Comcast milestone: 100,000 Digital Nodes deployed

Comcast has surpassed 100,000 rPHY digital nodes deployed across its nationwide network. The rollout began in 2019, surpassing 50,000 rPHY nodes deployed across the network in 2022. The pace continued to increase in 2023, with the organization upgrading 25 percent of its footprint to date.

Digital nodes are a critical part of the distributed access architecture (DAA). The upgraded technology will also be instrumental in Comcast’s implementation of Full-Duplex DOCSIS 4.0, supporting multi-gig symmetrical speeds that will be available to the first customers in Q4 2023.

Comcast said the node upgrades are part of its broader DAA and virtualization journey, which has included world’s first activation of a virtualized cable modem termination system (vCMTS) powered by Full Duplex DOCSIS 4.0 technology in 2021. Since then, Comcast has implemented vCMTS technology across its network and continues to improve the platform to deliver even greater capacity, reliability, visibility, and security.

“But what’s more exciting about our continued commitment to deploying network innovation, as evidenced by the digital nodes across our network, is the immediate benefits it delivers to our Xfinity 10G Network customers with respect to speed, reliability, sustainability and scalability,” said Elad Nafshi, EVP & Chief Network Officer at Comcast Cable.

Read More

Comcast advances its 10G rollout

Comcast will launch its latest Xfinity 10G network upgrade to 10 million homes and businesses by the end of this month, providing the foundational network enhancements in place to begin deploying DOCSIS 4.0 and symmetrical multi-gigabit Internet options.

To date, and ahead of schedule, more than 40 markets across Comcast service areas have implemented network improvements including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Miami, Philadelphia, Salt Lake City, Seattle, San Francisco, Washington D.C., and others. The full deployment of these technical capabilities will reach more than 50 million homes and businesses by 2025. In addition to fast speeds, DOCSIS 4.0 technologies will deliver even greater reliability and capacity to power multiple data-intensive applications.

“Streaming live sports, 4K gaming, hybrid work, and virtual reality have gone mainstream in just a few years, and gig speeds, capacity, reliability, and low latency are key factors making our connectivity experience superior to the competition,” said Dave Watson, CEO, Comcast Cable. “Our definition of reliability has to shift from merely being always-on, to powering multiple data-intensive applications across dozens of devices, and the investments we are making in our network are creating immediate benefits for our customers.”

Comcast also unveiled plans to rollout new WiFi features and a new device with cellular and battery backup to help keep customers connected even when the power goes out.

Later this year Comcast will also unveil new low latency features.

https://corporate.comcast.com/press/releases/comcast-multi-gig-rollout-xfinity-10g-network-upgrade

Read More

Comcast targets fiber rollouts in Indiana

Comcast signed contracts with Indiana’s Office of Community & Rural Affairs (OCRA) to bring gigabit-capable broadband service to unserved parts of Indiana.

The projects will deploy 1,200 miles of fiber to unserved rural portions of Indiana. Under this latest phase of Next Level Connections grants, Comcast is investing $36 million in conjunction with the state’s $13.6 million to expand its network.

The initial finalized agreements will enable Comcast to build to rural, unserved portions of Allen, Bartholomew, Carroll, Cass, Delaware, Fayette, Hendricks, Jennings, Johnson, Hamilton, Huntington, La Porte, Madison, Marshall, Montgomery, Morgan, Porter, Starke and Wayne counties.

“Ensuring all Hoosiers have access to reliable, high-speed internet has been a top priority for Comcast,” said Joni Hart, vice president of Government Affairs for Comcast in Indiana. “As the world we live in becomes increasingly digital, we remain focused on not only bringing our broadband network to more Indiana homes and business, but also meeting the ever-increasing appetite for education, business, telemedicine, entertainment and more.”

Read More

Comcast's communications revenue up 1.4% in Q4

Driven by increases in broadband, wireless, business services and advertising revenue, Comcast reported revenue for its cable communications business of $16.6 billion in the fourth quarter of 2022, up 1.4% compared to a year earlier. Gains were partially offset by decreases in video, voice and other revenue. 

