By Karthik Sundaresan, CableLabs
Hybrid fiber cable (HFC) or data over cable service interface specifications (DOCSIS) networks are the most widely deployed technology for delivering Internet data services to the consumers. Cable operators today have variety of choices in front of them, in terms of upgrading and evolving their HFC networks. The upgrade choices with the current DOCSIS 3.1 technology includes Mid-spilt, High Split and distributed access architecture (DAA) and extending the downstream to 1.2 Gigahertz (GHz). With DOCSIS 4.0 technology there are even more plant upgrade options, from Full Duplex DOCSIS to the four new Ultra High Split upstream options (up to 684 Megahertz (MHz)) and the Extended spectrum to 1.8 GHz for the downstream. For each of these scenarios, operators are interested in knowing what are the data capacities that the system can realize from each of these plant upgrades. Also, for a consumer service, what are the potential service tiers that could be realized within each of these technology options. This paper gives a detailed analysis on each of these scenarios and layout the possible spectrum options for an operator given the different types of plant conditions. Understanding these options is a very important tool in figuring out what services can be reliably deployed. The cost benefit analysis for each of these options will help answer various for tactical and strategic network planning questions.