In demonstrations this past September, CableLabs, the cable industry’s non-profit research and development organization, showed how existing networks are capable of downstream speeds of 4.6 Gbps and upstream speeds of 800 Mbps. So to the question, “Can cable networks scale and compete with next-gen fiber networks?” the answer is a resounding YES. And it’s being done through the use of the DOCSIS 3.1 technology platform (also known under its friendlier name, Gigasphere).
The DOCSIS 3.1 technology can deliver multi-gig speeds over existing broadband networks. The CableLabs demonstration wasn’t so much a chance to prove this type of speed (tests have been underway since last December), but a showcase for device manufacturers to prove their equipment is ready for this new standard. With cable operators planning deployments of DOCSIS 3.1 services in the coming months, hosting these sorts of “dry runs” is an important part of preparing.
In addition to supporting the development of DOCSIS 3.1 devices through these testing events, CableLabs is also prepared to accept devices for certification testing, which validates device readiness for deployment in the field. It’s important to remember that all DOCSIS 3.1 technology deployments are backwards compatible, so all current devices will work normally once this new technology is fully deployed throughout the network.
As exciting as the tech demonstration was, the really great news is that full DOCSIS 3.1 potential is still ahead of us. As Matthew Schmitt, Director of DOCSIS specifications at CableLabs said:
“When creating the DOCSIS 3.1 specifications, we wanted to ensure that the technology would ultimately be capable of supporting 10+ Gbps so that the technology would serve industry needs for many years to come. At the same time, we also recognized that not everyone would need 10 Gbps initially. Therefore, similar to DOCSIS 3.0 technology, we set initial minimum requirements, while also ensuring that the technology supported a future generation devices that could scale to 10 Gbps and greater when deployed in a plant with sufficient available spectrum.”
So not only is DOCSIS 3.1 technology more than doubling the maximum capacity of even the fastest home broadband available today, it’s scalable to double again in the future.
Take a look at this video from CableLabs to learn even more about September’s DOCSIS 3.1 technology demonstration and what the future of cable broadband holds.