The Wireless Focus at Cable-Tec Expo Arris Expands …€¦ · · 2016-09-27The Wireless Focus at...

Arris Expands DOCSIS 3.1 Portfolio and Launches Touchstone Development Partner Program

The Wireless Focus at Cable-Tec Expo

Arris Continued on page 3

Awide range of wireless technologies are set to be ongoing buzz issue here at Cable-Tec Expo, and that’s

especially timely given recent news from major cable operators about their future wireless service deployment plans.

At the Goldman Sachs Communicopia conference last week, Comcast CEO Brian Roberts said the cable company is planning to launch its own wireless service using Verizon’s network by mid-2017.

Roberts reported the company will leverage Comcast’s 15 million WiFi hot spots and use leased airwaves from Verizon based on a deal from 2011 that allows the cable op to offer wireless service with Verizon’s network with set terms and pricing. Comcast will look to

market the wireless service inside its footprint to existing and potential Comcast cable customers.

“The team of well over 150 people today are getting ready next year probably toward, somewhere in the middle of next year, maybe a little sooner but not at the beginning of next year, to launch a WiFi and MVNO integrated product,” Roberts said. “It’s a little early to be talking about it, but we get so many questions about wireless I thought it’s important to just begin to explain here’s where we’re driving toward.”

Roberts’ comments indicate the rollout will be “very much an in-footprint strategy,” with service offered as a bundled add-on to existing services.

Charter CEO Tom Rutledge also gave some initial details on the operator’s wireless aspirations at the same Goldman Sachs conference when he reported that the company had asked to activate an agreement with Verizon, which allows it to provide wireless services.

“Similar to Comcast, we do have an MVNO agreement and we have told Verizon that we’re interested in pursuing that agreement,” Rutledge said. “We’re in the process now of effectuating it.”

Rutledge explained that Charter’s vision of wireless service includes the hybrid use of

A rris has extended its portfolio of DOCSIS

3.1 devices — including, mo-dems, broadband gateways, and telephony gateways. It also announced its Touch-stone Development Partner Program.

The DOCSIS 3.1 port-folio now includes three gateways, which are said to meet the needs of gigabit service tiers for both small and large service providers. The new Arris TG3442 offers gigabit broadband speeds and delivers whole-home video over WiFi at an entry-level price point, ac-cording to the company. The performance-tier TG3452 telephony gateway is said to increase performance for supporting even faster speeds and carrier-grade video over WiFi services.

Wireless Focus Continued on page 4

C A B L E - T E C E X P O 2 0 1 6 S H O W D A I LY

SEPTEMBER 27, 2016 DAY ONEwww.cedmagazine.com

By Laura Hamilton, Editor, CED

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The CABLE-TEC EXPO Show Daily • Day One • September 27, 2016 3Complete conference coverage at www.cedmagazine.com


H ere at Cable-Tec Expo, Concurrent is showcasing 4K over-the-top (OTT) video services

powered by its Aquari software-defined storage and UpShift unified content delivery solutions.

“Concurrent is making set-top boxes obsolete by delivering a full-featured 4K Ultra HD TV viewing experience, one that includes live streaming, video-on-demand and cloud-based digital video recording, directly to consumer-owned devices via the Internet”, James Brickmeier, CMO and GM of Concurrent’s Content Delivery Solutions business, says. “Our OTT solution increases the number of outlets service providers can address, enables them to activate new customers instantly, and reduces the cost associated with

activating a new revenue generating account.”

The company is highlighting the following products:

• Aquari Software-Defined Storage. Concurrent’s software-defined, open-source, scale-out storage technology includes exabyte scaling, support for multiple workloads, and RAID-free self-healing data protection, which the company says makes it ideal for high-capacity VOD and cloud-based digital video recording (CDVR) applications. Six of the top 25 service providers in North America and several operators in Europe are now using Aquari to power their next-generation video services, Concurrent reports.

• UpShift Content Delivery Solutions. Upshift now features support for virtual reality and 4K Ultra HD content to help drive additional stream demand. Concurrent’s new 100 percent software-based transcoding solution supports both live and file-based workflows and is pre-integrated with UpShift CDN, which the company says makes it easier to launch multi-screen OTT and CDVR services.

Concurrent solutions are being shown at booth # 1429. ●

Concurrent Goes Over-the-Top

Arris Continued from page 1

And Arris reports that the premium-tier TG3462 telephony gateway “adds mul-tiple IoT radios and 8x8 Wi-Fi to deliver the fastest-possible speeds and best connectivity for next-generation connect-ed-home services.”

“ARRIS was a pioneer in DOCSIS technology, and we’ve continually built upon that legacy. Today, we deliver one of the broadest ranges of devices, ad-dressing the diverse needs of service providers worldwide. The TG3442 adds to our leading portfolio of gateway devic-es, which are becoming important hubs of the connected home. And combined with our new Touchstone Development Partner Program, our expanded DOC-SIS portfolio is enabling the next genera-tion of gigabit services and experiences,” Larry Robinson, president, customer premises equipment at Arris, says.

