ARRIS unveiled further details about its “FlexPath Wideband,” its implementation of Wideband functionality on its Cadant C4 CMTS platform and new Touchstone Wideband Modem. The technology is positioned as a way for cable operators to outperform the forthcoming ADSL2+ and VDSL2 services from telco competitors. DOCSIS channel bonding is expected to deliver data rates well in excess of 100 Mbps to subscribers.
ARRIS’ FlexPath uses the same Packet Bonding technique as CableLabs’ chosen approach for DOCSIS 3.0. Channel bonding is an efficient way to combine multiple DOCSIS channels together for a higher effective data rate to the subscriber. It is also expected to backwards compatible.
The first release of the Wideband Cable Modem with FlexPath will support 4 bonded channels in both the upstream and downstream directions, and that number will increase with subsequent releases. Four DOCSIS 2.0 channels bonded together create over 100 Mbps in both directions, significantly surpassing xDSL data rates.
ARRIS said future releases of FlexPath could support up to 32 downstream channels in a bonding group, enabling downstream data rates of over one gigabit per second to a single node.
FlexPath will be deployable on the ARRIS Cadant C4 CMTS through a software upgrade, and will work on existing 2D:12U and 1D:8U cable access modules (CAM’s).
The FlexPath solution will be commercially available to cable operators in Q4, 2005. The ARRIS technology is currently in live trials with several MSOs.
http://www.arrisi.com
