Cisco (NASDAQ:CSCO) has unveiled the Cisco Cloud-Native Broadband Router, intended to offer cable operators a new approach to support core broadband routing functions and simplify network operations by converting to cloud- and IP-based cable networks.
The Cisco Cloud-Native Broadband Router is a containerized, full software rewrite of converged cable access platform (CCAP) services, built as a set of microservices using standard tools such as Kubernetes for container orchestration and Docker for creating, deploying, and operating containerized applications.
Features include:
- Composable: Designed as a composition of multiple services that are elastic, resilient and flexible to support multicloud architectures
- Containerized software architecture: Open standards-based, modular software for feature development and deployment
- Automation and analytics: Real-time monitoring, analysis and remediation, including Cisco Crosswork Network Automation
"Taking the next step by disaggregating software from hardware and deploying software-based CCAP services is an opportunity for operators to embrace DevOps and to improve speed-to-market for new services," said Sean Welch, vice president and general manager, Cable Access Business Unit, Cisco. "Cisco is uniquely positioned to help operators make the entire network transition to IP and cloud as seamless, secure, and automated as possible."
In other Cisco news, Korean cable operator SKBroadband rolled out what it says is the world's first DOCSIS 3.1 downstream and upstream pilot service in the Anyang area in Gyeonggi Province and the Gwangju area in Jeollanam Province last November. Using Cisco's cBR-8 converged broadband router, SKBroadband achieved throughput of 4 Gbps downstream and 1 Gbps upstream. The company expects to roll out a large-scale service deployment in the second half of 2018.
SKBroadband plans to use the additional capacity to provide UltraHD video, augmented reality and virtual reality (AR/VR), while laying the infrastructure foundation for the Internet of Things (IoT).
"By securing an HFC four Gbps transmission solution, we can provide sufficient bandwidth and stable 1 Gig service to our HFC subscribers," said Jichang Yu, vice president of SKBroadband Infrastructure Division.
SKBroadband plans to further expand the bandwidth of its HFC network to 10 Gbps downstream and 5 Gbps upstream by introducing more DOCSIS technology in the future.