Broadband Technology Report'sDiamond Technology Reviews is a technology recognition program wherein vendors serving the broadband cable industry are invited to submit information about products that have been released or upgraded since last year's SCTE Cable-Tec Expo (held in September 2016). We decided to mark the lucky 13th year of the Diamond Technology Reviews by adding a twist. This year, companies can finally "win."
In the past, our Reviews judges have rated each entry on a score of one to five Diamonds based on its uniqueness, innovation, ease of use, efficiency, reliability and contribution to profitability. Entries that achieved a score of at least 3.5 Diamonds were recognized for their Elite Score status. This year, our judges again evaluated a wide range of worthy products, this year in 16 categories, and rated them on the same scale of 1 to 5 Diamonds. However, this year each entrant with a score of at least 3.5 was named a Finalist in their respective category and are described within. The top-rated entries in each category will be announced as winners at this year's Cable-Tec Expo.
BTR's staff played no role in the judging of the submitted products. Review panelists were informed that scores/comments would remain anonymous. Each entry was assigned to at least three of our expert volunteer judges. To help ensure fairness, similar products from different vendors were reviewed by the same group of panelists. Judges based scores/comments on written material provided by vendors, as well as their own experience with or knowledge of the specific technologies.
Despite the change, judges still searched for innovation that creates enablement in a wide range of offerings, said Tom Gorman, president of opXL and DTR manager. "Once again I was privileged to chair the Diamond Reviews, and once again I was not disappointed. Our vendor community is amazingly responsive to the changing demands of the industry. Forward thinking and thoughtful, we saw everything from back office support to test equipment that will ensure operators are ready to meet customer demand for excellent service (and services!)."
DTR Finalist Descriptions
Active Network Hardware
- ADVA Optical Networking ALM16 - Proactive Fiber Monitoring
- Alpha Technologies AlphaGateway BSC
- Oscilloquartz OSA 5420
- Qorvo QPC3614 75-ohm 5-1,500 MHz Digital Step Attenuator
- Technetix NCI-321/D
- Teleste Intercept ICON9000
Back Office
CCAP Systems
- Casa Systems Managed Services
- Huawei Technologies D-CCAP Solution
- Vecima Networks Entra Convertible Remote PHY/Remote MAC-PHY Access Node
Customer Premises Equipment (CPE)
Cabling and Accessories
- Alpha Technologies Alpha Ultra High Density Fiber Panels
- Corning Optical Communications GF-81 F Splice Corning Connector
FTTH/Optical Access Platforms
- Calix Software Defined 10G EPON
- Corning Optical Communications OptiTect Sealed Local Convergence Point Enclosure Cabinet
- Huawei Technologies Optical Access Platform with Distributed Architecture
- Technetix DBx Universal Access Platform
- Tibit Communications MicroPlug OLT
Field Test Instruments
- Deviser Instruments DS2831 Digital TV Spectrum Analyzer Family
- EXFO 740C xWDM OTDR
- GL Communications VQuad Probe HD
- Trilithic 1G DSP
- Trilithic Seeker HL
- VeEX CX310
- VeEX RXT-4111
- Viavi Solutions OneExpert CATV
Monitoring & Analysis
- Accedian SkyLIGHT Performance Assurance Platform
- ARRIS ServAssure Alarm Central Virtual Spectrum
- Ciena Blue Planet Analytics
- EXFO Universal Virtual Sync
- Trilithic Viewpoint
- VeEX VeSion
- Viavi Solutions XPERTrak
Optical Transport/Carrier Ethernet
- Ciena Waveserver Ai
- Infinera XTM II
- Vecima Networks Entra Outdoor Hardened 8 Port x 10 GbE Access Switch
SDN/NFV/Cloud
- Ciena D-NFV Solution
- Edgeware TV - Edge TV Repackager
- Huawei Technologies Programmable Virtual CCAP (vCCAP) Solution
- Qwilt Open Edge Cloud
Video Content Security
Video Distribution Solutions
- Alticast Ambient TV
- Broadpeak nanoCDN
- Evolution Digital eVUE-TV
- Huawei Technologies FMC CDN Solution
- Vecima Networks Terrace DVB Commercial Video Gateway
Video Processing Solutions
- Harmonic EyeQ Real-Time Video Compression Optimization Solution
- Harmonic ProStream X Video Stream Processor and Gateway
WiFi Solutions