
DOCSIS, DDA MIGRATION, DATA and PON networks are some of the updates that 2021 will bring.
In this period of pandemic, operators are already thinking about the implementations they must make for the future within telecommunications. Reflection on the changes we are undergoing will lead them to prepare to face new challenges.
This year we see the development of five key trends for broadband networks, where operators are already investing in next-generation network innovation.
Increase in broadband network
The context since last year’s covid-19 has changed the way we live. If remote work was not very famous before, it has now become a necessity to safeguard health. The same is true for education and online classes. As a result, we see significant increases in broadband network traffic globally.
Due to high demand, operators have implemented solutions such as node segmentation. Those with higher budgets are opting for mid-range and high-end next-generation designs, which will be helpful when enabling gigabit SLAs down the road.
These changes, along with increased adoption of Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) and DOCSIS 3.1 technologies, are improving spectral efficiencies and increasing QAM levels.
Low latency DOCSIS
Low-latency DOCSIS is enabling a new ecosystem of applications and services that leverage latencies as low as 5-10 ms. Video gaming is generating a lot of interest in low-latency DOCSIS, but we will see it also open the door to more consumer services, such as virtual or augmented reality, as well as enterprise services, such as stock trading, edge computing and cellular backhaul technology.
By implementing consistently low latency (and, it is expected, even lower in the future) that offers a high degree of reliability and a low level of jitter and delay variation in packet delivery, operators will be able to drive a new generation of time-sensitive, mission-critical services.
DOCSIS 4.0
In the coming years, operators will begin installing higher frequency sockets as they prepare for future migrations to DOCSIS 4.0 (D4.0). While full implementations of this tool will take some time to arrive, phased upgrades leading to D4.0 are already in the works and remain important steps towards the 10G future.
DOCSIS innovations will have relevance for the development of the technology, for this reason, operators will have to create planning programmes focusing on implementation and possible ways of use.
Migration to DAA
The development of distributed access architectures (DAA) is gaining momentum worldwide. We are seeing more and more investments and implementations by leading operators in both Remote PHY and virtualised functions such as CMTS. In the coming year, we will see remote management systems based on these approaches, at the same time as the first lab and field trials for MAC-PHY architectures are being developed.
DAAs leverage cloud-native technology and environments to accelerate time to market for various virtualised network services and functions, opening a door to a greater degree of network automation.
With distributed access architectures in place and virtualised components providing unprecedented network visibility, features such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and zero-touch provisioning will come ever closer and make it easier than ever to operate and optimise the network.
PON
Passive optical networks (PONs) are seen as another route to 10G. For many operators to eventually make the leap to FTTH, they will need to leverage their investments in HFC and passive components to expand to active software and service capabilities that can deliver higher speeds.
A promising area of development is that of remote optical line terminals (R-OLTs) that bring computing closer to the consumer edge. These modules, when deployed in HFC networks within existing fibre nodes, enable symmetrical multi-Gigabit speeds. The ability to support 10G PONs, as well as deep fibre upgrades, will become an attractive option for operators looking to take immediate advantage of broadband spectrum expansions, as well as virtualised and distributed access architectures, while reducing operational expenses.
All of these developments make it easier for operators to choose a path to network evolution that best suits their objectives and investments, while accelerating upgrade programmes in response to short-term drivers such as the pandemic crisis. These upgrades are occurring in the context of three macro network trends we identified earlier this year: coverage, efficiency and capacity.