Highlights:

• Broadband revenue increased 5.4% due to an increase in average rates and an increase in the number of residential broadband customers compared to the prior year period. Wireless revenue increased 24.7% due to an increase in the number of customer lines and an increase in device sales. 
• Business services revenue increased 4.6% due to an increase in average rates and an increase in the number of customers receiving our services compared to the prior year period. 
• Advertising revenue increased 9.1%, primarily driven by an increase in political advertising. Excluding political revenue, advertising revenue decreased by 7.4%, reflecting the previously announced transition of the Xumo Play streaming service to a joint venture.
• Video revenue decreased 5.6%, reflecting a decrease in the number of residential video customers, partially offset by an increase in average rates. Voice revenue decreased 13.2%, primarily reflecting a decrease in the number of residential voice customers. Other revenue decreased 6.5%, reflecting a decrease in revenue from our security and automation services.
• For the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, Cable revenue increased 3.1% to $66.3 billion, driven by growth in broadband, business services, wireless and advertising revenue, partially offset by a decrease in video and voice revenue.
• Total Customer Relationships decreased by 71,000 to 34.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2022. Excluding the negative impact from Hurricane Ian, the company estimates that total customer relationships decreased by 36,000. 
• Total broadband customer net losses were 26,000. Excluding the negative impact from Hurricane Ian, we estimate that total broadband net additions were 4,000. Total video customer net losses were 440,000 and total voice customer net losses were 288,000. In addition, Cable Communications added 365,000 wireless lines in the quarter.
• For the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, total customer relationships increased by 75,000. Residential customer relationships increased by 54,000 and business customer relationships increased by 21,000. Total broadband customer net additions were 250,000. 
• Total video customer net losses were 2.0 million and total voice customer net losses were 1.2 million.
• Capital Expenditures for Cable Communications increased 9.7% to $2.4 billion in the fourth quarter of 2022, reflecting increased investment in line extensions, scalable infrastructure, customer premise equipment and support capital. 
• Cable capital expenditures represented 14.4% of Cable revenue in the fourth quarter of 2022 compared to 13.4% in the prior year period.

"I am proud of how our team executed throughout 2022," said Brian L. Roberts, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Comcast Corporation. "We achieved the highest levels of Revenue, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EPS in our history and returned a record $17.7 billion of capital to shareholders.

Read More

Comcast lights 10G connection powered by DOCSIS 4.0

Comcast activated the first multigigabit, symmetrical Internet connection powered by 10G and full duplex DOCSIS 4.0, connecting a business location in the Philadelphia region to its live network.  The test involves a DOCSIS 4.0-enabled 10G node and multiple cable modem.

Comcast anticipates offering 10G-enabled services to customers in the second half of 2023.

“This live trial combines years of technology innovation and versatility to create a clear path to next-generation speed, reliability and performance for all the homes in our footprint, not just a select few,” said Charlie Herrin, President, Technology, Product, Experience at Comcast Cable. “What excites us most about 10G technology is the ability to continue our longstanding commitment to delivering our best technologies to everyone we serve.”

“We started this year with the announcement of our world-first test of 10G modem technology capable of delivering multi-gig speeds to homes and, as of today, 10G is a reality with the potential to transform and evolve the Internet as we know it,” said Elad Nafshi, EVP and Chief Network Officer at Comcast Cable. “It’s been an incredible year of progress, and we look forward to continuing to refine and harden our 10G technology as we work to make this service—and all its incredible benefits—available to all customers in the years ahead.”

https://corporate.comcast.com/press/releases/comcast-live-10g-connection-4-gig-symmetrical-speeds

Comcast demos 10G technologies

Thursday, April 28, 2022  10G, Comcast, Optical  

Comcast reached download speeds faster than 8 Gbps and upload speeds faster than 5 Gbps during a 10G event at CableLabs headquarters.For the demo, Comcast connected a 10G-enabled Virtualized Cable Modem Termination System (vCMTS) linked by more than 80 kilometers of fiber to the demonstration site. The fiber terminated into a production switch, which connected to what is believed to be the world’s first fully functional 10G-enabled Full Duplex DOCSIS...

