New products certified as cable continues push for speed
Cisco, Netgear, Thomson, Hitron, Pace & STMicroelectronics make the cut for new EU product rollouts, furthering cable's competition in broadband market
Brussels - 9 October, 2009: Amidst increased European political interest in high speed broadband rollout, Cable Europe Labs has recently certified a number of new EuroDOCSIS based products from Cisco, Netgear Thomson Pace and STMicroelectronics.
"Every new certification announcement that we make is another step forward in the speed and increased service that the cable industry is providing to millions of Europeans," said Cable Europe Labs Managing Director, Malcolm Taylor. "Having speeds that are 2-6 faster than ADSL offerings requires large and continued investments in the latest technology to keep cable at the head of the speed race and that is why there is such emphasis placed on our certification process. The fiber that we are deploying deep into our networks needs the latest and greatest technology to function and these products certified today work to that end."
For EuroDOCSIS 3.0, the Board agreed to certify the following products:
- Cisco EPC3325 (Cable Modem)
- Cisco EPC3010 (Cable Modem)
- Netgear CG3100 (EMTA - passed for EuroDOCSIS3.0 and EuroPacketCable1.5)
- Thomson TWG870 (EMTA - passed for EuroDOCSIS3.0 and EuroPacketCable 1.5)
- Hitron BVW3653 (EMTA - passed for EuroDOCSIS 3.0 and EuroPacketCable 1.0)
For EuroDOCSIS 2.0, the Board agreed to qualify the following products:
- Pace DCR7111 STB-CM
- STMicroelectronics STZ7141 - EUD STB-CM
Cable operators are engaged in a constant competition with other network providers and strive to get the latest technologies to stay ahead. "If you consider that cable operators in Europe spent more than €12bn to purchase goods and services in 2008, it's clear that investing in the networks requires spending also on the latest offerings," continued Taylor. "The vendors that have been certified today have passed rigorous testing so that we can turn to our customers knowing that they have been provided with technology that works well with our high speed networks. Customer confidence isn't a negotiable. It helps to explain why we as an industry spend about 70% of our annual revenue with suppliers."
Cable Europe Labs certified and qualified equipment is fully tested to be functional in compliance with the specifications for European cable technologies. Equipment such as cable modems and set top boxes, as well as network devices with Cable Europe Labs certification or qualified status, can be integrated in cable networks that operate in line with these EuroDOCSIS and EuroPacketCable technologies. Cable Europe Labs certifications are granted following a rigorous testing process in the specialised technology labs of Excentis in Ghent, Belgium.
For more information, please contact:
Gregg Svingen
Director of Communications
T: +32 2 556 21 02
M: +32 476 490 603
E: gregg.svingen@cable-europe.eu
About Cable Europe Labs
Certification and Qualification Cable Europe Labs Certified or Qualified means that the device has passed a series of tests for compliance with the indicated version of EuroDOCSISTM or EuroPacketCable and has thus demonstrated interoperable functionality with other Cable Europe Labs Certified or Qualified devices. "Cable Europe Labs Certified" is awarded to devices that will be used in a residence or business. "Cable Europe Labs Qualified" is awarded to devices that are used in a cable operator's network. Many of these devices provide other functions or are designed to comply with other specifications, in each case tailored by the manufacturer to meet the growing needs of consumers or cable operators in an evolving communication and entertainment sector. While Cable Europe Labs encourages such innovation and diversity, the phrase Cable Europe Labs Certified or Qualified should not be understood as an endorsement of these other attributes (or that the product is certified to other specifications or versions), which are solely the responsibility of the company making the additional claims.
About Excentis
Excentis (www.excentis.com), founded as tComLabs in May 2000, offers testing and consulting services and specialised training for the telecom and ICT industry. Its consultancy ranges from architecture designs, audits and operational support to field problem solving. Excentis executes specific test programs on network components and acts as an independent company to perform certification testing for EuroDOCSIS and EuroPacketCable equipment on behalf of Cable Europe Labs. The Excentis Training Centre offers standard and custom made training programs on the most recent telecommunication technologies. Excentis also develops test and measurement products.
[Figures cited on cable market in this release are provided by Solon Management Consulting and are taken from a newly commissioned report released in Brussels on 29 September]
About Solon Management ConsultingSolon is the leading consultancy for the European Cable TV industry. Services range from the development and implementation of corporate strategies to M&A transaction support. Clients include Cable operators, telecommunication and media companies, as well as banks and private equity funds.
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