Understanding Modern Cable Systems using DOCSIS

Modern Cable systems provide an integration of Internet Access with TV, music and radio distribution. This has become a reality with the implementation of DOCSIS 3.1 and the mechanisms that provide multicast delivery are and IP Television as an alternative to traditional digital TV for some channels.

DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications) is a set of standards produced by the Cable Television industry for delivering Internet access and other data services over traditional cable television Networks. It has evolved from version 1 through version 2 into version 3 which is able to produce bonded services to customers at speeds in excess of 1 Gbit/s. DOCSIS 3.1 suite of specifications support capacities of at least 10 Gbit/s downstream and 1 Gbit/s upstream. DOCSIS 3.1 technology also includes some new energy management features that will help the cable industry reduce its energy usage. Versions exist for North American and European markets separately.

DOCSIS 3.1 Full Duplex which was announced February 2016 is an innovation project to improve DOCSIS 3.1 to use the full spectrum of the cable plant at the same time in both upstream and downstream directions. This technology is proposed to enable multi-gigabit symmetrical services while remaining backwards compatible with earlier DOCSIS 3.1 specifications. This should eventually enable symmetrical 1 Gbit/s and 10 Gbit/s services to be delivered.

This course provides an understanding of how modern installed Cable systems work today, how they have evolved from analogue into digital services using DOCSIS and they have continue to evolve into using DOCSIS 3.1 services. It will consider the differences between North American DOCSIS systems and those found in Europe that will meet the ETSI DVB-C2 standards. It will examine how the DOCSIS 3.1 specification has delivered increasing customer bitrates and how DOCSIS 3.1 Full Duplex will enable multi-Gigabit symmetrical user services. It will further identify the motivations and mechanisms that will be used to allow new cable systems to support voice, IPTV, Video on demand and provide IMS services for convergence with new 3G mobile networks.