READ MORE

CableLabs cites 10G milestones

Monday, January 24, 2022    

CableLabs cited a number of 10G milestones achieved in 2021:CableLabs recently published its first set of specifications for a new device, called the Coherent Termination Device, that enables operators to take advantage of coherent optics technologies in fiber-limited access networks. Typically used for long-haul, metro and submarine networks, coherent optics technologies enable operators to use their existing fiber assets more efficiently when teamed...

READ MORE

Read More

Comcast's Xfinity Mobile reaches 5 million after 5 years

Comcast's Xfinity Mobile MVNO service has surpassed five million customer lines after five years on the market

“We set out to build a different kind of mobile service designed for the way people use their phones today – with the Internet at the center of the experience. Our goal is simple - keep our Internet customers happy with a mobile service that offers incredible value; attract new customers who want a great connectivity experience inside and away from the home; and build a profitable business that has a long runway for growth,” said Dave Watson, CEO, Comcast Cable. “We couldn’t be prouder of the exceptional mobile service we built with Xfinity Mobile and the impact it has had today with five million customer lines and counting.”

Read More

Comcast boosts speeds for 20 million residences

Comcast is boosting the broadband speed for more than 20 million Xfinity households across the United States.

The announcement comes on the heels of Comcast’s launch of the nation’s largest- and fastest-ever multi-gig deployment that will reach more than 50 million homes and businesses with 2 Gbps speeds before the end of 2025.

“The number of devices connected in Xfinity households has skyrocketed 12X since 2018, and the need for fast, reliable, and secure Internet will continue to grow,” said Bill Connors, President of Xfinity, Comcast Cable. “That’s why today, Xfinity is increasing speeds for most of our customers across the country.”

Beginning this week, new and existing customers will be able to take advantage of the following upgraded speeds:

• Performance Starter/Connect from 50 Mbps to 75 Mbps
• Performance/Connect More from 100 Mbps to 200 Mbps
• Performance Pro/Fast from 300 Mbps to 400 Mbps
• Blast/Superfast from 600 Mbps to 800 Mbps
• Extreme Pro/Gigabit (formerly Ultrafast) from 900 Mbps to 1 Gbps

https://www.comcast.com

Comcast to offer symmetrical multi-gig speeds in 2023

Thursday, September 08, 2022  Comcast  

Comcast  has begun a nationwide rollout of multi-gig Internet speeds with the goal of reaching more than 50 million homes and businesses before the end of 2025.As part of this initiative, Comcast is accelerating the transformation of its network to a virtualized cloud-based architecture that is fully prepared for 10G and DOCSIS 4.0.Under this initiative Comcast is:Immediately rolling out download speeds up to 2 Gigs – combined with up to 5x-to-10x...

READ MORE

Read More

Comcast promotes Mike Cavanagh to President

Comcast Corporation named Mike Cavanagh has been as President. With this promotion, Mike will work closely with Chairman and CEO Brian L. Roberts to manage the businesses and teams across the company. Mike will be only the third President in the company’s 59-year history. He will remain Chief Financial Officer.

Mike joined Comcast seven years ago as Chief Financial Officer. With his leadership, the company has expanded its reach significantly in the US and globally. Mike came to Comcast after more than 20 years in the financial services industry. He was Co-CEO of JPMorgan Chase’s Corporate & Investment Bank from 2012 to 2014, a global leader in its industry with over $30 billion in revenue at the time and more than 60,000 employees located in nearly 100 countries. In this role, Mike co-headed all investment banking, cash management, investor services, and the largest global markets and trading business in the world. He also served as JPMorgan Chase’s CFO for six years – helping steer the company to successfully navigate the financial crisis.

Read More

Comcast looks to Samsung for 5G RAN

Comcast is working with Samsung to deliver 5G Radio Access Network (RAN) solutions tfor Xfinity Mobile and Comcast Business Mobile customers in Comcast service areas. 

