An IPTV service is defined as video delivered over an IP network to an IP-enabled device. Increasingly, cable operators are exploring and expanding the use of IP in their architectures. Harmonic has been the innovator in IPTV for telcos and is the most successful solution provider in top tier telco deployments. Harmonic is also the leading innovator in cable, developing the first edgeQAM and holding the #1 market share position in VOD (edgeQAMs and total subscribers for VOD servers). These strengths and experience, combined with a strong focus on creating advanced solutions for our cable customers, position Harmonic as the leader in “IPTV over cable” solutions.
- Modular CMTS (M-CMTS) – MSOs can leverage the existing M-CMTS architecture to allow them to meet customer demands for higher bandwidth with pre-DOCSIS 3.0 edgeQAMs and channel bonding features. This architecture separates the downstream physical layer processing from the core CMTS and moves it to Harmonic’s NSG 9000 universal edgeQAM, improving downstream data rates and significantly reducing costs.The NSG 9000 supports both wideband M-CMTS and M-CMTS solutions delivered using existing cable modems. The NSGs are already deployed in over 10 M-CMTS systems around the world including North America, Asia and Europe.
- DOCSIS 3.0 – Harmonic’s NSG 9000 offers operators a seamless migration path to full DOCSIS 3.0 support. The NSG is integrated with the DOCSIS 3.0 timing interface (DTI) for timing synchronization between the core-CMTS and the edgeQAM. The NSG 9000 complies with the DOCSIS 3.0 RFI specification, and exceeds the specs in several critical RF parameters such as power level, return loss, etc. The NSG 9000 already supports the DEPI D-MPT data plane, integrated and deployed with a leading CMTS platform.
- Direct-to-Edge (CMTS bypass) – Harmonic is leading the industry in development of a solution for direct-to-edge delivery of IPTV on-demand services in a M-CMTS environment. Beyond being more architecturally correct, the Direct-to-Edge solution offer significant cost savings for video delivery by eliminating the need for an unnecessary “detour” of the video stream through the core-CMTS platform. Direct-to-Edge is estimated by an order of magnitude to be less expensive in terms of cost-per-bit than any DOCSIS 3.0 M-CMTS or I-CMTS (Integrated QAM CMTS) solution. It is clear that the CMTS providers have no incentive to deploy a lower cost solution which will cannibalize their own business; that puts Harmonic in a very unique position as a sole source for a highly scalable and cost-effective solution for video delivery to the cable modem.
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