At the SCTE/ISBE Cable-Tec Expo in Denver, Cisco (NASDAQ:CSCO) is highlighting its Infinite Broadband Remote PHY solution (RPHY) for cable access networks, a standards-based distributed access architecture (DAA) solution.
Remote PHY refers to moving the physical "PHY" circuit layer out of a headend device such as a converged cable access platform (CCAP) and putting it into a distributed device at the edge of the network (RPHY node), or a smaller hub-site (RPHY shelf) to be closer to the customer.
Remote PHY, defined by CableLabs, is intended to reduce power, cooling and headend/hub site sizing requirements.
Cisco's RPHY solution is based on open, standardized software that was contributed to Cable Labs OpenRPD forum in 2016. The open source initiative is intended to create an ecosystem of remote PHY device (RPD) vendors, allowing operators to select an RPD vendor that best meets their needs, without being locked into a single vendor's proprietary solution.
Recent additions to Cisco's Infinite Broadband Remote PHY include the GS7000i Smartnode, designed to add mass awareness telemetry and proactive control automation capabilities to the cable access network. The new features are intended to extend its Smart PHY Automation capabilities beyond the RPD. Based on the Cisco GS7000 Optical Node, the no-touch GS7000i Smartnode requires no manual configuration.
Recent customers of Cisco's Remote PHY technology include Korea's D'Live and south Florida's Blue Stream.
"Blue Stream customers want gigabit broadband services. It is a 'must have' to deliver what our customers want to any device," said Joe Canavan, chief operating officer, Blue Stream. We were looking for the best way to expand our footprint and deliver high-speed data, video and voice to new service areas from our existing headend infrastructure. Cisco's Remote PHY solution has helped us deliver these services over a single IP link and single platform exactly how and where we needed. We worked closely with CCI Systems for the Remote PHY solution design, as well as video and IP network integration services."
"Cisco's Infinite Broadband solution was strategically the best match for what we needed," said Yong-Duck Kim, CTO of D'Live. "D'Live is currently serving 2.35 million digital cable subscribers in Seoul and the metropolitan area, and has been strengthening its OTT services for future growth while also exploring new technologies to better serve our customers. Through this solution, D'Live will be able to simplify and automate its headends and substations, but more importantly, manage a more sophisticated network topology through consolidation of our hub sites operation. Finally, the reduction in hub site space requirements, power and cooling was a key decision metric for us. We now have a solid foundation to expand DOCSIS 3.1 services in all of our hub sites, regardless of spacing constraints."
