Grande Communications leverages Calix DOCSIS over GPON for Austin gigabit services

With a 1-Gbps offering quickly becoming table stakes in Austin, TX, local cable operator Grande Communications has announced its own 1-Gbps offering in West Austin. Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX) has just revealed that it has supplied its E7-2 Ethernet Service Access Platform (ESAP), 700GE family of optical network terminals (ONTs), and its Compass Open Link Cable software to support the deployment using a combination of GPON technology and DOCSIS provisioning.

"Demand for gigabit services is taking the nation by storm and our subscribers are demanding nothing less than a world-class broadband experience," said Matt Murphy, Grande Communications president. "To meet this demand, we were looking for a fast and efficient path to bring gigabit speeds to our subscribers while leveraging our existing DOCSIS provisioning systems. Calix has delivered for us by providing a powerful fiber access platform over GPON that has allowed us to become Austin's first gigabit services provider. And now, with Open Link Cable, Grande will have the ability to provision these advanced fiber services with our back office systems untouched."

Specifications for DOCSIS Provisioning of EPON (DPoE) have been available for more than two years, with CableLabs embarking on equipment certification in 2012 (see "DOCSIS Provisioning of EPON subject of CableLabs qualification program"). However, interest among cable operators in GPON technology has spurred CableLabs to launch a program to create DOCSIS Provisioning of GPON specifications (see "CableLabs tackles DOCSIS over GPON, single PON standard").

The specification development process is still underway. However, Calix says it has leveraged its expertise in DPoE to build a bridge between DOCSIS and GPON using its Open Link Cable offering. Calix asserts this capability will be compatible with the upcoming DOCSIS Provisioning of GPON standards.

"The rising tide of gigabit deployments across the nation is causing cable providers to seek a more rapid path to gigabit speeds while leveraging their existing operational infrastructures," said Chris Bowick, who was recently appointed to the Calix board of directors. "While DOCSIS 3.1 shows promise in the future, solutions like Open Link Cable, GPON and the Calix E7 snap into existing cable infrastructure, making the leap to gigabit services for cable companies like Grande efficient and cost-effective today."

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