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    1. Fiber
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    Aussies Eyeing DOCSIS 3.1

    July 22, 2016
    Australia's National Broadband Network (nbn) is planning to launch DOCSIS 3.1 next year to support gigabit Internet speeds. The public ...
    nbn
    nbn

    Australia's National Broadband Network (nbn) is planning to launch DOCSIS 3.1 next year to support gigabit Internet speeds.

    The public company was established on in 2009 to design, build and operate Australia's new broadband network, which uses both FTTx and HFC technologies. nbn launched its first commercial HFC services on June 30, with speeds of up to 100/40 Mbps. By June 2017, more than 900,000 premises are expected to be able to access the nbn via HFC.

    When it's finished, the network is expected to deliver broadband to 12 million Australian premises via FTTP, FTTN, HFC, fixed wireless and satellite by 2020. HFC is expected to deliver broadband to more than 3 million premises.

    Dennis Steiger, CTO of nbn, said: "At nbn, we are planning to launch our DOCSIS 3.1 services in the second half of next year, and we have a keen eye on other new emerging technologies such as Full Duplex DOCSIS because of the extraordinary potential that it offers."

    According to an Ovum report commissioned by the nbn, HFC has a lot of life left and can provide comparable speeds to fiber to the premises (FTTP) at lower cost. Report findings indicate:

    • The global HFC/cable broadband market is expected to remain buoyant despite the growing deployment of FTTB/P.
    • HFC/cable is expected to retain a 19% share of the global broadband market between 2015-2020.
    • Total global HFC subscribers are expected to grow from 152 million in 2015 to 187 million in 2020 - a 23% increase.
    • HFC/cable is expected to remain dominant in the U.S. broadband market, with subs rising from 59 million to 66 million over 2015-2020.
    • HFC/cable is expected to still hold 56% of U.S. broadband market by 2020 - down from 57% in 2015.
    • Cable is also expected to hold or increase its market share in Europe, Latin America and Asia Pacific.
    • The increasing speed capabilities offered by HFC are putting it on par with FTTP in terms of performance.
    • Upgrading HFC networks to DOCSIS 3.1 enables the delivery of gigabit broadband in a very cost and time efficient manner.
    • More than 20 global operators have already committed to launching DOCSIS 3.1.
    • Vendors are already lab testing new symmetrical Gigabit Full Duplex DOCSIS technology.