BigBand Networks introduced a modular CMTS architecture for IP services over cable networks. The company said enhancements to the established BigBand Cuda CMTS and BigBand BME (Broadband Multimedia-Service Edge) platforms will enable quadruple downstream capacities in accordance with the developing CableLabs M-CMTS standard.
The modular CMTS approach provides an open upgrade path for currently deployed BigBand Cuda platforms and their utilized components. This architecture decouples the DOCSIS MAC (media access control) processing from the physical QAM modulation. A fully populated Cuda12000 chassis is capable of DOCSIS processing more than 3 Gbps, which is four times greater than the previous capacity. The MAC-processed content from the Cuda can interface to the BME for downstream QAM modulation. BigBand Networks is introducing hardware and software enhancements to its current platforms to achieve the M-CMTS architecture.
The BigBand BME is currently broadly used for QAM modulation of MPEG content required for digital video services such as VOD and switched broadcast. A full gigabit-per-second content can be QAM modulated on the compact BME50 platform of 1.5 rack units. This is achieved at superior economics to legacy approaches of QAM integrated into conventional CMTS platforms. Because of its programmability and versatility across media, the BME can also be upgraded to dynamically assign its resources between multiple types of content including MPEG video and DOCSIS data sharing the same QAM channels.
http://www.bigbandnet.com
- In June 2004, BigBand Networks closed its acquisition of the IP Cable Business Unit of ADC Telecommunications, including the Cuda and FastFlow product lines.
