CableLabs Technologies

Standardized in 2009 and first deployed in 2012, 10 Gbps Passive Optical Network (10G-PON) is the current state-of-the-art technology for fiber to the premise (FTTP) solutions allowing for 10 Gbps symmetric capacity. The emerging 25G-PON and 50G-PON technology will allow cable operators to deploy cost-effective solutions over the same optical distribution network far into the future to meet high-speed data trends. Coupled with CableLabs DOCSIS Provisioning of EPON (DPoE) specifications, cable operators can leverage the common DOCSIS provisioning systems to provision FTTP devices in the same manner they provision DOCSIS devices.

In the emerging Distributed Access Architecture, a massive amount of capacity is required to support traffic aggregation from intelligent edge devices such as Remote-PHY and Remote-MACPHY devices. The Coherent Optics technology leverages the unique characteristics of the cable access network to bring the immense capacity of coherent optics to the access network in a cost-efficient manner. Furthermore, Full Duplex Coherent Optics provides for the ultimate cost reduction of the technology when used in single-fiber deployment scenarios. At 100 Gbps, 200 Gbps and ultimately 400 Gbps rates, and optical wavelengths on the ITU DWDM grid, a single existing fiber can be used to carry upwards of 50 Tbps in each direction.

Deployment of DOCSIS 3.1 technology:

• Provides support for up to 10 Gbps downstream and up to 1 Gbps upstream network capacity.
• Utilizes Active Queue Management to significantly reduce network delay as data traffic grows in the home network, dramatically improving responsiveness for applications such as online gaming.
• Enables a significant increase in network capacity with the ability to transmit up to 50 percent more data over the same spectrum, on existing HFC networks, compared to DOCSIS 3.0 technology.
• Delivers enhancements to the DOCSIS protocols, increasing cable modem energy efficiency through advanced energy management protocols.

DOCSIS 4.0 technology allows cable operators to ultimately achieve 10 Gbps speeds downstream and 6 Gbps upstream. Including support for Extended Spectrum DOCSIS (ESD) and Full Duplex (FDX) DOCSIS capabilities, cable operators can deliver a richer set of capabilities and facilitate a cost-effective upgrade to a better, faster and more efficient network.

Distributed Access Architecture (DAA) enables the evolution of cable networks by decentralizing and virtualizing headend and network functions, and leveraging the ubiquity of optical Ethernet transport, thereby establishing the foundation for 10G technologies. The Remote PHY (R-PHY) and Flexible MAC Architecture (FMA) projects specify fundamental requirements that allow the primary functions of traditional cable technologies to be distributed across the access network, creating efficiencies in speed, reliability, latency and security in support of 10G.

Our latest DOCSIS 3.1 suite of specifications contains Low Latency DOCSIS technology, the next frontier for broadband performance, delivering meaningful improvement to user experiences and bringing cable broadband customers one step closer to a world of seamless and rapid communication. From gamers to medical patients to everyday internet users, customers are seeking real-time control over their applications—without choppiness, freezing or other latency issues that won’t be improved by simply adding more bandwidth. CableLabs’ Low Latency DOCSIS (LLD) technology is a new approach that can decrease latency to just 1 ms for many applications. This enhancement to cable broadband will ensure that web pages load faster, video calling is smooth and online gaming is highly responsive.

CableLabs developed innovative technologies that enable DOCSIS based networks to support ~2 msec mobile backhaul latencies with low jitter, thus removing the current latency barrier for DOCSIS networks. This will yield effective solutions that can meet 4.5G and 5G low-latency backhaul needs and maximize the performance and spectral efficiency of mobile networks.

CableLabs worked with the Wi-Fi Alliance to develop the EasyMesh™ technology and the EasyMesh™ certification program that define how multiple access points (AP) in homes and small offices work together to form a unified network. These networks provide smart, continuous and efficient Wi-Fi throughout the home and outdoor spaces. Simple and easy to install, the network self-monitors to ensure optimal performance and offers network intelligence, load balancing, flexible design, scalability and multi-vendor interoperability in networks.

