Terayon Communication Systems unveiled its new “FlexCMTS” architecture, which lets cable operators engineer their networks at the traffic level instead of the port level. Terayon noted that current CMTS line cards have a fixed ratio of downstream and upstream ports, which often results in large amounts of unrecoverable capital due to stranded and unused ports. Second, Terayon observed that large amounts of capacity become significantly underutilized due to a network’s performance being limited to that of the lowest performing DOCSIS modem, often called the “lowest common denominator effect.”
Terayon’s FlexCMTS addresses these issues by logically associating downstream and upstream ports across multiple line cards in a CMTS chassis. This enables a line card to utilize the unused upstream and downstream ports of the other line cards. Terayon believes operators can maximize their CMTS line card investments by fully utilizing all the downstream and upstream CMTS ports, reducing stranded capital costs.
The FlexCMTS capabilities will be activated through a software upgrade initially on the current Terayon BW 3500 CMTS, which is currently certified for DOCSIS 2.0. Using actual traffic models of major cable operators, Terayon estimates that any Terayon BW 3500 CMTS using the FlexCMTS architecture could reduce an operator’s capital expenditures by 35% to 65% in the first year.
http://www.terayon.com
