The DOCSIS 3.1 era is just getting underway, but ABI Research has already taken a stab at its expected onramp, predicting that 9 million broadband subs will using equipment powered by the next-gen platform by 2017.
While 9 million is a big round number, it’s a drop in the broadband bucket, as it will represent just a bit more than 1% of the world’s total fixed broadband subscriber base, ABI noted.
DOCSIS 3.1 is made to handle up to 10 Gbps down and at least 1 Gbps upstream, and the technology will be used to help MSOs deliver gigabit speeds to residential customers on their widely deployed HFC networks.
ABI’s prediction arrives soon after CableLabs certified a handful of D3.1 modems from manufacturers, a key milestone along the way to the MSO deployment phase.
Among MSOs, Comcast and Liberty Global have aggressive plans for D3.1. ABI also points out that DOCSIS 3.1 is also factoring into the plans of Altice, TDC, Midcontinent Communications and Telenet, among others.