The days of searching for a Wi-Fi connection may soon be over. Tested by CableLabs and developed by the Wi-Fi Alliance, Wi-Fi Passpoint is a foundational ingredient to Wi-Fi roaming standards. The technology utilizes the highest WPA2™ security and automates the access point (AP) authentication process, enabling a seamless connection between hotspots and mobile devices.

Wi-Fi Vantage is the technology suite operators use to deliver performance beyond the access point and the devices connected to it. The technology makes it easier for users to select network devices that provide the best Wi-Fi experience in airports, stadiums, offices, campuses, retail locations, and service provider-managed residential networks.

CableLabs® Micronets is an on-premise network management system that provides adaptive and effortless enterprise-level security. Built on Software Defined Networking (SDN) technologies, micronets leverages device fingerprinting and dynamic identity techniques (e.g., PKI certificates) to automatically organize all network-connected devices into separate trust domains, or micronets, and manages the connectivity between them. By organizing all the networked devices into multiple micronets, the system can effectively isolate any security threats and prevent them from damaging the entire network.

Proactive Network Maintenance (PNM) focuses on improving network problem detection and reducing resolution time and cost. It is based on various standardized methods of collecting key network performance data from various wired, wireless and optical technologies, like modems or wireless routers, and then using this data to quickly detect and address issues before they lead to network failure.

SNAPS™ stands for SDN and NFV Application Platform and Stack. Leveraging Software Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) technology, SNAPS™ provides a fully debugged open-source platform where developers can easily onboard and test their NFV applications, provide transparent APIs for various kinds of infrastructure and share optimization information with other members of the open-source community. While SNAPS is built with developers’ needs in mind, it also makes it easier for cable companies to implement SDN/NFV in their networks and gain access to these new apps. This encourages collaboration and wider adoption of open-source projects-something we’re very passionate about here at CableLabs.

A new area of IoT involves the use of sensors designed to last for years on a single battery transmitting information periodically over long distances. The infrastructure to support all of these connected devices is commonly referred to as a Low Power Wide Area Network (LP-WAN). LoRaWAN is a long range, low power wireless protocol that is intended for use in building IoT LP-WAN networks. IoT devices send small data packets to any number of “gateways” that may be in the several-kilometer range of a sensor via the LoRaWAN wireless protocol. The gateways then use more traditional communications such as wired Internet connections to forward the messages to a network-server which validates the packets and forwards the application payload to an application-server.

Wi-Fi has become ubiquitous over the years and is the primary method by which we connect devices in the home, at work and in public places to reach the internet. Multiple Wi-Fi devices in a typical broadband home can cause contention for available frequencies. Dual Channel Wi-Fi addresses Wi-Fi congestion issues by providing one or more channels for downstream-only data in addition to the primary bi-directional channel. The primary channel is used for upstream and small downstream packets and the others channel(s) are used for large downstream and time-critical data, like video.

DOCSIS PKI X.509 digital certificates and PKIs protect DOCSIS identities and have resulted in a scalable, interoperable and easy-to-deploy key management system for the entire industry.

CableLabs maintains and operates the secure PKI for issuing digital certificates for use in DOCSIS networks. The DOCSIS PKI currently supports two separate generations of the infrastructure (the “legacy” and the “modern” PKI). With hundreds of millions of active certificates and billions of issued certificates overall, our trust infrastructure has become one of the largest ever deployed worldwide. The use of strong cryptography helps cable operators deter the theft of—or unauthorized access to—cable services and enables confidentiality that protects subscriber network traffic.

NaaS closes the gap between a network’s capabilities and an application’s needs, making access easier for developers and creating consistent service experiences. The approach speeds up the development of applications across operator infrastructures, regardless of underlying access network technologies.

CableLabs Mobile Wi-Fi uses a central controller to group multiple APs into one continuous network. The central controller detects which AP a device is closest to and connects the device to that AP — all without the user ever noticing — to create an improved user experience.