The company says its DOCSIS 3.1 portfolio includes an advanced selection of features including:

Video-over-Wi-Fi: Ensuring the con-sistent, reliable delivery of high-quality, carrier-grade video service over WiFi through Video QoS, Dedicated Video SSID, and dynamic and adaptive airtime management — eliminating performance bottlenecks

Security: Address-ing software security concerns through authentication and security provisions, including anti-clon-ing and anti-rollback mechanisms

IoT Support: En-abling operators to roll out and extend new smart home services through IoT-enabling technologies, includ-ing multiple radios and software support

WiFi Management: Delivering com-prehensive in-home WiFi management and service provisioning to match the increasing number of wireless devices in the home

To complement its DOCSIS 3.1 de-vice portfolio – which includes modems and telephony modems in addition to gateways – Arris offers a range of routers, WiFi extenders and services support.

Arris also launched the Touchstone Development Partner Program “in rec-ognition of the broadband gateway’s paramount importance as a hub of the

connected home.” The program opens up the Arris Touchstone platform to software development partners around the world.

Arris reports it is working with select partners, including embedUR Systems and SamKnows, to provide access to an application framework with a growing set of APIs across the gateway’s plat-form and service layers. The company also says it will provide services for testing, certifying, and deploying applica-tions in service provider networks.

More information is available at the Arrisbooth #1074. ●

Complete conference coverage at www.cedmagazine.com

The CABLE-TEC EXPO Show Daily • Day One • September 27, 20164Complete conference coverage at www.cedmagazine.com

both WiFi and cell, as Comcast reports, as well as a further extension of Charter’s network “at some point in the future.” In a mobile scenario, part of that expansion would include densification via small cells, Rutledge noted.

Rutledge also expanded a bit about the future of those potential build-outs in the Charter network.

“To get from where we are to true mobility is going to require the use of our WiFi. It’s going to require the relationships we have potentially with MVNOs and it’s going to require us to actually build out the network at some point in the future,” Rutledge said. “But when you think about the new architecture five years down the road for mobility, you’ll have a traditional cellular umbrella but you’ll also have these really small cells. I think we’ll have one of those in every house and every business we serve.”

Rutledge didn’t offer a timeline for the launch of wireless service or package or pricing details. A bundle similar to Comcast seems most likely.

Next-Gen Wireless AllianceIn other recent wireless news around the cable industry, Liberty Global and CableLabs reported last week that they have joined the MulteFire Alliance, an international consortium with the goal of helping to develop next-generation wireless technology. The main focus of the Alliance is to ensure that next-generation LTE mobile standards are compatible with shared and unlicensed spectrum. Compatibility obviously helps make sure that any next generation technology is more widely available and that it can coexist alongside WiFi and so on. The Alliance further points out that

what also makes this technology unique is that operators without access to the licensed spectrum still will be able to use it. That can help remove entry hurdles and helps push innovation.

“Wireless connectivity has become critically important for consumers,” Balan Nair, CTO of Liberty Global, comments. “By joining the MulteFire Alliance, we are driving the future of wireless for our customers.”

Ralph Brown, CTO of CableLabs says this announcement will help arm the cable industry with a new wireless technology that builds on its success in providing WiFi and mobile services and complements the industry’s fixed broadband technology.

The MulteFire Alliance is working to adapt 3GPP-based mobile wireless standards for shared and unlicensed spectrum so that the technology is broadly available and fairly coexists with WiFi and other technologies. MulteFire is based on 3GPP Release 13 License Assisted Access LTE (LAA) and Release 14 enhanced LAA (eLAA), which uses Listen-Before-Talk (LBT) etiquette to share spectrum in a manner similar to WiFi.

However, unlike LAA, which is anchored to licensed spectrum and must be used in conjunction with a mobile network, MulteFire will operate entirely in unlicensed or shared spectrum, so that operators without licensed mobile spectrum can utilize it. This “standalone” functionality has been proposed in the 3GPP standards body for both LTE and 5G. By building this capability in the Alliance, its member companies will enable its adoption in global standards and the corresponding broad benefit of wireless innovation.

“We appreciate that the Alliance is committed to transparency and collaboration, given the importance of unlicensed spectrum to broadband access,” Rob Alderfer, VP of technology policy at CableLabs, notes. “As we move toward ever greater sharing of scarce spectrum resources, reliable coexistence across technologies is essential as we continue to innovate. It’s what we believe is the most critical aspect of the Alliance, and one that will be important as the industry moves toward 5G standards.”

Mazen Chmaytelli, MulteFire Alliance president, says that operators in the cable industry are “ideal partners in our effort to develop new wireless technology.”

“The Alliance is open for broad, global participation, and since one of our goals is to drive our work into global standards, we are establishing liaisons with 3GPP, CBRS Alliance and IEEE to keep them apprised of our progress,” Chmaytelli adds.

Other members of the Alliance Qualcomm, Intel, Nokia and Ericsson.

Wireless Focus at ExpoThe Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers and its global arm, the International Society of Broadband Experts, offered a Wireless Broadband Boot Camp on Sunday that was aimed at equipping field operations, customer service, dispatch, and related professionals with a comprehensive understanding of WiFi standards, wireless home network devices, planning and implementation, security, RF basics, antenna theory, wireless troubleshooting, routing and switching, and home environmental monitoring.

The boot camp was made up of 10 learning modules from “Customer Premises Wireless Networks” to “Troubleshooting and Maintaining Wireless Networks” as well as hands-on demos. It dove into such specifics as IEEE WiFi standards, SU-MIMO and MU-MIMO, encryption standards, causes of WiFi failures, MoCA and WiFi co-existence, accessing and configuring the eRouter/gateway and removing sources of interference.