Specifically, Samsung will supply 5G RAN solutions to deliver 5G access to consumer and business customers in the United States using Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) and 600MHz spectrum.

Samsung 5G RAN products to be provided include radios for CBRS and 600MHz, baseband units, and a newly developed 5G CBRS Strand Small Cell that can be deployed on Comcast’s aerial cable lines (i.e. strand). Using the new compact and lightweight small cell product, Comcast can leverage its existing DOCSIS infrastructure without having to build or acquire additional cell sites.

“Our capital-light approach to providing enhanced 5G connectivity in service areas where we have a high concentration of traffic and cable infrastructure is smart for our business and even better for customers who will benefit from broader coverage and industry-leading speeds and prices,” said Tom Nagel, SVP of Wireless Strategy at Comcast. “Partnering with Samsung and leveraging their leadership in 5G network innovation will help us seamlessly deliver more next-generation applications and services to our consumer and business mobile customers.”

“We are excited to collaborate with Comcast on their journey to deliver the most enhanced 5G experiences available to their customers,” said Mark Louison, Executive Vice President and Head of Networks Business, Samsung Electronics America. “With this partnership, Samsung continues to build on its wireless technology leadership in commercial 5G rollouts. We look forward to helping Comcast advance its goals in delivering best-in-class 5G mobile services for their Xfinity Mobile and Comcast Business customers.”

Read More

Comcast to offer symmetrical multi-gig speeds in 2023

Comcast  has begun a nationwide rollout of multi-gig Internet speeds with the goal of reaching more than 50 million homes and businesses before the end of 2025.

As part of this initiative, Comcast is accelerating the transformation of its network to a virtualized cloud-based architecture that is fully prepared for 10G and DOCSIS 4.0.

Under this initiative Comcast is:

• Immediately rolling out download speeds up to 2 Gigs – combined with up to 5x-to-10x faster upload speeds – to millions of homes and businesses; available in 34 cities and towns before the end of 2022; more than 50 million homes and businesses by the end of 2025; and continuing throughout the entire network. Initial rollouts are already underway in Colorado Springs, CO; Augusta, GA; and Panama City Beach, FL, with more launched at a regular cadence through the end of the year
• For Xfinity customers: extending new multi-gigabit network speeds throughout the home with the multi-gig-capable Wi-Fi 6E Gateway, xFi connected home platform, and xFi Pod Wi-Fi extenders
• For Comcast Business customers: Delivering ultra-fast Wi-Fi speeds for businesses with a new multi-gig capable gateway
• Completing the core technical foundation for 10G, which will deliver multi-gig symmetrical speeds over the connections already installed in tens of millions of homes and businesses
• Finalizing transition to a cloud-based, virtualized network that enables faster speeds, greater reliability for customers, while also implementing a network architectural update that enables greater upload and download capacity
• Building multi-gig capabilities that can reach everyone connected to Comcast’s network, not just select neighborhoods and customers, just as Comcast has done with previous network improvements
• Improving energy efficiency, helping Comcast become carbon neutral by 2035

“We’re making our network even smarter and faster, which allows us to quickly deliver true multi-gig Wi-Fi to tens of millions of businesses and residential consumers at an unprecedented pace,” said Charlie Herrin, President of Technology, Product, Experience at Comcast Cable. “Whatever the application, whatever the future holds, our network and world-class, whole-home Wi-Fi experience will be there and ready to power all of our customers’ connected experiences.”

Comcast demos 10G technologies

Thursday, April 28, 2022  10G, Comcast, Optical  

Comcast reached download speeds faster than 8 Gbps and upload speeds faster than 5 Gbps during a 10G event at CableLabs headquarters.For the demo, Comcast connected a 10G-enabled Virtualized Cable Modem Termination System (vCMTS) linked by more than 80 kilometers of fiber to the demonstration site. The fiber terminated into a production switch, which connected to what is believed to be the world’s first fully functional 10G-enabled Full Duplex DOCSIS...

