Next Gen Access Architecture
CCAP (CMAP) Program at Comcast
SCTE 2011
July, 2011
Comcast Proprietary and Confidential
Why would MSOs need CCAP?
• Engineering: Capacity and efficiency, frees significant HE capacity
•
•
 50% space savings with 4x capacity
 60% power savings plus less cooling
 Improve existing UPS and battery backup performance
Architecture: Simplicity and flexibility is already a key driver
 Minimum, simplified combining wiring
 Full-spectrum, MPEG/DOCSIS QAMs, easier migration to ADS
 Future proof, single access platform
Purchasing: Cost will quickly become a big driver
 CMTS 4-6 DOCSIS channel cost equals CCAP 16 DOCSIS + 16 MPEG Channels !!
• Operations: Reliability and manageability will also drive adoption




2
Fully redundant (N+1 LC & 1+1 Commons)
Configuration change between QAM types vs. equipment swap-out
Much shorter maintenance window (ISSU)
Far less equipment to manage and maintain
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CCAP space efficiency example
Today’s HE: 16 NC QAMs per SG
Top view of headend rack line-up
Each
box represents
a rackper SG
After
CCAP:
64 NC QAMs
Digital
Broadcast
20
QAMs
20
QAMs
20
QAMs
OOB
SDV
6
EQAM
6
EQAM
6
EQAM
6
EQAM
VOD
6
EQAM
6
EQAM
6
EQAM
6
EQAM
CMTS
Combiner
& Amps
CMTS
CMTS
CMTS
CMTS
CMTS
CMTS
CMTS
CMTS
CMTS
CCAP
CCAP
CCAP
CCAP
CCAP
Ret
Fwd
Ret
Fwd
Ret
Ret
Fwd
Ret
Fwd
Ret
Fwd
Ret
Fwd
Ret
Ret
Fwd
Ret
Lasers &
Receivers
OOB
Example for illustrative purposes
OOB
OOB
Fwd
CCAP eliminates the need for headend expansions
NOTES:
• Deployment example assuming 40K homes passed, 200 nodes, 140 D3 HSD service groups at 16 SG/chassis,
120 VOD SGs @ 6QAMs/SG and 4 QAMs/RF Port, and same SDV service groups.
• Larger or smaller headends would scale accordingly, but savings will be proportional.
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Ret
CCAP yearly power savings in a typical headend
Pre-CCAP
KWH/Year
Device
Digital Broadcast
Post-CCAP
KWH/Year
KWH Savings
Percentage Saved
60,196
0
60,196
100%
SDV
140,160
0
140,160
100%
VOD
140,160
0
140,160
100%
CMTS->CCAP
277,984
227,760
50,224
18%
Combine/Amp
5,676
3,784
1,892
33%
Lasers/Receivers
NA
Total
624,176
NA
231,544
NA
392,632
NA
63%
CCAP saves 60% of power, not including cooling energy savings!
UPS and battery requirements are also reduced – existing capacity
will last considerably longer when power is interrupted.
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16U Chassis
Exhaust Air
Primary 100-Gig-E Ports
Secondary 100-Gig-E Ports
12 Ports/DS Card
32/48/64 Narrowcast QAMs/Port
96 Broadcast QAMs/Port
Primary Switch/Route Engine
Secondary Switch/Route Engine
US Redundancy
US
US
US
US
US
24 Ports/US Card
DS Redundancy
DS
DS
DS
DS
DS
32/48/64 NC
QAMs +
96 BC QAMs
SDV
MPEG TS
DS RF Port
VOD
nDVR
Broadc
ast
Simplify, and
eventually
eliminate RF
Combining
HSD
CDV
AVS
DOCSIS
CCAP DS Port Assignments
XR2
XR1
CCAP in a nutshell
• Converged Cable Access Platform
• Combines the functions of the CMTS and Edge QAM
• Implements all narrowcast andRear
broadcast
QAMs
View
(Implemented using
high density UCH w/
MCX-75 connectors)
Power Supply
Modules
Front View
16U Chassis
Narrowcast & Broadcast
Digital Services
Integrated
CCAP
CCAP
DS
US
Legacy OOB
Analog
Modular
CCAP
Fan Modules
Intake Air
Split
Legacy OOB
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Operational features of CCAP
Open decryption/encryption interfaces
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Similar boxes for both
Integrated vs. Modular CCAP components
ICCAP
I-CCAP
HE Router
Sub & Flow
Management
HE Router /
M-CCAP PS
Single CCAP
Vendor
IP
PASI
Routing
M-CCAP
ICCAP
AS
Best-in-Class
Expertise
Each approach has pros and cons
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CCAP use cases examples (two of several)
M-CMTS
Core
UR
UR
I-CMTS
SDV
Shorter Term
HE
Router
UR
UEQAM
M-CMTS
Core
US
US
DS
DS
UR
I-CCAP
DS
UR
M-CCAP AS
in DS mode
US
Longer Term
Options
Future
HE
Router
US
