CableLabs has partnered with Cisco to create a new open-source software project for Remote PHY Device (RPD).
Remote PHY works together with DOCSIS 3.1 to expand capacity of the cable hybrid fiber coax (HFC) plants. Labeled "OpenRPD," the new open-source software will reside in the Remote PHY Device and will be available to cable operators and RPD vendors globally.
OpenRPD is designed to help further interoperability efforts and promote virtualization techniques to speed time to market with new services. CableLabs and Cisco claim the new software will allow legacy optical node vendors to build Remote PHY nodes without restrictions or needing to be experts in the latest cable standards and specs.
"More and more of the telecommunications infrastructure is running on open source platforms," said Ralph Brown, CTO of CableLabs. "CableLabs has a history of contributing to and hosting open source projects. The OpenRPD project helps launch CableLabs increased focus on open source projects for the cable industry."
Added Dave Ward, CTO of engineering and chief architect for Cisco: "This is open source for cable access. Not only does it help move the industry toward the future architecture but it also enables a new developer community. Open standards, open source and an open ecosystem community for developers is a key trajectory for networking. We see the Remote PHY architecture and RPD evolving to a more generalized and virtualized architecture that can be applied to all types of access networks."
For more:
- read this press release
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