What's Happening?
Midco, a significant U.S. cable operator, has chosen Harmonic's virtual cable modem termination system (vCMTS) and distributed access architecture (DAA) nodes to enhance its hybrid fiber/coax (HFC) network. This upgrade is part of Midco's extensive $500 million 'Fiber Forward' initiative, aiming to provide multi-gigabit downstream speeds and at least 1 Gbit/s upstream. The project, expected to conclude by the end of 2028, involves upgrading the HFC plant to DOCSIS 3.1+, which will increase network capacity to 1.8GHz. Midco's strategy includes transitioning to a DAA, which will facilitate the decommissioning of legacy Cisco cBR-8 CMTSs. The company is also preparing for potential future upgrades to DOCSIS 4.0.
Why It's Important?
This development is significant for the U.S. telecommunications industry as it highlights the ongoing shift towards more advanced network infrastructures. By adopting Harmonic's vCMTS, Midco is positioning itself to offer enhanced internet services, which could lead to increased competition among cable operators. The upgrade supports Midco's plans for fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) deployments, potentially improving service quality and customer satisfaction. For Harmonic, this deal strengthens its leadership in the vCMTS market, expanding its customer base and reinforcing its competitive edge over rivals like CommScope and Vecima Networks.
What's Next?
Midco plans to accelerate the deployment of DAA nodes in initial target markets, with Harmonic's vCMTS already supporting some nodes. The company is also testing new DOCSIS customer premises equipment (CPE) to support the network upgrades. Additionally, Midco is preparing to launch a mobile service in partnership with Telgoo5 and BlueConnects, with field trials set for this fall and a full launch expected in 2026. These initiatives indicate Midco's strategic move towards service convergence, potentially reshaping its market presence.
