Terayon Adds DOCSIS Modem to Roster
multichannel.com
By BILL MENEZES September 13, 1999
(Looks like the Terayon modem is "somebody else's" (see bottom of article). Oh the troubles in trying to catch the leader! Any comments on whether this is an admission on Terayon's part that they've lost the S-CDMA battle in the US and have conceded to DOCSIS modem OEM'ing? You have to read between the lines to conclude this.)
Terayon Communications Systems Inc. says its newly certified, standards-based cable modem will complement its widely deployed proprietary products, rather than compete with them.
Terayon, which claims a 15 percent worldwide market share for cable modems based on its synchronous code division multiple access technology, made it through Cable Television Laboratories Inc.'s latest interoperability testing on the first pass for its TeraJet modem based on Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) version 1.0.
While the company already has deployed S-CDMA product with a number of major North American and overseas operators, including Cablevision Systems, Rogers Cablesystems, Shaw Communications and United Pan-Europe Communications, Terayon believes DOCSIS 1.0 interoperability certification opens doors to new customers.
The company expects to submit a DOCSIS 1.0-compliant cable-modem termination system for CableLabs qualification later this year.
Terayon's early strategy was to focus on developing cable-modem systems that comply with later DOCSIS generations such as 1.1 (encompassing support for telephony) and 1.2 (encompassing next-generation physical layer technology that enables operators to deliver higher-speed two way service and boost the data capacity of their networks). Terayon co-authored the proposed 1.2 specification, which will be backward compatible with earlier DOCSIS generations, for CableLabs.
But the company had to shift gears as it saw competitors moving aggressively into the market for DOCSIS 1.0 equipment. Operators view DOCSIS compliance as a key element in creating a consumer retail market for cable modems by ensuring different brands of modem work with different brands of cable headends.
Hamburger said winning DOCSIS 1.0 certification puts Terayon on a stronger footing to prepare for eventual testing of 1.1 and 1.2 products.
"Since we are very interested in making sure we have a DOCSIS 1.1 certified system at least at the same time as others, and a system that is 1.2 capable, the earlier we can inject ourselves into the DOCSIS process the better," Hamburger said.
The TeraJet was developed through an original-equipment manufacturer agreement with Taiwanese manufacturer TurboNet Communications, which also has an OEM deal to build the DOCSIS-certified modem for Toshiba.
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