CommScope announced the availability of Software Release 13 for the E6000® Converged Edge Router (CER). Software Release 13 allows operators a flexible path forward with existing or new units as they move toward 10G with the power of the E6000 CER­?the cable industry?s most widely-deployed CCAP?in today?s rapidly-evolving cable networks. This enhancement demonstrates the ability to build upon the E6000 CER?s industry-leading set of features, field-hardened years of service, to provide support for today?s cutting-edge hybrid fiber-coax (HFC) cable access network technologies.

With a deployment of Software Release 13 in their Gen 2 E6000 CERs, Multi-Service Operators (MSOs) can now support several enhanced network services for both Centralized (Integrated CCAP) and Distributed Access Architecture (DAA) networks, including: Support for next-generation cable modems, including DOCSIS® 4.0 devices running in DOCSIS 3.1 mode, Support for DAA Remote PHY deployments, D3.1Enhanced (D3.1E) channel bonding for increased downstream bandwidth, Expanded support for Low Latency DOCSIS, enabling new services for applications like gaming and virtual reality that require superb network responsiveness, and Enhanced support for IPTV operation, allowing operators to transition from traditional SC-QAM video delivery and reclaim bandwidth for extended network capacities and speed tiers. Operators are currently lab testing D3.1E with Software Release 13, and CommScope expects to have field trials later in 2024. D3.1E greatly expands downstream bandwidth to the subscriber by using next-generation DOCSIS 3.1 and 4.0 CPE devices, and bonding more OFDM channel blocks together than was possible with previous generation DOCSIS 3.1 CPE devices.

Software Release 13 will bond together 768 to 834 MHz of downstream bandwidth (depending on baseline channel spacing of 6 MHz or 8 MHz) to provide support for 3 OFDM channel blocks and 32 SC-QAM channels. With future releases, this expanded capacity could eventually support service tiers of over 8 Gbps in the downstream. CommScope plans to continue to enhance and expand E6000 CER features in future releases to keep pace with new network technologies and increase the return on investment from these upgrades.