Among Tuesday’s workshop offerings

Wireless Focus Continued on page 14

Wireless Focus Continued from page 1


M arcus Weldon, CTO of Nokia and president of Nokia Bell Labs, is the keynoter at the opening

session today, offering insights into the future of networks, including observations from his book, “The Future X Network: A Bell Labs Perspective.” CED recently asked him a variety of questions revolving around the next decade of networking and preparations operators need to make, as well as the Internet of Things (IoT) and 5G.

CED: Very generally, where do you see technology enabled by networking and the cloud going in the next five or 10 years?

Nokia’s Marcus Weldon: In the next five to 10 years, we believe there will be a technological revolution in which a new digital fabric will be created that acts as a sixth sense that augments our five physical senses and our intelligence, and enables the automation of every mundane task and the intelligent assistance of every complex task.

This will optimize existence for both consumers and businesses and allow the creation of time. It will also paradoxically lead to both a global digital existence, where everything is accessible and understandable from anywhere, but also the increasing importance of “local” processing and delivery.

So, really — a profound change in human behavior and existence.

CED: What would you name as the key changes cable operators should be making now, or preparing to make very soon, to help drive success in their network processes in the next decade?

Weldon: As we discuss in the book, “The Future X Network,” the future network architecture has to dramatically transform to become highly distributed to support the raft of new AR/VR and critical control

applications, the massive scale of devices (things) that will be appearing on the network as well as the need to analyze the data coming from these devices and provide the required security.

This will require ultra-high capacity in the access and metro networks and ultra-low latency. And due to limitations in the speed of light and the finite useable spectrum we have available, the only solution is to move the cloud to within 50 km of every endpoint (for the control and application hosting functions) and the access node (for the bearer/data) to within a few hundred meters – beyond the last amplifier.

So those are two big dimensions of change. The third is the move to all wireless connectivity – after all things will not be “wired” and that suggests that a more complete wireless strategy is required.

The fourth dimension would then be moving into what we call “digital value platforms” (beyond video delivery), as it is clear that there will be significant new value created by matching the supply and demand of new digital ecosystems, many of which will leverage network data or analytics.

This is clearly not a trivial undertaking, but every move made should be in these directions, to be well positioned for the future.

CED: In a blog from last year about MSO network forecasts, you wrote, “OSS systems will be radically simplified, driven by the move to a single ‘all IP’ network infrastructure, with SDN and NFV support.” Will you expand on that thought?

Weldon: It is an unfortunate truth that any system that has been developed over multiple decades invariably ends up being a web of connected systems that were separately developed by different teams at different points in time, with different needs

and goals. And as a result they invariably all have their own operations support systems that are disjoint, and it is very complex to manage the tens or even hundreds of such systems in a coherent way.

As a result, new service fulfillment and assurance is a huge undertaking and requires a clear business case and return on investment. But this does not match the reality of today’s existence or our future existence with myriad new devices and associated applications requiring network support every month.

So, as we undergo these transformations we have to streamline and unify the operations infrastructure. Otherwise, we will have built a very high performance “vehicle” that is impossible to drive in any direction other than straight ahead and at a constant (low/medium) speed!

CED: Subscribers want access to a huge variety of information just when and where they need it, and exactly in the way they want it — without irrelevant data included. How do you see technology, including IoT, addressing this issue of sensing users’ needs using network information to automate processes?

Weldon: For one, the architecture for data analysis needs to change and become highly distributed to allow the processing of data at massive scale and in real time.

Second, there needs to be new or enhanced methods and tools to turn

Opening Session Keynoter: Nokia’s Marcus Weldon Explains the ‘Future X Network’Interview by Laura Hamilton, Editor, CED

Weldon Continued on page 12

The CABLE-TEC EXPO Show Daily • Day One • September 27, 20166

A TX Networks is featuring its newest UCrypt IP to Analog (IP2A) gateway, QAM to Analog

(Q2A) gateway, and gateway monitoring server. The IP2A gateway is designed for conversion of IP video streams to NTSC or PAL analog formats in a space-efficient and cost-effective manner, according to the company. This device can ingest up to 60 MPEG-2/H.264, HD/SD, IP Multicast SPTS/MPTS video streams and convert them to NTSC or PAL.

ATX reports that UCrypt IP2A devices are ideal for:

• Replacing legacy end-of-life IP to analog equipment

• Rebuilding an NTSC/PAL analog RF channel lineup in an all-IP headend

• Distributing analog RF to bulk accounts with non-digital TVs

The device is said to be ideal for reclaiming your analog tier. “You only need to buy a gateway once with the UCrypt Q2A – future proof and field-upgradeable to digital QAM,” ATX Networks says in a press release. “There is support for SDV channels and includes a configurable scrolling program guide channel. The newest low cost, 20 channel version is ideal for fitness and specialty areas in commercial premises.”

The new UCrypt monitoring server offers centralized mass monitoring and management of field deployed UCrypt devices. It includes proactive diagnosis and notification of potentially service affecting issues. UCrypt devices

are also available in the following formats: QAM to QAM, QAM to IP, IP to QAM, and IP to IP.

You can see ATX Networks products at booth #1065. ●

ATX Networks Showcases Next-Generation Gateways and Monitoring Server

H ere at Cable-Tec Expo, Universal Electronics is demonstrating its latest lineup of sensing and

control solutions, including QuickSet and QuickSet Cloud and the company’s full suite of iControl-compatible wireless home security solutions from Ecolink.

