At the SCTE/ISBE Cable-Tec Expo in Denver, Hitron Technologies and Cisco (NASDAQ:CSCO) will be teaming up on a demonstration of Full Duplex DOCSIS 3.1. The demo will showcase Hitron modems with Cisco's Full Duplex DOCSIS 3.1 interference group capabilities. The demo is intended to show how DOCSIS 3.0 modems can work on the same network as Full Duplex DOCSIS 3.1 modems.
As part of the demo, Hitron will showcase its CODA family of modems. CODA-45 models feature a 5-85 MHz fixed front end and multiple GigE ports (depending on the model), among other features. CODA-47 versions may be switched to a 204 MHz high split return path to enable upstream speeds of up to 1 Gbps. Cisco will demonstrate seven cable modems based on Intel's (NASDAQ:INTC) Puma chipset.
Full Duplex DOCSIS is designed to support multi-gigabit speeds both downstream and upstream by using simultaneous, bi-directional transmissions across the same spectrum. To achieve this, interference from upstream transmission must be mitigated to prevent upstream signals from interfering with other cable modems that are receiving data downstream on the same frequency. Full Duplex groups modems into interference groups (IGs); modems in different IGs have enough RF isolation to allow clean upstream and downstream transmission on the same frequency.
"Broadband providers have long been looking for ways to increase upstream throughput without sacrificing downstream spectrum. Full Duplex provides the advantage of driving fiber deeper into the neighborhood while utilizing existing coax for the final service delivery." said Greg Fisher, CTO for Hitron Technologies Americas. "This saves service providers much of the cost that would be incurred for fiber-to-the-home (FTTH), while delivering multi-gigabit speeds to customers."