ARRIS Announces C4® CMTS Software Only Double Density Field Upgrades

SUWANEE, Ga., April 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- ARRIS (Nasdaq: ARRS) today announced that it is in early deployments of its Release 7.4 eXtended Downstream Cable Access Module (XD CAM) field upgrade, effectively doubling the downstream density of the DOCSIS® 3.0 C4 CMTS from 16D to 32D without the need for any wiring or hardware changes.  This keyed feature field upgrade is available for purchase to the entire installed base of C4 DOCSIS 3.0 CMTS' worldwide.

The C4 XD CAM's increased downstream density makes the transition to eight-channel bonding very simple and gives cable operators the ability to deliver more bandwidth per subscriber at a much lower cost than previously possible.  For customers, it provides higher speed service tiers -- up to 343 Mb/s for North American DOCSIS (Annex B) and 445 Mb/s for European DOCSIS (Annex A).  

C4 Release 7.4 software enables operators to upgrade all existing, deployed 16D CAMs to XD CAMs with the purchase of a software license — without removing the module from the chassis. This software-only upgrade process is far less onerous and costly than that of requiring customers to replace current modules with new hardware to achieve similar downstream densities.  Additionally, the operational simplicity of its cabling and lower maintenance inherent in its architecture result in a lower overall cost of ownership for C4 CMTS customers.  

Also available in Release 7.4 is support for IPv6 as well as DOCSIS 3.0 multicast traffic.  North American cable MSO Comcast recently completed successful testing of a live application of native dual stack (IPv4 and IPv6) CPE support for its customers in the Denver area using the C4 CMTS. Operators will be able to deploy IPv6 with confidence and, by combining Multicast IP Video with DOCSIS 3.0 channel bonding, will be able to deliver IP Video in the most efficient way possible.

"Each time we upgrade a C4's capacity and density, we lower its total cost of ownership," said ARRIS Broadband Communications Systems President Bruce McClelland.  "The XD CAM is a highly cost effective way to double downstream capacity by simply loading new software, without significant service disruption or configuration changes, and noticeably improves the customer's broadband user experience."

For more information, please visit: www.arrisi.com/get/XDCAM

About ARRIS

ARRIS is a global communications technology company specializing in the design, engineering and supply of technology that supports broadband services for residential and business customers around the world. The company supplies broadband operators with the tools and platforms they need to deliver carrier-grade telephony, network video processing, whole home video, demand driven video, next-generation advertising, network and workforce management solutions, access and transport architectures and ultra high-speed data services. Headquartered in Suwanee, Georgia, USA, ARRIS has R&D centers in Suwanee; Beaverton, OR; Chicago, IL; Kirkland, WA; State College, PA; Wallingford, CT; Waltham, MA; Cork, Ireland; and Shenzhen, China, and operates support and sales offices throughout the world. Information about ARRIS products and services can be found at www.arrisi.com.

SOURCE ARRIS