Texas Instruments New Advanced TDMA Technology Will Increase Cable Plant Capacity by 50%
End-to-End Solution Answers the Demand for Symmetric Services Such as Voice, Multi-Session Videoconferencing and Peer-to-Peer Networking
HOUSTON (May 3, 2001) -- With the battle to deliver next-generation digital cable services heating up, Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) (NYSE: TXN) today unveiled its new technology featuring end-to-end advanced Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) that will enable a 50% increase in upstream plant capacity. The technology also harnesses the power of two chips - a new dual-channel receiver at the headend and a newly certified device at the customer premise - and TI's patented INCA(tm) (increased capacity ingress cancellation) technology, which together enable three times the upstream bandwidth per channel. These features will allow multiple service operators (MSOs) to offer symmetric services such as voice, multi-session videoconferencing and peer-to-peer networking. (See http://www.ti.com/sc/cablemodem)
Currently, there is great disparity between the capacities of the upstream and downstream bandwidths, with downloads operating at 30 to 40 megabits per second (Mbps) and uploads only at five to 10 Mbps. This was acceptable when the primary function of cable modems was high-speed data delivery. However, next-generation applications demand more symmetrical capacity. With TI's new solution, the upload capacity is increased to 30 Mbps.
"Increasing upstream bandwidth and reliability on DOCSIS networks is essential for cable operators seeking to generate revenue from emerging high-value IP applications, such as telephony, videoconferencing, telecommuting and peer-to-peer services," said Michael Harris, president of broadband research firm Kinetic Strategies, Inc. "TI is positioned as a key supplier of the advanced TDMA technology for both cable modems and CMTS products that will allow MSOs to deliver next-generation services."
What is "Advanced TDMA"?
Advanced TDMA is the natural evolution of the data-over-cable-service-interface-specification (DOCSIS) standard optimized for symmetric services. In fact, it is fully compatible with that specification and operates at the same RF channel. Supported by multiple vendors, the enhancements include:
- Spectrally efficient constellations of up to 64-QAM (quadrature amplitude modulation) increasing upstream capacity by 50%
- Improved Reed-Solomon forward error correction (FEC) for greater robustness to impulse and burst noise
- Higher baud rate: 5.12 Mbaud for greater channel throughput and for greater media access controller (MAC) scheduling efficiency
Burst Receiver Operates in Hostile Cable Plants
These enhancements are available on the revolutionary TNETC4522 dual-channel burst receiver, which also incorporates TI's proprietary INCA technology. In a hostile cable plant, INCA technology cancels ingress and burst noise, allowing MSOs to operate a cable modem network without an immediate network upgrade. In a clean plant, INCA technology enables the quantum strides in upstream capacity by allowing DOCSIS cable modems to transmit on overlapping frequencies without degradation in performance.
The TNETC4522 chip incorporates two receivers in a single device, supporting a total upstream bandwidth of up to 60Mbits/sec. The TNETC4522 significantly reduces overall CMTS (cable modem termination system) system cost and board size while greatly increasing the number of upstream channels supported per board. System cost is also reduced by optionally sharing analog front-end components.
Customer Premise Chip Offers Superior DOCSIS MAC/PHY Technology
The advanced TDMA is also present on the TNETC4042 integrated MAC/PHY (physical layer). This chip is the latest TI cable solution to earn Cable Television Laboratories, Inc. (CableLabs®) DOCSIS certification on its first attempt. Recently certified for DOCSIS1.0, it features an advanced PHY based on the advanced TDMA that further increases the upstream capabilities of customer premise equipment and supports the higher quality of service (QoS) that will be necessary to meet the requirements of future standards.
Ideally suited for cable modems and set-top boxes, the TNETC4042 is designed to significantly reduce system cost. The chip requires minimal configuration of analog front-end and low-cost RF components, and a low-cost host CPU. It includes the latest implementation of TI's advanced algorithm for blind acquisition that enables fast channel acquisition and robust operation even under severe cable television channel environments.
"The advanced TDMA of TI's 4042 integrated MAC/PHY will enable us to go to our customers with next-generation capabilities that will enhance their revenues," said Fred Berry, vice-president, general manager, Toshiba Network Products Division. "TI's silicon is proven, allowing us to take our systems to CableLabs with confidence, knowing that the core technology has already cleared the specification hurdle. With over one million TI-based Toshiba cable modems already installed, Toshiba's support of TI technology is an ongoing success story."
Samples of the TNETC4522 and the TNETC4042 both are currently available, with production quantities available in third quarter this year.
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TRADEMARKS
INCA is a trademark of Texas Instruments Incorporated.
CableLabs is a registered trademark of Cable Television Laboratories, Inc.
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