READ MORE

Comcast tests Lumenisity's hollowcore fiber

Wednesday, April 20, 2022  Comcast, Fiber, Hollowcore, Optical  

Comcast confirmed its first deployment of advanced hollowcore fiber optics.Comcast connected two locations in Philadelphia, which enables network engineers to continue to test and observe the performance and physical compatibility of hollowcore fiber in a real-world deployment. Comcast successfully tested bidirectional transmission (upstream and downstream traffic traveling on a single fiber), used coherent and direct-detect systems (allowing for...

READ MORE

CableLabs cites 10G milestones

Monday, January 24, 2022    

CableLabs cited a number of 10G milestones achieved in 2021:CableLabs recently published its first set of specifications for a new device, called the Coherent Termination Device, that enables operators to take advantage of coherent optics technologies in fiber-limited access networks. Typically used for long-haul, metro and submarine networks, coherent optics technologies enable operators to use their existing fiber assets more efficiently when teamed...

READ MORE

Comcast tests 10G modem based on full Duplex DOCSIS 4.0

Thursday, January 13, 2022  Comcast, DOCSIS  

Comcast achieved a top downlink performace of over 4 Gbps using a prototype 10G modem.  The lab test used a full duplex DOCSIS 4.0 system-on-chip (SoC) from Broadcom.The modem test utilized the DOCSIS 4.0 FDX SoC device, which Comcast demonstrated in April 2021, to pair with two cable modem chips. These were connected over a lab-based hybrid fiber-coaxial network to the vCMTS operating in DOCSIS 4.0 mode. Comcast said this represents the...

READ MORE

Read More

Comcast demos 10G technologies

Comcast reached download speeds faster than 8 Gbps and upload speeds faster than 5 Gbps during a 10G event at CableLabs headquarters.

For the demo, Comcast connected a 10G-enabled Virtualized Cable Modem Termination System (vCMTS) linked by more than 80 kilometers of fiber to the demonstration site. The fiber terminated into a production switch, which connected to what is believed to be the world’s first fully functional 10G-enabled Full Duplex DOCSIS 4.0 node, along with a 10G prototype modem at CableLabs headquarters. Today’s demonstration is a first in a production-ready network environment, showing how live 10G deployments will work, orchestrated by Comcast’s Distributed Access Architecture (DAA) technology, which is already widely deployed.

“These 10G technologies represent the fastest, most efficient path to deliver multigigabit symmetrical speeds at scale everywhere, not just in select neighborhoods or towns,” said Elad Nafshi, EVP & Chief Network Officer at Comcast Cable. “The pace of 10G innovation is only accelerating, and Internet users around the world will reap the benefits.”

Comcast also demonstrated how its DAA network virtualization technology will deliver not just ultrafast 10G speeds, but also greater reliability and adaptability to support a range of next-generation network architectures. The DAA demo included two key components:

The demo showed how a single DAA-enabled vCMTS can seamlessly and simultaneously operate both 10G connections and PON (passive optical network) connections and deliver multi-gig services with identical levels of visibility and orchestration. While Comcast is primarily focused on 10G, the ability to easily blend 10G and PON provides enormous flexibility to support the widest range of geographies and customer needs.

The demo also showed how 10G and DAA will deliver greater reliability by leveraging the unprecedented visibility the technology provides into Internet performance at every level of the network from the core, all the way to individual customer gateways.

Comcast also offered a first look at a 10G node that will become a key element of 10G trials and deployments.

http://www.comcastcorporation.com

Comcast tests 10G modem based on full Duplex DOCSIS 4.0

Thursday, January 13, 2022  Comcast, DOCSIS  

Comcast achieved a top downlink performace of over 4 Gbps using a prototype 10G modem.  The lab test used a full duplex DOCSIS 4.0 system-on-chip (SoC) from Broadcom.The modem test utilized the DOCSIS 4.0 FDX SoC device, which Comcast demonstrated in April 2021, to pair with two cable modem chips. These were connected over a lab-based hybrid fiber-coaxial network to the vCMTS operating in DOCSIS 4.0 mode. Comcast said this represents the...

