Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT) this month announced that it has developed an upgrade kit that rejuvenates Cisco’s end-of-life GS7000 node, transforming it into a distributed access architecture (DAA) node that supports Harmonic's Flexible MAC Architecture (FMA) platform for delivering next-gen broadband.
“Following Cisco’s end-of-life announcement of the GS7K node, Harmonic has stepped up to offer MSOs a path to 10G while enabling them to retain their legacy node infrastructure,” explained Nimrod Ben-Natan, SVP and GM, Cable Access Business at Harmonic. “By integrating our Pebble device into the GS7K, we empower multiple global operators to upgrade their legacy nodes to DAA architecture, rapidly increasing upstream and downstream broadband capacity in the most economical and sustainable way possible.”
As part of Harmonic’s CableOS cloud-native core platform family, the company notes its Pebble DAA device, as deployed in the upgrade kit, features a uniquely small form factor that lowers space, power and cooling costs while easily adapting to any deployment scenario. Leveraging Harmonic’s expertise and support, integrating the Pebble DAA device with the GS7000 node is a "fast and simple" process, added the company.
The upgrade can be performed efficiently in the field without needing to take down the node, replace the power supply or change the node lid. By offering turnkey solutions and supporting multiple access architectures, including PON, DAA and FMA, Harmonic notes it increases operators’ business agility, enabling them to address ever-evolving broadband requirements.
In addition to providing operators with a solution supporting the GS7000 node, Harmonic offers a seamless transition path from legacy integrated CMTS to a modern and advanced virtualized CMTS, helping them power the ultra-connected future of broadband, including high-split and symmetric 10G.
The upgrade kit will be available and in trials with leading operators by the end of this month. Harmonic notes its CableOS Platform powers 6.1 million cable modems for a growing number of cable and fiber operators worldwide.