ARRIS has begun early deployments of its Release 7.4 eXtended Downstream Cable Access Module (XD CAM) field upgrade, effectively doubling the downstream density of the DOCSIS 3.0 C4 CMTS from 16D to 32D without the need for any wiring or hardware changes. 
This enables eight-channel bonding and gives cable operators the ability to deliver more bandwidth per subscriber — up to 343 Mbps for North American DOCSIS (Annex B) and 445 Mbps for European DOCSIS (Annex A).
Specifically, the C4 Release 7.4 software enables operators to upgrade all existing, deployed 16D CAMs to XD CAMs with the purchase of a software license — without removing the module from the chassis. This software-only upgrade process is far less onerous and costly than that of requiring customers to replace current modules with new hardware to achieve similar downstream densities.
Also available in Release 7.4 is support for IPv6 as well as DOCSIS 3.0 multicast traffic. North American cable MSO Comcast recently completed successful testing of a live application of native dual stack (IPv4 and IPv6) CPE support for its customers in the Denver area using the C4 CMTS. Operators will be able to deploy IPv6 with confidence and, by combining Multicast IP Video with DOCSIS 3.0 channel bonding, will be able to deliver IP Video in the most efficient way possible.
ARRIS said this keyed feature field upgrade is available for purchase to the entire installed base of C4 DOCSIS 3.0 CMTS’ worldwide.
“Each time we upgrade a C4’s capacity and density, we lower its total cost of ownership,” said ARRIS Broadband Communications Systems President Bruce McClelland. “The XD CAM is a highly cost effective way to double downstream capacity by simply loading new software, without significant service disruption or configuration changes, and noticeably improves the customer’s broadband user experience.”http://www.arrisi.com/get/XDCAM