READ MORE

Comcast develops its own local optical spectrum tester

Thursday, July 22, 2021  Comcast, Fiber, Testing  

Comcast has built a prototype system called XMF to gain visibility into its local fiber networks. The design purposes mature opto-electronic chips used for long-haul optical analysis, making it economically feasible to install ultra-precise fiber diagnostic tools at many points throughout local fiber networks.Comcast said its XMF platform is continuously monitoring hundreds of thousands of local broadband optical links every minute, measuring both...

READ MORE

Comcast tests Broadcom's 10G Full Duplex DOCSIS 4.0 chip

Thursday, April 22, 2021  10G, Broadcom, Comcast, DOCSIS, MSO  

Comcast has conducted the first-ever lab test of a Full Duplex DOCSIS system-on-chip (SOC) device from Broadcom that is expected to become the world’s first production silicon to be developed using the DOCSIS 4.0 Full Duplex standard.“We are always pushing the envelope to stay ahead of our customers’ growing needs,” said Charlie Herrin, President of Technology, Product, Xperience at Comcast Cable. “This milestone is particularly exciting, because...

READ MORE

Read More

Comcast tests Lumenisity's hollowcore fiber

Comcast confirmed its first deployment of advanced hollowcore fiber optics.

Comcast connected two locations in Philadelphia, which enables network engineers to continue to test and observe the performance and physical compatibility of hollowcore fiber in a real-world deployment. Comcast successfully tested bidirectional transmission (upstream and downstream traffic traveling on a single fiber), used coherent and direct-detect systems (allowing for forward and backward technology compatibility), and produced traffic rates ranging from 10 gigabits per second (Gbps) to 400 Gbps all simultaneously on a single strand of hollowcore fiber.

Comcast believes its 40-kilometer hybrid deployment of hollowcore and traditional fiber to be the longest in the world by an Internet provider. 

“Hollowcore fiber is a leap forward in how we deliver ultra-fast, ultra-low latency and ultra-reliable services to customers,” said Elad Nafshi, EVP & Chief Network Officer at Comcast Cable. “As we continue to develop and deploy technology to deliver 10G, multigigabit performance to tens of millions of homes, hollowcore fiber will help to ensure that the network powering those experiences is among the most advanced and highest performing in the world.”

“We are proud to be working with Comcast on the next generation hollowcore fiber, which we believe unlocks exciting new potential for connectivity around the world,” said David Parker, Executive Chairman of Lumenisity.

http://www.comcastcorporation.com

Lumenisity unveils Hollow Core Double Nested Antiresonant Nodeless Fiber

Thursday, March 10, 2022  Fiber, Lumenisity  

Lumenisity Limited, a start-up based in Romsey, United Kingdom, announced a new generation of hollowcore fibre with the lowest attenuation of any hollowcore fibre reported to date. The company says its new product surpasses the attenuation of conventional germanium-doped single-mode fibre (SMF) in the O and C bands. Specifically, Lumenisity’s new Hollow Core Double Nested Antiresonant Nodeless Fiber (DNANF) achieves attenuations of <0.22...

READ MORE

BT begins testing hollow core fibre

Tuesday, June 01, 2021  BT  

BT kicked off trials of hollow core fibre at the BT Labs in Adastral Park, Ipswich, in a collaborative project with Lumenisity, a Southampton University spin out company, and Mavenir.BT researchers are conducting the trials at BT’s research and engineering campus, using a 10-kilometre-long hollow core fibre cable provided by Lumenisity. The new fibre has a hollow, air filled centre that runs the entire length of the cable. It will be used to test...

READ MORE

euNetworks connects LSE with hollowcore fibre from Lumenisity

Thursday, April 15, 2021  Eunetworks, Hollowcore, Lumenisity, Start-Ups, UK  

Lumenisity Limited, a start-up based in Romsey, United Kingdom, supplied its ultra low latency CoreSmart cable solution based on "NANF" hollowcore fibres, to euNetworks Fiber UK. The fibre route connects an Interxion data center with the London Stock Exchange.Lumenisity Limited, which was formed in early 2017 as a spin out from the University of Southampton, said data travels 50% faster in hollowcore cable, reducing latency by 1/3, and providing...

