U-Cable: A Big Leap for Cable Operators

New Challenges for Network Operations

The past decade has seen rapid construction of broadband networks and development of broadband services. On account of big data, network transfer rate has increased tenfold every five years. This has increased requirements in terms of network planning, construction, deployment, and OAM.

There are significant challenges facing cable networks: speedy cross-sector mergers and acquisitions are blurring industrial boundaries; network convergence has made full-service operation a trend; the cost of unidirectional-to-bidirectional digital modernization has become high; homogeneous competition between operators is intense; and innovation in QoE has become increasingly difficult. Operators must focus on offering higher bandwidth at lower cost; offering more flexible tariffs for different services; and deploying services quickly in order reach customers first.

Worldwide, telecom operators and OTT service providers have been big threats for cable operators. However, cable operators can leverage their first-mover advantages in terms of content, network resources, user numbers, and user stickiness to be competitive. Cable operators also need to learn from and cooperate with their competitors.

Choosing an Appropriate Technology

There is a wide choice of technologies for cable network construction and development: FTTH/O, FTTB, FTTdp, FTTC, DOCSIS, C-DOCSIS, EOC and DPoE. These technologies differ in terms of user bandwidth provisioning, unit bandwidth cost, complexity of network technology and architecture, deployment modes and adaptability, OAM. The technology/technologies used in a specific network must meet the service and bandwidth needs of users.

Broadband has driven massive deployment of FTTx technology in cable networks; for example, fiber-only or fiber-copper hybrid construction has had a big impact on legacy HFC/CMTS networks. Traditional CATV networks urgently need IP-based bidirectional digital modernization and bandwidth upgrade. The drawbacks of CMTS technology in terms of performance, functionality, network evolution, and cost have been exposed, and deep deployment of fiber at the user side is an irreversible trend.

Building Cable Broadband Access Networks

ZTE has developed U-Cable, a solution tailored to the cable market. U-Cable conforms to the trend of fiber in/copper out deployment and bidirectional CATV. U-Cable provides different solutions for home, business, and individuals. These solutions involve newly constructed and reconstructed CATV networks as well as coverage for blind spots. By combining FTTx and coaxial cable, U-Cable provides highly adaptive broadband access, modernized CATV, and expanded business applications. U-Cable’s responsive and accurate network services help cable operators implement last-mile broadband acceleration and flexible networks.

U-Cable provides the following advantages:

●    ultra-bandwidth. Depending on the network construction modes and degree of fiber deployment, access bandwidth from 20 Mbps to 10 Gbps can be provided to meet different customer requirements.

●    adaptable access. A newly constructed U-Cable network provides full coverage and eliminates network black spots. U-Cable provides access to homes, businesses, and public hotspots.

●    flexible evolution. U-Cable supports smooth evolution from C-DOCSIS to DOCSIS3.1 and from 1G to 10G PON and beyond. U-Cable supports gradual upgrade from FTTB/FTTC to FTTH/O/dp.

●    centralized management. U-Cable has a platform for unified OAM. With automatic configuration, offline configuration, batch-processing, and remote upgrade and management, U-Cable boosts network performance and saves the costs in labor and construction.

●    optimized OAM. U-Cable includes multiple network optimization measures for intelligent network planning, efficient construction, accurate fault location, and proactive OAM. U-Cable simplifies network OAM by making the network more transparent, controllable, and manageable.

●    exploiting existing resources. U-Cable allows both fiber-only and fiber/copper hybrid deployment so that the existing copper can be reused to save cost. 

●    reduced network layers. By introducing OLTs into the network to deliver more functions and higher performance, pushing nodes further to the user side, and cutting network layers, U-Cable greatly reduces the demand for resources, such as equipment room space.

To facilitate the deployment and OAM of cable networks, U-Cable provides a full range of products, including FTTx equipment and C-DOCSIS/EoC for central and terminal offices, as well as a unified management service system. U-Cable has strong capabilities in terms of QoS, security, and OAM and guarantees effective network operation. This, in turn, enables operators to offer differentiated services, create superior networks, deliver rich value-added services, and increase revenue.

Helping Cable Operators Leapfrog Forward