By Dr. Robert Howald, Comcast; John Chrostowski, Comcast; Chris Marinangeli, Comcast; Dr. Richard Primerano, Comcast
The ground-breaking launch of data over cable service interface specification (DOCSIS®) 4.0 full duplex DOCSIS (FDX) technology in October 2023 has created a new set of “X-Class” customers enjoying multi-gigabit symmetrical speeds. However, as fascinating as FDX technology is, and as powerful as XClass speeds are in enabling immersive new applications, the customer experience is defined by much more than speed. And the network operations experience is defined by much more than the DOCSIS 4.0 network upgrade.
With that in mind, Comcast’s 10G team has been as focused on building tools and processes for successful deployment of DOCSIS 4.0 FDX at scale. This paper will focus on two critical automated assessment tools designed, built, and implemented that have been critical to our customer experience and scalability objectives for DOCSIS 4.0 migration.
The first, the Neighbor Home Assessment Test (nHAT), evaluates homes and businesses on an FDX systems for risk of interference from FDX upstream (US) transmissions. The nHAT “score” triggers analysis of deeper layer customer experience metrics, leading to decisions on automated spectrum and radio frequency (RF) power management strategies, or physical options to remediate, if necessary.
The 2nd tool – FDX readiness Home Assessment Test (fHAT) – determines if a customer interested in XClass services can be activated via a self-install kit (SIK). There are powerful benefits to SIK: customers prefer to not schedule appointments for new services, and Comcast prefers to not roll trucks for device installations that can reliably be remotely activated and provisioned.
Attendees in this session will understand the theory of operation behind th