With top MSOs including Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA) and Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC) set to deploy the DOCSIS 3.1 standard starting in 2016, the SCTE kicked off Monday what it's calling a three-day "bootcamp" for engineers focused on the CableLabs network technology standard.
"Bootcamp is an immersive, three-day program that includes technical background for those who require it, DOCSIS 3.1 fundamentals, deep dives into DOCSIS 3.1 implementation, testing and troubleshooting, exercises that ensure that learning can be applied in the field," said Reni Gorman, VP of learning and development for the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers.
The first Bootcamp event is being conducted this week at Comcast's facilities in Atlanta. Gorman didn't say how many engineers the SCTE was expecting to attend the event.
According to Gorman, the Bootcamp curriculum begins with the SCTE's "DOCSIS 3.1 Essentials" course, which can be completed online in 1 to 4 hours, depending on the student's existing knowledge base. Two complementary 15-minute modules, designed specifically for field installers, have also been added to that online portion of the course.
"We're also scheduling the in-person sessions based on regional locations to minimize engineers' travel time, Gorman said.
For its part, Comcast has laid out plans to deploy DOCSIS 3.1 across its entire footprint, as it is looking to compete with the 1-gigabyte-and-higher broadband speeds offered by fiber-optic-fueled competitors.
The SCTE, meanwhile, has positioned itself as the training arm of the triad of cable-industry trade orgs, with CableLabs focused on tech development, and the National Cable Telecommunications Association focused on regulatory concerns.
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