Universal Electronics reports that its latest range of state-of-the-art remote control products highlight a recent shift in design and functionality, redefining the way TV viewers use their remote control to engage and interact with home entertainment devices. The advanced control products on display will feature the latest commercially deployed remotes, including voice-enabled remotes.

The company says QuickSet and QuickSet Cloud are its most advanced

solutions for “effortless universal control set up and operation.” The solution is already deployed in more than 260 million devices worldwide, including set-top boxes, televisions, game consoles, smartphones and tablets, according to the company. QuickSet enables the “handshake” needed for automated configuration and control of nearly any wired, wireless and IP-connected home entertainment device.

Universal Electronics’ new portfolio of iControl-compatible wireless home security solutions from Ecolink is said to address many of the most common home intrusion, monitoring and control challenges. The portfolio of universally

compatible, wireless, intelligent sensing solutions includes flood sensors, window and door sensors, and the FireFighter audible sensor, which can be integrated with existing smoke detectors in the home and can connect to any existing security system, according to the company.

More information about Universal Electronics solutions are available at booth #1248. ●

Universal Electronics Highlights QuickSet and QuickSet Cloud Solutions and iControl Home Security Portfolio from Ecolink




H itron is debuting DOCSIS 3.1 gateways, multimode network extenders and an app to enable

consumers to map and enhance their in-home WiFi networks and installers to provide better installations.

“We have built the brains of the home network into our gateways and our home network extenders which ensure intelligence and WiFi coverage throughout the premises,” Greg Fisher, CTO at Hitron Americas, says. “When paired with the app, consumers will experience optimized WiFi service with true ease of use, and service provider installers will leave with the most optimal installation.”

In keeping with the company’s theme, “Unleash Your WiFi,” the app reportedly enables consumers to map and visualize their home WiFi network. It offers recommendations for best gateway placement, pinpoints areas of poor performance and recommends changes. It also provides Tier 0 support via access to common gateway features, offers status verification and allows consumers to speed test their networks.

The app, which also is said to provide easy setup of connectivity to iOS and

Android devices, also can be used by techs during initial installs, to ensure consumer premises equipment is located for optimal performance.

Hitron will offer APIs so broadband companies can build branded apps with customized flows, network views and experiences specific to their customer bases.

The app partners with the two new DOCSIS 3.1 gateways. According to Hitron, the CODA 4596 version has features equivalent to technology utilized by the nation’s largest broadband providers and provides forward-looking features, such as room for two radios to accommodate future Internet of Things (IoT) applications.

The 459X series is DOCSIS 3.1 (5 Gbps/1 Gbps) capable, WiFi 8x8 Gen 2 Mu-MIMO supporting Airtime Fairness, DFS channels, and Band Steering, with MoCA 2.0 bonding and four Gig E ports connected to a 2.5 Gbps SGMII switch.

Hitron calls the Coda 4582 gateway “the most cost-effective hardware for

launching DOCSIS 3.1 services into the home by large and small broadband providers.” The 458X series is DOCSIS 3.1 (5 Gbps/1 Gbps) capable, WiFi 4x4 Gen 2 Mu-MIMO supporting Airtime Fairness, DFS channels, and Band Steering, with MoCA 2.0 bonding and four Gig E ports connected to a 2.5 Gbps SGMII switch.

The CODA-45 line is built on Intel’s advanced system on chip (SoC) providing what is said to be superior processing power combined with low power consumption, when compared to similar DOCSIS 3.1 models.

Hitron’s booth also features the company’s multi-mode extenders, HT-EMN2 & HT-EMN3. Both hardware platforms are equipped with two F-type connectors. When connected to a coaxial outlet, it establishes a MoCA link automatically with the network. The HT-EMN2 is designed with MoCA 2.0 and 802.11ac 2x2 dual band concurrent on

board. The HT-EMN3 is Hitron’s premium extender with bonded MoCA 2.0 and 802.11ac 4x4 Gen2 Mu-MIMO. The extenders and DOCSIS 3.1 portfolio is designed to provide a holistic WiFi solution for homes and businesses.

Hitron’s demos also include infrastructure support solutions, and Reference Design Kit-broadband open source software applications.

For full demonstrations, visit Hitron at its Cable-Tec Booth 461.

Learn more about these technologies at Hitron’s booth (#461). ●

Hitron Aims to ‘Unleash Your WiFi’ With DOCSIS 3.1 Gateways Launching Here


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INTERCEPT

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T he Awards Luncheon here at Cable-Tec Expo is set for the Terrace Ballroom at noon

tomorrow (Sept. 28), and among the kudos to be announced at the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers/International Society of Broadband Experts event are the Member of the Year Award, the Women in Technology Award and the Hall of Fame induction.

The luncheon will feature as the keynoter author and educator Syd Finkelstein who’ll offer insights on business leadership and strategy. The Society reports that Finkelstein’s classes are highlights at the annual SCTE/ISBE Leadership Institute at Tuck Executive

Education at Dartmouth, and he will address themes around his 20 books, including a #1 bestseller, “Why Smart Executives Fail,” and the most recent “Superbosses: How Exceptional Leaders Master the Flow of Talent.” The keynote remarks are sponsored by Hitachi.

“The expertise shared by our SCTE/ISBE-Tuck faculty at the Awards Luncheon each year speaks to issues that are key to the future of our industry,” Lindsay Johnston, SVP, operations for SCTE/ISBE, notes. “Like Marshall Goldsmith and Ron Adner in recent years, Syd Finkelstein’s insights into the

characteristics and thought processes that make business leaders successful will be of value to our entire luncheon audience.”

Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management and faculty director of the Tuck Executive Program, and also is the faculty director of the Center for Leadership at Tuck. In addition to the books he’s written, he’s also penned 79 articles and contributes to BBC.com and Forbes He was named a Fellow of the Academy of Management in 2007. ●

Management Expert at Tomorrow’s Awards Luncheon: Syd Finkelstein to Offer Strategy Insights

WWW.ANTRONIX.COM




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440 Forsgate Drive, Cranbury, NJ 08512 • 609.860.0160 • www.antronix.com

Intercept eHFC©

• Fully Programmable Upstream and Downstream data rates

• Achieve Gigabit Speeds without adding additional QAM or OFDM Channels

• Conserve legacy spectrum for native content and data redundancy

• Leverage existing drop and DOCSIS components in the Home Network

• Resolve Wi-Fi dead zones and improve subscriber QoE

Intercept eHFC© Concert Series in-home networking devices allow cable service providers to deliver symmetrical Gigabit services

at a fraction of the cost of FTTP. Used in conjunction with the full spectrum of Intercept eHFC© access network and broadband

delivery platform components, Concert Series eMTAs, eHFC© gateways and Wi-Fi access points deliver additional PON throughput

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Let Us Show You. Coming in 2017

INTERCEPT

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Booth432

The annual International Cable-Tec Games are scheduled for tonight from 6-9 p.m. in the Terrace Ballroom. It features the year’s regional Cable Games winners competing against each other for the international gold, silver, and bronze awards in a variety of cable-related events including cable splicing, meter reading, cable jeopardy and MTDR.

Local Cable-Tec Games, typically held during chapter vendor shows or regional cable shows, provide an arena for contestants to compete in events that measure their technical abilities, such as cable splicing and meter reading, and demonstrate their knowledge, such as cable jeopardy.

Each year, first-place winners of the local competitions are recognized for their achievements as they gather to compete on an international level during SCTE/ISBE Cable-Tec Expo.

Additionally, the Spirit of the Games Award will be presented during the International Cable-Tec Games. The Spirit of the Games Award is awarded yearly to a participant, staff member or host vendor who truly embraces and exhibits sportsmanship and the learning environment at the games. ●

International Cable-Tec Games Set for TonightGuavus Looks to Help Operators Navigate the New Service Operation Landscape

Here at the show, Guavus is highlighting its operational analytics module suites with key use cases that ensure what the company says is the best possible customer experience as operators make the transition from network to service operations centers.

Guavus reports it offers a new breed of analytics that go beyond the traditional siloed way of monitoring service availability to bridge the gap between existing OSS and today’s complex operational environment. According to the company, global operators are using these analytics to improve the overall customer experience by:

• Discovering and prioritizing service anomalies according to customer impact

• Focusing on alarms that lead to customer experience degradation

• Anticipating the effect of agile change management

• Prescribing maintenance that improves the customer experience

Guavus is demonstrating service assurance and customer care use cases in booth #319. ●

WWW.ANTRONIX.COM


T he Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers and its global arm, the International

Society of Broadband Experts appointed Tom Adams, EVP, field operations for Charter, to a seat on the SCTE/ISBE Board of Directors. He was officially seated at the annual SCTE/ISBE Cable-Tec Expo meeting on Monday.

Adams, a 30-year veteran of the cable telecommunications industry, will bring to the SCTE/ISBE Board significant experience in engineering and operations management that can help guide development of new programs that are designed to increase workforce skills, drive adoption of new technologies, and improve operators’ bottom lines, the Society says in a press release.

“Tom Adams’ background and his commitment to our industry are perfect fits for the SCTE/ISBE Board of Directors,” Mark Dzuban, president and CEO of SCTE/ISBE, says. “We’re fortunate to be able to draw on Tom’s rich base of knowledge and look forward to his insights into how we can create new opportunities to benefit SCTE/ISBE members and the industry at large.”

Adams directs the full range of Charter’s field operations serving 25 million customers across 41 states. His primary responsibility in this role is to ensure that the company’s diverse and multifaceted operations support Charter’s goal of providing outstanding service delivery.

“With the industry’s rapid deployment of advanced services and new technologies, our operational needs are changing and evolving faster than ever,” Adams says. “I look forward to working with the SCTE/ISBE Board to help guide development of the educational and applied science tools that can both assist the skilled cable technicians in the field and improve the quality and efficiency of service delivery as this industry continues to meet the growing needs of its customers.”

Prior to joining Charter in 2012, Adams spent 17 years with Time Warner Cable. From 2009 to 2012, he served as regional VP of operations for Wisconsin, managing technical and call center customer service

operations serving more than 550,000 customers. Previously, he was regional VP of operations/division president, overseeing a team of approximately 2,000 employees serving more than 700,000 customers in the Raleigh, Wilmington and Fayetteville, N.C., markets.

Before TWC, Adams served as VP of new business for NewChannels Corp. from 1988 to 1995. ●

Charter’s Tom Adams Joins SCTE/ISBE Board

“With the industry’s rapid deployment of advanced services and new technologies, our operational needs are changing and evolving faster than ever.”

T ektronix points out that as the industry moves toward file-based and multiscreen services, the

amount of video content that must be tested and verified is expanding rapidly. “But that’s just the tip of the iceberg as video service providers make the move to 4K, high dynamic range (HDR) and video over IP,” the company reports.