READ MORE

Read More

Comcast signs 250 MW solar agreement

Comcast agreed to purchase 250 megawatts (MW) of solar electricity from Constellation that will power approximately 12 percent of its U.S. operations and the vast majority of its Mid-Atlantic operations with clean, renewable energy.

The agreement will support construction of the Blue Sky Solar Project, currently being developed by Scout Clean Energy in Illinois, creating local jobs and bringing additional clean electricity to the U.S. power grid.

“Sourcing clean, renewable energy is the top priority for meeting our goal to be carbon neutral by 2035,” said Peter Kiriacoulacos, Executive Vice President and Chief Procurement Officer at Comcast. “This marks the first of many major green investments that are already underway or on the immediate horizon which demonstrate our commitment to sustainable, responsible business.”

Comcast will source 250 MW of carbon-free solar electricity from the 300 MW Blue Sky project – a majority share of the project’s total output. Blue Sky is one of the largest solar projects approved to date in the PJM power grid, which spans the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region and portions of the Midwest, and Comcast is currently the sole customer. The agreement will allow Comcast to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions associated with its energy use by nearly 360,000 metric tons annually – equivalent to avoiding the emissions from more than 65,000 homes’ electricity use for a year.

Read More

Comcast Business ties into Nokia private 5G for sports arena

Comcast Business is using the Nokia Digital Automation Cloud to extend its enterprise connectivity portfolio to deliver 5G private wireless networks.

The first Comcast Business and Nokia showcase deployment will launch at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia during the first quarter of 2022. 

“No two companies are alike – and neither are their connectivity needs. With this strategic partnership, Comcast Business is able to expand its robust portfolio of connectivity solutions to include end-to-end private networking; offering sports and entertainment venues and enterprise customers a one-stop-shop for advanced connectivity solutions,” said Bob Victor, SVP Product, Comcast Business. “The unique combination of our network, WiFi expertise, Internet of Things (IoT) capabilities, spectrum, and managed services, will enable enterprises to address their business challenges head-on while ensuring their network infrastructure remains available, reliable and secure.”

“Nokia 5G industrial-grade private wireless network solutions are designed to meet the security, coverage and performance requirements for a wide range of organizations seeking to restructure their business operations and improve customer experience,” said Stephan Litjens, Vice President, Enterprise Solutions, Nokia Cloud and Networking Services. “In selecting Nokia as a private wireless connectivity partner, Comcast Business can combine its technical expertise, market reach and expanded network solutions to become a leading provider of private wireless to enterprises in North America.”

“Wells Fargo Center is one of the world’s busiest and most innovative sports and entertainment venues, and thanks to this partnership with Comcast Business and Nokia, in addition to our $300 million Transformation project, our arena will remain on the cutting edge of the modern fan experience for years to come,” said Valerie Camillo, President of Business Operations for Wells Fargo Center. “This state-of-the-art network will not only provide unprecedented experiences for our fans, but it will also bolster our health and safety measures, our security protocols, and much more.”

https://corporate.comcast.com/press/releases/comcast-business-collaborates-with-nokia-to-drive-innovation-in-5g-private-wireless-networking

Read More

Comcast tests 10G modem based on full Duplex DOCSIS 4.0

Comcast achieved a top downlink performace of over 4 Gbps using a prototype 10G modem.  The lab test used a full duplex DOCSIS 4.0 system-on-chip (SoC) from Broadcom.

The modem test utilized the DOCSIS 4.0 FDX SoC device, which Comcast demonstrated in April 2021, to pair with two cable modem chips. These were connected over a lab-based hybrid fiber-coaxial network to the vCMTS operating in DOCSIS 4.0 mode. 

Comcast said this represents the first complete network connection of all-DOCSIS 4.0 components that are required for deployment. The demonstrated speeds – which were faster than 4 Gbps upload and download – are expected to increase significantly as developers refine technology at every level of the 10G architecture.

