Rogers tees up for DOCSIS 4.0 with Harmonic’s CableOS

Harmonic notched another win for its CableOS virtual cable modem termination system (vCMTS), as Canadian operator Rogers Communications announced plans to use the platform to help it converge its data, voice and video services and boost broadband performance.

Rogers will rollout CableOS software across a distributed access architecture (DAA) using Harmonic’s Ripple Remote-PHY node. The operator said the move will allow it to meld its voice, video and data services in the IP domain. Doing so will help it save on space, power and cooling costs, while also benefitting speed and availability for customers, Rogers noted.

Luciano Ramos, SVP of development and core engineering at Rogers, added “deploying a cloud-native virtualized access platform with a clear path to DOCSIS 4.0 allows us to seamlessly evolve our network, while continuing to bring the best of connectivity to our customers.”

CableOS is capable of supporting converged cable and FTTH, DOCSIS 4.0 and edge cloud technology. Rogers primarily operates a cable network but has been deploying fiber-to-the-home in greenfield markets for years.

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Rogers executives laid out the company’s network evolution strategy in October, highlighting plans to rollout 1.5 Gbps speeds and pursue node splits in certain areas. It eventually plans to move to DOCSIS 4.0, but no timeline for the shift was provided.

The announcement marks the latest win for Harmonic, which counted 68 CableOS customers as of the end of Q3 2021. On an earnings call, executives said CableOS now serves more than 3.9 million modems, up 77% year on year.