Here at Expo, Tektronix reports it will be introducing a series of faster, more powerful and more flexible solutions

to help operators meet these challenges head on. Enhancements to Tektronix’s Sentry ABR platform will reportedly deliver end-to-end QoE monitoring for multiscreen content. In addition, a new floating license option for Tektronix MPEG transport stream analyzers will enable multiple users in remote locations to access critical analysis tools.

Tektronix will also be showcasing

enhanced HDR support and a hybrid SDI/IP monitoring solution based on the new Prism platform to ease the transition to a full IP-based infrastructure.

You can view Tektronix’s solutions at booth #1032. ●

Tektronix Shows Off Boosted Performance, Flexibility of Monitors, Analyzers



H ere at SCTE Cable-Tec Expo 2016, Triveni Digital is demonstrating its transport stream

analysis platforms. Through advanced technologies, including HEVC, Triveni Digital reports it allows cable operators to maximize revenue and boost quality of service (QoS) for subscribers.

Included at the company’s display here in Philadelphia is the HEVC StreamScope MT-50 transport stream analysis and troubleshooting tool, which is said to enable cable operators to address the growing consumer demand for 4K television services. Through advanced features such as HEVC support, intelligent filtering, closed captioning analyses and audio monitoring, the StreamScope MT-50 makes it easy for operators to detect and resolve transport stream errors, ensuring superior QoS for viewers, according to the company.

The StreamScope MT-50 supports a range of video compression schemes, from HEVC to H.264 and MPEG-2, allowing operators to make a smooth transition to an all-HEVC infrastructure. The HEVC capability is available for all versions of the StreamScope MT-50,

including the StreamScope Portal and StreamScope MT-50 HDT, which offers a 10 GigE interface option and a 16:9 HD touchscreen for easy, efficient transport stream analysis and troubleshooting.

Also featured is the StreamScope RM-50 10GigE transport stream monitor, which is an end-to-end video and audio QoS solution for large, complex cable networks with 10 GigE infrastructures. In addition to providing quality of service and compliance monitoring for cable video networks, the RM-50 handles up to 6 gigabits of throughput, which reportedly enables operators to minimize MTBF and reduce OPEX by decreasing rack space and power. Via the RM-50’s color-coded user interface, operators can identify and resolve video and audio quality issues at all levels of the network. Triveni reports that quick and precise reporting of missing, inaccurate, and unsynchronized closed captions allows operators to maintain compliance with FCC 14-12. For CALM Act compliance, RM-50s perform spot checks, display LKFS graphs, and generate commercial loudness reports.

Triveni Digital also is showing its StreamScope EM-50 enterprise manager,

a centralized software solution that streamlines video quality assurance and compliance operations across any network, including 10 GigE. Offering what is reported to be a seamless connection to Triveni Digital’s StreamScope RM-50 transport stream monitors, the EM-50 enables cable operators to proactively detect, isolate and resolve problems that degrade video services, allowing system-wide compliance with federal regulations such as the U.S. CALM Act and closed caption requirements. The system’s advanced fleet management capabilities allow operators to keep the software levels of monitoring systems up-date network-wide. Deploying StreamScope EM-50, operators can eliminate customer downtime and reduce costs associated with subscriber complaints, according to the company.

Demonstrations are available at Triveni Digital’s booth #313. ●

Transport Stream Analysis Platforms on Display at Triveni Digital Booth

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T he Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers, and its global arm, the International

Society of Broadband Experts, is spotlighting energy management here at the show, including a focus on solutions that draw on principles of the Adaptive Power Systems Interface Specification (APSIS). There also are highlights of energy management success stories, and cable system operators and technology partners will showcase new concepts for aligning power needs with service utilization, as well as other elements of SCTE/ISBE’s Energy 2020 program. Energy 2020 is an industry-wide effort that is intended to achieve double-digit reductions in power costs and consumption by the end of the decade.

“Energy 2020 rapidly is bearing fruit by spawning new approaches to energy management for our industry,” Chris Bastian, SVP and CTO of SCTE/ISBE, says. “The exhibits and discussions on the Cable-Tec Expo agenda represent next-generation thinking that will help cable to exert increased control over energy costs and consumption in the future.”

Energy 2020 highlights here at Expo include:

• Two exhibits on the show’s Innovation Avenue focal point – one by Technetix and another by Liberty Global and Ericsson – showcasing

how cable system operators can reduce unnecessary power consumption in the headend and in the network, in conjunction with the principles of SCTE/ISBE’s APSIS standard (SCTE 216)

• A 90-minute Energy 2020 special session (Sept. 27, 11-12:30 p.m.) featuring insight from Comcast, Liberty Global and technology partners such as, Alpha Technologies, Arris, EnerNOC and VMware, as well as the unveiling of a new Energy Chapter Engagement Program for SCTE/ISBE chapters and an update on new energy management standards

• An Energy 2020 Lab that features hands-on solutions from vendors including EnerNOC, Villanova University’s NSF Center for Energy-Smart Electronic Systems, QuantaCool Corporation – all of which are designed to change the

way facilities or networks consume power

• Energy 2020-themed workshops that will include presentations on success stories from Charter, Comcast and Liberty Global, as well as strategies on reducing energy usage, particularly in headends, hubs and networks

• An Energy 2020 Tour that features energy efficient products and services -- from Alpha Technologies, Arris, Cable Technologies International, CableLabs, Eltek, Nokia, Technetix, Tempest Telecom Solutions and WES. One participant will win the grand prize from Alpha -- an Apple iPad Mini 4 plus a $500 gift card, and for their company, 10 percent or up to $10,000 off a 30kW PV System. (Final discount is based on system size and location, and at the discretion of Alpha.) ●

SCTE’s Energy 2020 Program Showcased Here in Philadelphia


big data (which is mostly “noise”) into useful information and knowledge (the desired “signal”). This will leverage deep learning/machine learning techniques, often referred to as “Artificial Intelligence” tools, as well as what we call “Augmented Intelligence” tools based on new graph mathematics to assist people in their ability to think and take action based on this data/knowledge. CED: What do you see as the hype andwhat do you see as reality around 5G?