“With each new milestone, we get a clearer picture of how 10G technologies will unlock the next generation of speed and performance for millions of people worldwide,” said Elad Nafshi, Senior Vice President of Next Generation Access Networks at Comcast Cable.

http://www.comcast.com

• In October 2021, Comcast announced a successful test of a complete 10G connection using a virtualized cable modem termination system (vCMTS) powered by DOCSIS 4.0 technology. 
• In April 2021, Comcast conducted the first live lab test of a 10G system-on-chip (SOC) and October 2020, of a trial delivering 1.25 Gbps upload and download speeds over a live production network using Network Function Virtualization (NFV) combined with the latest DOCSIS technology.

Read More

Comcast adds 300K broadband subs as growth rate slows

Comcast reported Q3 revenue of $30.298 billion and earnings per share of $0.86. Cable Communications increased 7.4% to $16.1 billion in the third quarter of 2021, driven by increases in broadband, wireless, business services, video, other, and advertising revenue, partially offset by a decrease in voice revenue.

Some highlights:

• Cable Communications total customer relationship net additions were 255,000 
• Total broadband customer net additions were 300,000
• Cable Communications Wireless Customer line net additions were 285,000
• Capital expenditures for cable communications decreased 5.4% to $1.7 billion in the third quarter of 2021, primarily reflecting decreased investment in customer premise equipment, partially offset by increased investment in line extensions and scalable infrastructure. 

"I am pleased with our strong operating and financial results this quarter. Each of our businesses posted significant growth in Adjusted EBITDA, contributing to a double-digit increase in our Adjusted EPS. At Cable, our customer and financial metrics remained strong, highlighted by 10% growth in Adjusted EBITDA, the highest level of customer retention on record for a third quarter, and the most wireless net additions since the launch of Xfinity Mobile in 2017. Our results at NBCUniversal continue to be driven by the ongoing recovery at our domestic Theme Parks, as well as the success of our linear and streaming Media platforms. At Sky, our UK business maintained its momentum, delivering healthy growth in revenue, EBITDA, and customer relationships. Going forward, I am excited about the opportunity to continue to invest in our global technology platform and other businesses while returning more capital to shareholders. This strategy is reflected in our most recent product launches – XClass TV in the U.S. and Sky Glass in Europe – as well as the $2.7 billion we returned to shareholders through a combination of share repurchases and dividend payments," commented Brian L. Roberts, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Comcast Corporation.

https://www.cmcsa.com/news-releases/news-release-details/comcast-reports-3rd-quarter-2021-results

Read More

Comcast rolls out XiOne OTT streaming box

Comcast launched a new XiOne global wireless streaming device to its Sky Q customers in Italy and Germany, as well as for its Xfinity Flex customers in the United States. In Europe, the XiOne enables the first delivery of video services over IP for Sky customers.

The XiOne is a plug-and-play device that features faster processing and increased memory, enabling swift switching and navigation in and out of apps. The device supports WiFi 6, 4K UHD, HDR, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos and comes with a new simpler and smaller voice remote designed with streamers in mind.

https://corporate.comcast.com/press/releases/comcast-introduces-xione-a-new-4k-wifi-6-global-streaming-tv-device

Read More

Comcast develops its own local optical spectrum tester

Comcast has built a prototype system called XMF to gain visibility into its local fiber networks. The design purposes mature opto-electronic chips used for long-haul optical analysis, making it economically feasible to install ultra-precise fiber diagnostic tools at many points throughout local fiber networks.

Comcast said its XMF platform is continuously monitoring hundreds of thousands of local broadband optical links every minute, measuring both the optical spectrum and testing the length and quality of the fiber links. The system is able to pinpoint the exact point at which a local fiber network is experiencing an issue, such as a fiber cut, and share the precise geolocation with local technicians. 

Comcast is also rolling out a handheld version of the XMF platform that technicians can use in the field to identify fiber link issues.

https://corporate.comcast.com/stories/10g-network-evolution-using-prisms-and-sonars-to-increase-network-reliability

Read More