsuit to prevent the competition. Since, the cable operator has dropped the suit and made a commitment to upgrade its Georgia network so that it can also provide bi-directional services.

    Newnan Water, Sewage & Light Commission
    http://nwsl.west.ga.net/nwsl.html

    BellSouth
    http://www.bellsouth.com


    Rouzbeh to Direct MCNS DOCSIS Testing & Verification Stage
    Rouzbeh Yassini, founder of LANcity, will directing the testing and verification stage for MCNS DOCSIS compliance testing at Cablelabs. Completion of the stage is expected next March.

    Currently, Yassini is also working on some non-disclosed projects under the company name "Yas Corp."

    MCNS
    http://www.cablemodem.com


    Online System Services to Resell Hybrid's Cable Modems
    Online System Services [OSS] has entered into a VAR partnership with Hybrid Networks. The agreement allows OSS to resell Hybrid's Series 2000 headend equipment, routers and cable modems through OSS' turnkey data over cable service known as Cable Access America.

    Online System Services
    http://www.ossinc.com

    Cable Access America
    http://www.caa.net

    Hybrid Networks
    http://www.hybrid.com


    Rogers Chooses Bay's Cable Modems for Wave Service
    Following many months of testing, Rogers Cablesystems, a Canadian MSO has chosen Bay Networks' cable modems for its Wave service. Rogers representatives state that the MSO selected the Bay solution because the network is able to provide multi-tiered services.

    Rogers Cablesystems
    http://www.rogers.ca

    Wave
    http://www.wave.ca

    Bay Networks
    http://www.baynetworks.com


    MultiCanal Taps Superior and Antec for Monitoring Equipment
    Antec Latin America and Superior Electronics teamed together and were awarded a contract from Multicanal that calls for the vendors to supply the Brazilian MSO with network monitoring equipment. The equipment will be used to monitor four new cable builds located in Sao Paulo, Belo Horizonte, Goiania and Santos.

    Superior will be providing its Cheetah system, which isolates faults, monitors signal quality, and characterizes and tests plant performance. The system includes CheetahNet software, which allows complete headend to end-of-line monitoring including signal quality, fiber nodes, transmitters, power supplies, amps and line monitoring.

    Antec will assist with the implementation of the system.

    Multicanal is Brazil's largest MSO, serving more than 2 million subscribers.

    Multicanal
    http://www.multicanal.com.br

    Superior Electronics
    http://www.cheetahnet.com

    Antec
    http://www.antec.com

    copyright 1997



    © Copyright 2000 Gecko Research & Publishing

    The Broadband Bob Report is a weekly take of the latest news regarding data over cable, 2-way HFC networks and related applications and services. Subscribers to Broadband Bob’s Cable Modem Mailing List receive the Broadband Bob Report via E-Mail each Monday. For info on joining the mailing list, visit http://www.hfc.net/mailinglist

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