Weldon: 5G is really about exploring the unexplored dimensions of wireless capacity. Those dimensions are ultra-high capacity (Gbps), ultralow latency (~1 ms) and massive scale (tens of thousands of things attached to a single wireless radio). These dimensions are those required to enable the new reality described here, and as explained in our recent article on the “Rational Exuberance of 5G.”

https://www.bell-labs.com/var/articlesrational-exuberance-5G/

5G will inherit LTE and its evolutions (so-called LTE Advanced Pro) but add in new capabilities like beamforming, multi-radio simultaneous access, very high frequency mmWave and cmWave bands (from 20-100 GHz), network virtualization and dynamic slicing, and a new air interface optimized for machines and short packets. So it is part evolution, part revolution!

https://www.bell-labs.com/var/articles/rational-exuberance-5G/ ●

Weldon Continued from page 5




T he Energy 2020 Program is a big focus here at the show in Philadelphia, and recent news from

the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers and its global arm, the International Society of Broadband Experts, revealed work into a tool that looks to provide a new methodology for managing power consumption in a more sustainable manner, with a specific focus on accelerating energy-efficiency improvements in cable’s hub and network edge facilities.

SCTE/ISBE announced last week it will partner with Villanova University’s RISE Forum to develop a headend and hub energy assessment tool targeted at critical facilities managers, technology business leaders and other executives in cable telecommunications.

The Society reports the energy assessment tool will provide a new methodology for managing power consumption in a more sustainable manner, with a specific focus on accelerating energy-efficiency improvements in the industry’s hub and network edge facilities. The ultimate goal is reportedly to help the industry meet the energy reduction targets established through SCTE/ISBE’s Energy 2020 Program. Energy 2020 is a concerted commitment by the cable industry to achieve double-digit reductions in energy cost and consumption by the end of the decade.

SCTE points out that in recent years, significant progress has been made in reducing power consumption in data center facilities, but cable’s edge facilities traditionally have been in an “always-on” state regardless of demand. Industry and academia have recognized the need to focus attention further down the modern “digital supply chain,” to include these innumerable critical facilities. Beyond reducing energy footprints and optimizing performance, the energy management tool aims to enhance the overall resiliency of these customer-facing buildings.

“Between 73 percent and 83 percent of cable’s overall energy consumption is by hubs, headends and the access network power supplies, powering the active equipment in the HFC network,” Chris Bastian, SVP and CTO of SCTE/ISBE, observes. “The Villanova RISE Forum will complement other efforts to tackle that challenge, including the development of standards that are enabling cable system operators to identify consumption patterns more effectively.”

SCTE/ISBE is a member of Villanova’s RISE (Resilient Innovation through Sustainable Engineering) Forum that works to accelerate the identification and application of data-driven solutions that will help its members increase the sustainability of their respective organizations and

secure a competitive advantage in the marketplace. Through RISE, graduate students in Villanova University’s Master of Science in Sustainable Engineering program will develop and pilot test the energy assessment tool during the 2016-2017 academic year.

The pilot sites will serve as case studies that will demonstrate how managers and executives can deploy this tool to improve the environmental footprint of headend and hub facilities, while simultaneously reducing costs and driving network performance and resilience. The intent is to not only raise leaders’ awareness of the need for comprehensive energy management within these edge facilities, but to provide them with a diagnostic tool and data-driven methodologies for implementing energy-efficiency improvements.

The graduate student team overseeing this project plans to present preliminary findings at the Energy 2020/EMS Plenary on Oct. 18, hosted at CableLabs, in Colorado. ●

SCTE/ISBE, Villanova RISE Forum to Build Headend and Hub Energy Assessment Tool

I f you’re starting to roll gigabit services, Viavi Solutions suggests you stop by the company’s booth

here in Philadelphia this week to “find out how you can deliver reliable gigabit services faster and over any access medium. Cable, WiFi, fiber — no problem. We offer state-of-the-art, simple-to-use test solutions to help your installers provide your customers with strong, high-performance connections in minutes.” Solutions include:

OneExpert CATV: Platform combines a suite of field instruments with what are

said to be simple-to-use configurations for installation, service, HFC maintenance and sweep-now shipping with DOCSIS 3.1.

WiFi Advisor: The streamlined WiFi Advisor Smart Channel Wizard reportedly guides techs through a comprehensive dashboard of KPIs and triage recommendations.

FiberCheck Probe: The company says this automates fiber inspections end-to-end to ensure fast, accurate performance. “Our FiberCheck Probe comes loaded with easy-to-use tools

for image viewing, auto-focus, pass/fail analysis, and storing/recalling results,” the company reports.

PathTrak PNM HomeTrak: With this feature, installers can perform a simple, live spot-check to pinpoint coax problems that otherwise might be missed, according to the company.