8
VOD
HE
Router
BCast
For M-CMTS markets
SDV
Bcast
Today
HE
Router
VOD
Where I-CMTS exists
Add density with
CCAP Access Shelf
in DS-only mode
DS
Eventually I-CCAP or…
• Migrate to
I-CCAP &
relocate
CCAP-AS
• Or, add
CCAP PS
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…M-CCAP
HE
Router
UR
UR
I-CCAP
US
• Existing
Router
w/PS SW
HE Router /
M-CCAP PS
UR
M-CCAP
AS
DS
US
DS
• Add US
LCs
CCAP migration options
Capacity
Augment
New Service
Deployment
• Drop in CCAP as SGs are split
or EQAMs/CMTSs are added
• Keep current equipment and
eventually move to other
locations
• Add CCAP for new service
• Maintain existing equipment
for existing services
• Eventually integrate other
services into CCAP
Broadcast and OOB
Broadcast and OOB
CCAP for New Service
CCAP
Combiner
9
Broadcast and OOB
New SGs
CCAP
CMTSs
Combiner
Lasers and Receivers
Existing SGs
• Add CCAPs for all SGs in key
HEs
• Independent of services
• Existing equipment relocated
SDV/VOD EQAMs
SDV/VOD EQAMs
CMTSs
Infrastructure
Upgrade
Combiner
Lasers and Receivers
Lasers and Receivers
Existing SGs
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Existing SGs
Preparing for CCAP
• Work underway in the many areas at Comcast:
 Systems: configuration, monitoring, logging, fault detection, trouble
management, inventory, databases, etc.
 Operations: changes to deploy and manage single device
 Testing: process (who/how/when and what order), and edge QAM,
DRFI performance, new features, and new services (RS-DVR, AVS)
• Deployment planning:
 Network models for system types: very large to very small HEs
 Trials starting in 2011: operational readiness focus, not equipment
• New combiner equipment: optimized for CCAP and remaining inputs
• Working with Motorola and Cisco on encryption licensing model and
ECMG implementation plan
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CCAP operational readiness trial – concept diagram
• CCAP-like network to understand technical/ops issues and prepare
 Operational processes, tools, network engineering, etc.
• The trial is about MSO operations, NOT to test equipment
• The scope will be minimal but meaningful (few service groups)
DTA
BCAST
SDV
VOD
2-4
6
M-CCAP AS
in DS-only mode
4
4
M-CMTS
Core
11
OTHER QAMs
ANALOG
TEST
20-24
Combiner
Collaborative effort
with Cox and Rogers
All
services
4
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~120
DS
US
Completing CCAP specifications
• Large team of industry experts developing CCAP specs
 Key engineers and architects from all EQAM and CMTS vendors
 Agreements with Cablevision, Charter, Cox, LGI/UPC, NCTC, Rogers, and
others, plus working with TWC on common requirements
 Direct support from CableLabs; now working on CL CCAP Specs
 Cable Europe Labs representing the 15 largest MSOs in Europe
• MSO specification documents:
Phase 1 completed in March 2010 (focus on HW & Functions)
Phase 2 completed in July 2010 (added Config & Mgmt and PASI)
Phase 3 completed in Nov. 2010 (expanded all specs; wrote CL TR)
 Phase 4 in progress, adding adv. Functions, ATP and updated CL TR (target
Sept. ’11)
– CableLabs working on CCAP OSSI and PASI specs
– Changed name to converge
TWC and Comcast efforts
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Thank
Summary and conclusions
• CCAP Platform is the Next Gen CMTS and Edge QAM
You!!
 Natural technology evolution; cost effective, simple and redundant
 Supports all digital services (VOD, SDV, Broadcast, HSD/voice)
 Easy migration from MPEG-TS to DOCSIS
• Many MSOs need the CCAP ASAP
 Operational simplicity and benefits are staggering
 CCAP QAMs are much more cost effective
• Expect initial trials in 2011 and initial deployments in 2012
• Please let us know of any interest in participating, or of questions,
comments and especially suggestions
jorge_salinger@cable.comcast.com
saifur_rahman@cable.comcast.com
Comcast Proprietary and Confidential
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