FROM THE INDUSTRY
What new technology did CommScope showcase at ANGA COM this year? The most exciting product is the combination of the vCCAP Evo™, which is a virtual CMTS product combined with the RD1710-U2, which is a DOCSIS 4.0 Remote PHY device. We had a static unit on the stand, and it fits into what’s called the DC2182 compact cabinet node. It was designed with European operators in mind, and for European operators to specifically target the European market. It demonstrates the ability to go up to six blocks of OFDM (downstream) channels on the downstream (hardware can go to nine blocks). On the upstream, we’re going up to 396MHz, which is one of what’s called the ultra-high splits, and the hardware can go even higher. In Europe, it’s up to 65 split, or 85 is called mid-split. 204 is called high-split. You go all the way up to 396, one of several of what’s called ultra-high splits. That’s part of DOCSIS 4.0. One of the things that 4.0 brings is to expand the upstream spectrum and consequently the bandwidth for end-user subscribers. That has four blocks of OFDMA (upstream) up to the 396 (hardware can go up to nine blocks); we’re showing approximately 7Gbps in the downstream direction, and between 2-2.5Gbps in the upstream. It can actually handle more throughput than that, it just hasn’t been fully optimised yet; at present, it’s just a prototype. We’re going to be ramping up manufacturing of it by the end of this year. We’re really excited to have shown it at ANGA COM live from our European facility. As it’s a prototype, is CommScope way out in front of your competitors? Specific to the European market, I think we are ahead of competitors, because we’ve been working with some of the lead operators here on doing this work. What else have you been working on? We are excited about our virtual Broadband Network Gateway, which is used for PON deployments today, but later could be used for additional access technologies. That’s branded the “vBNG Evo™,” similar to what we have for the
determining who may be a good candidate for an upgrade to a higher-tier bandwidth package. It goes even further. For example, are they on time with their billing? If not, do we want to shut them off because they haven’t paid? And then the agent gathers all the data from how the plant is operating from the head end all the way down to the subscriber, evaluates it on its own and then provides a recommended next step. Could be, “It looks like it’s related to the provisioning of the device, go check that.” Or it might be, “Oh, you need to check something else, something else in the network.” But it basically takes steps that the CSRs would normally have to do on their own manually. Presumably that reduces the potential for human error.
“vCCAP Evo™” for the cable side. vBNG is more for the PON side today, but it can do things like Virtual Wi-Fi Access Gateway (vWAG).
Are they separate for a reason?
Over time, we’re looking to merge the two together so that you could actually have a single way of provisioning the subscriber, whether it’s on cable or fibre, and ultimately across both. We’ve also got our ServAssure NXT and ServAssure portfolio of Performance Management Software Suite, which has been enhanced with AI-driven insights in two ways. One is what’s called profile optimisation, which is used for DOCSIS 3.1 and 4.0, OFDM and OFDMA channels, where data is gathered from the network and then in real time that data changes how the channels are modulated over the spectrum to best fit and make the most optimal use of the spectrum, given the noise that you measure from the plant. Secondly, our ServAssure platform is powered by DvSum; this is a partnership that we have just entered in where they provide an agentic AI interface to gathering data. Some operators have already deployed in this way and they’ve seen a notable decrease in repair time and an increase in productivity of their customer service representatives (CSRs). It actually allows the customer service representative to ask specific service questions of the subscriber and really drill down into how things are going. In this instance is the AI agent facilitating greater communication? Exactly. The subscriber may call in and then the rep will ask of ServAssure Powered by DvSum, “Hey, what’s going on with this modem?” They will have a chat-like interface. It goes up and pulls all the disparate data points that exist in the operator for the subscriber, including billing. Which paints a fuller picture of what’s actually happening with the subscriber. That’s right. ServAssure and DvSum can drive revenue by identifying subscribers who are heavy bandwidth users, cross- referencing that with billing data, and
It does, it’s very efficient. That was on display at ANGA COM too.
What else is CommScope showing at ANGA COM?
On the cable side and on the front wall of our booth, we showed solutions spanning from DOCSIS 3.1 to D3.1Enhanced (D3.1E), to D4.0. Then, we have solutions for any architecture the operator may be deployed with or considering. Whether it’s Integrated CCAP (I-CCAP) or Remote PHY with a physical core, Remote PHY with a virtual core, or Remote MACPHY, operators know we can provide an agnostic view of what they should do because we have all the solutions. What about on the back of the front wall? We have the PON solutions; I mentioned the vBNG. We’ve got OLTs that go into the fibre node, and then ones that are in a shelf form factor. We’ve got a full portfolio of distributed PON or centralised PON, including the software. Regarding the vBNG, which handles the subscriber management and authorisation, we’ve got our SDN Evo controller and then also the ability to use that same ServAssure platform I mentioned earlier that can cover both cable and PON. So, from the hardware providing bandwidth to the network and then the software that manages it, we have the PON side covered as well.
SEPTEMBER 2025 Volume 47 No.3
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