Viavi Solutions is located at booth #1444. ●

Viavi Solutions Highlights Gigabit Broadband Services Solutions


R olling out gigabit broadband services offers many new opportunities, but operators do

have to deal with a variety of associated challenges including those around power, space and capacity. Harmonic is introducing what it calls a new paradigm for cable operators here at SCTE’s Cable-Tec Expo that it reports addresses these challenges. In addition, the company will highlight recent innovations in video compression and cloud-native offerings.

Harmonic is launching “a ground-breaking cable access solution that provides operators with unprecedented scalability, agility and cost savings. The first-of-its-kind solution enables fast deployment of data, video and voice services — as well as sustainable capacity growth.”

Also being highlighted is Harmonic’s

new EyeQ real-time video compression optimization solution — enhancement to the Harmonic PURE Compression Engine — that is said to reduce bandwidth consumption while improving consumers’ OTT viewing experience.

Harmonic’s VOS Cloud media processing platform and VOS 360 professional cloud media processing service also will be featured. They transform traditional video preparation and delivery architectures into a fully integrated set of cloud-native functions, accelerating time to market for new broadcast and OTT services, according to Harmonic. ●

Harmonic Promises Game-Changing Technologies Here at Cable-Tec Expo

V ecima Networks is showcasing Entra, its new DOCSIS 3.1 Distributed Access

Architecture (DAA) platform at the show. The live demonstration of the Entra platform will highlight delivery of multi-gigabit broadband speeds using DOCSIS 3.1 for the first time, according to the company.

Vecima reports its Entra is a next generation access solution that consists of Ethernet-centric remote access nodes and virtual controller software that supports all distributed architectures. This approach to the network enables operators to offer multi-gigabit data rates over cable to subscribers without the excessive costs of running fiber to the home. Entra is said to overcome the challenges of traditional architectures by delivering highly attractive power and cost per bit while maximizing network capacity and minimizing space in already constrained hub sites.

“Vecima is looking forward to demonstrating the advanced capabilities of Entra at this year’s Cable-Tec Expo and providing insight into how Entra will benefit network operators as capacity continues to grow exponentially,” Sumit Kumar, Vecima Networks’ president and CEO, says. “We are excited to show how the Entra distributed access platform is an optimal path for operators to migrate to gigabit speeds using DOCSIS 3.1.”

The Vecima Networks booth is #626, where you can to see Entra in action. ●

Vecima Demonstrates DOCSIS Distributed Access Platform at the Show

here at Expo is “Converging Fixed and Wireless Access.” As the description of the seminar asks: “If someone told you that traditional ‘cable’ providers should probably get started on supporting mobility within the network, would you agree? We’re guessing yes.”

This session details the state-of-the-art in current 5G wireless technologies and how they could be applied to last mile access. Also addressed are what services wireless access will be able to support, evolving use cases for 5G and the evolution and architecture of the HFC plant — with wireless spigots. The moderator is Paul Shmotolokha, VP internal sales at Alpha. Speakers are RJ Vale from Nokia, Bell Labs Consulting and Hossam Hmimy, principal solution consultant at Ericsson.

Also at the show is the “Wireless: Going Beyond WiFi” session featuring Moderator Zoran Stakic, EVP and CTO

at Shaw, and speakers David Wright, advanced technologist at Ruckus Wireless and Chris Richards, radio access architect at Ericsson.

The seminar will look into the fact that mobile operators are evolving toward LTE Advanced, just as cable operators are expanding their WiFi footprints. That move involves a “connectivity gray zone,” not just between the two technologies, but in terms of how the two will live together. The session takes a look at evolving wireless technologies, with a particular focus on small cells and on the “densification” process they bring. Additionally, the plausible evolution of WiFi strategies is explored, including concerns like the peaceful coexistence of licensed and unlicensed technologies in the 3.5 GHz and 5 GHz spectral zones.

Check your show guide for specific times and rooms for these wireless workshops. ●

Wireless Focus Continued from page 4

WWW2.ATXNETWORKS.COM/EXPO_UC16

Frequency

(MHz)

Insertion Loss

(dB)

P(in)

(dBm)

IP3

(dBm)

IP2

(dBm)

Vcc

(V) Description

Part

Number

5-3000 0.5 36 65 >100 2.5-5 SPDT QPC3024

5-6000 0.8 36 75 >100 3 SPDT RFSW1012

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Frequency

(MHz)

Insertion Loss

(dB)

P(in)

(dBm)

IP3

(dBm)

IP2

(dBm)

Vcc

(V) Description

Part

Number

5-3000 0.5 36 65 >100 2.5-5 SPDT QPC3024

5-6000 0.8 36 75 >100 3 SPDT RFSW1012

3V+

work

Qorvo® leads in CATV amplifiers and FTTH solutions, offering more than 60 DOCSIS® 3.1 amplifiers

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Frequency

(MHz)

Insertion Loss

(dB)

P(in)

(dBm)

IP3

(dBm)

Vcc

(V)

Attenuation

Range (dB) Description

Part

Number

45-2000 1.3 30 >-60 +/- 5 31.5 DSA QPC3624

5-2000 2.3 28 -52 5 31.5 DSA RFSA2654

5-3000 1.5 30 -50 5 30 VCA RFSA3043

30-3000 2.7 30 -50 5 30 VCA RFSA3013

30-3000 2.7 30 -50 3.3 30 VCA RFSA3023

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Connect with us at SCTE, booth #2003

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