The Cisco cBR-8 Evolved CCAP and Remote PHY (RPHY)

Guest Blog by Igor Dayen, SP Product and Solutions Marketing

CCAP Architecture: Remote PHY (RPHY)

In the distributed CCAP architecture (DCA), the remote PHY (RPHY) component is what keeps DOCSIS relevant in the emerging world of digital fiber. It is of particular significance when a commercial digital fiber plant and a residential analog fiber plant are combined into one large digital plant.

With RPHY, the PHY circuit is moved outside of a device such as a CCAP and placed at the end of a network. This gives the RPHY architecture a performance benefit as RPHY keeps all the complexity centralized where it can be more easily scaled and maintained.

In addition, RPHY distributes the functions of a traditional cable headend so that the signals are converted from IP to RF deeper in the cable network, thereby providing key operational benefits as well.

The Cisco cBr-8 Platform

Launched in May 2015, the Cisco cBR-8 is a third generation Converged Cable Access Platform (CCAP) that promises to revolutionize the cable industry. The cBR-8’s key advantage is that it is DOCSIS 3.1 compliant. Shipped with the DOCSIS 3.0 chipset, it is a simple task to upgrade to DOCSIS 3.1 compatibility, thereby supporting a low risk deployment model.

As a next-generation CCAP, the Cisco cBR-8 enables cable operators to compete in billboard rates with multi-Gigabit broadband and offer revenue-generating Internet of Everything (IoE) services to their subscribers, while maintaining the industry’s lowest Total cost of Ownership (TCO).

John Chapman, Cisco Fellow, explains the benefits of the remote PHY (RPHY) architecture, and how it applies to Cisco cBR-8 Converged Cable Access Platform (CCAP).