The Multimedia over Coax Alliance has ratified its next-generation specification, MoCA 2.0, which provides between 400 Mbps and 1 Gigabit per second net throughput depending on configuration.
MoCA 2.0 offers two performance modes, basic and enhanced, with 400 Mbps and 800 Mbps net throughputs respectively. For point-to-point applications between two nodes, the spec can boost basic mode to 500 Mbps and enhanced mode to 1 Gbps net throughput.
Even in basic, the 2.0 version provides more than double the performance of MoCA 1.1, which delivers net throughput of 175 Mbps. The higher throughput is achieved through higher levels of modulation and expansion of the operating channel bandwidth to 100 MHz from the current 50 MHz, according to the alliance. MoCA 2.0's Enhanced mode performance of 800 Mbps is made possible through channel bonding.
"MoCA 1.1 meets the bandwidth and reliability requirements of service providers today. MoCA 2.0 addresses the requirements of operators and their subscribers in the future," Charles Cerino, president of MoCA and also vice president of Comcast Center Technology, said in a statement.
The 55 members of MoCA include Comcast, Verizon, DirecTV, Cox Communications, Time Warner Cable, Cisco Systems, Motorola, EchoStar and Entropic Communications. MoCA claims it is the only home-networking technology standard endorsed by all three pay-TV segments: cable, satellite and IPTV.
MoCA 2.0, which operates in the frequency range of 500 MHz to 1650 MHz, is completely backward-compatible with MoCA 1.0 and 1.1, according to the group. The newer version also adds sleep and standby modes for networked devices to help manufacturers and operators comply with worldwide energy reduction initiatives.
"This is an important milestone in connected home entertainment, as major service providers worldwide are beginning to bring to market compelling new services, such as multiroom DVR, broadband extension and PC-to-TV connectivity, that will provide consumers with more robust, satisfying whole-home networking experiences," Entropic chief technology officer Tom Lookabaugh said in a statement. "Additionally, as service providers look to the future for deploying a gateway-client architecture, the evolution of the standard to MoCA 2.0 will be a necessity."
Entropic says it has shipped more than 30 million MoCA 1.0 and 1.1 chipsets, which are used in products deployed by DirecTV, Verizon FiOS TV, Cox Communications, TWC and Rogers Communications.
