Lightcurve believes that the end-state of its wireline broadband networks shall be paved by passive optical networking (PON). However the firm is giving its hybrid fiber coax (HFC) networks a lift within the interim.
Washington-based Lightcurve at present operates a mixture of hybrid fiber/coax (HFC) and fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) networks, together with some copper/DSL networks which are being upgraded to XGS-PON. That mix, a nod to its lineage as a phone firm that traces again greater than 100 years, helps a community technique centered on delivering multi-gigabit providers.
Whereas it is potential that Lightcurve’s HFC networks may finally pivot to PON, the operator’s present plan is to improve that a part of its plant to DOCSIS 3.1+.
As a possible step towards DOCSIS 4.0, DOCSIS 3.1+ is an replace to D3.1 that opens up further orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) channels and places operators in place to ship as much as 8 Gbit/s within the downstream by way of HFC. DOCSIS 3.1+ networks are suitable with older DOCSIS 3.0 and D3.1 buyer premises gear (CPE), new DOCSIS 3.1+ modems and gateways, in addition to fully-fledged DOCSIS 4.0 gadgets.
Whereas fiber is the place Lightcurve desires to be long run, the operator has begun to improve to DOCSIS 3.1+ because it strikes forward with a brand new 8-Gig down by 1 Gig upstream broadband service tier, beginning in Tacoma, Lightcurve’s largest market, defined COO Pao Lo. Lo is a former Midco and Comcast exec who was a D3.1+ advocate properly earlier than he joined Lightcurve final December.
A no to DOCSIS 4.0
The operator can also be upgrading nodes to help a distributed entry structure (DAA) and was one of many early adopters of Harmonic’s digital cable modem termination system (vCMTS), which may additionally function on PON networks. Lo stated Lightcurve can also be looking at methods to ship PON-based providers off the node on a focused foundation.
For now, an improve to full DOCSIS 4.0 will not be on Lightcurve’s radar.
“On the finish of the day, we wish to be fiber. DOCSIS 3.1+ offers us a path there,” Lo stated.
Lightcurve’s method to HFC reinforces that operators usually are not all taking the identical path. Whereas Comcast is upgrading its HFC networks to DOCSIS 4.0, Spectrum is using a multi-tiered plan that may deploy D4.0 in solely a portion of its plant. Cable One, in the meantime, will check out DOCSIS 4.0, DOCSIS 3.1+ and PON upgrades in numerous markets within the coming months to see how they measurement up when it comes to prices, efficiency and effectiveness in opposition to rivals.
However an 8×1 providing ought to give Lightcurve some runway in opposition to rivals together with AT&T, Comcast and Spectrum, relying available on the market.
Lightcurve’s community technique is taking form amid some latest M&A strikes. The privately held firm turned Lightcurve in Might after Palisade Infrastructure closed its acquisition in Mashell Inc., the guardian firm of Rainier Join, which serves a handful of markets in Washington, together with Tacoma, Eatonville, Centralia, Chehalis and Graham. Palisade acquired the Washington properties of Consolidated Communications in 2023.
