Casa Systems staked its claim of the emerging DOCSIS 3.1 Wednesday with the introduction of a downstream module designed for the CableLabs-specified multi-gigabit platform.
Casa Systems said the D3.1-compliant module, called the DS8x192, is for its C100G (pictured) and C40G Converged Cable Access Platforms (CCAPs), which are high-density access network systems that combine the functions of the cable modem termination system and the edge QAM. Last year, Casa debuted the US16x8, a module that supports DOCSIS 3.1 in the upstream direction.
The company said the first DOCSIS 3.1-facing software release on the new downstream module is expected to be ready for customer lab testing in the late third quarter of 2015.
The new downstream module appears as operators, including Comcast and Liberty Global, look to move aggressively with DOCSIS 3.1, a platform for HFC networks that will drive cable’s all-IP transition and shoot for capacities of up to 10 Gbps down and at least 1 Gbps in the upstream. Comcast expects to kick off field market trials of D3.1 by the fourth quarter of 2015
It also shows up as CableLabs announced this week that it has “opened the door” to official certification and qualification testing of DOCSIS 3.1-based modems and network equipment. Vendors must submit products to CableLabs by the week of October 5 to get into certification wave 116, the last one scheduled for 2015. The results from wave 116 will be shared in mid-January 2016, according to CableLabs.
Casa plans to submit product for official DOCSIS 3.1 qualification testing at CableLabs this year, a company offiicial said via email.
Casa Systems will face some stiff competition in the D3.1 arena, as it will be contending with companies such as Arris, Cisco Systems, Harmonic and Huawei. Casa has gained lots of ground during the DOCSIS 3.0 era. According to IHS/Infonetics, Arris nabbed a 53% share of CCAP/CMTS revenues in Q4 2014, followed by Casa (23.5%) and Cisco (20%).
