What's Happening?
Midco has chosen Harmonic's virtual cable modem termination system (vCMTS) and associated nodes for a significant upgrade of its hybrid fiber/coax (HFC) network. This upgrade is part of Midco's $500 million 'Fiber Forward' initiative, aiming to enhance network capabilities with multi-gigabit downstream speeds and at least 1 Gbit/s upstream. The project, expected to be completed by 2028, involves upgrading to DOCSIS 3.1+ and implementing a high-split upgrade to increase network capacity. Midco plans to transition to a distributed access architecture (DAA), which will facilitate future upgrades to DOCSIS 4.0. The company is also preparing to launch a mobile service in partnership with Telgoo5 and BlueConnects.
Why It's Important?
This upgrade positions Midco to significantly enhance its service offerings, potentially increasing its competitiveness in the broadband market. By adopting Harmonic's vCMTS, Midco aims to improve network efficiency and capacity, which could attract more customers seeking high-speed internet solutions. The move to DAA and the potential future upgrade to DOCSIS 4.0 could further solidify Midco's market position, offering faster and more reliable internet services. The initiative reflects broader industry trends towards virtualization and distributed network architectures, which are crucial for meeting growing consumer demand for high-speed connectivity.
What's Next?
Midco plans to accelerate deployments in initial target markets and complete field trials for its mobile service by the end of 2025. The company is testing new DOCSIS customer premises equipment to support the network upgrades. As Midco transitions to DAA, it will decommission legacy systems, paving the way for future technological advancements. The successful implementation of these upgrades could lead to increased market share and customer satisfaction, while also setting the stage for further innovations in broadband technology.
