CableLabs(R) Selects VeriSign to Operate Sole Root Certificate Authority to Safeguard Cable Modem Industry
Digital Certificate Hierarchy to Enable Authentication of New Generation of DOCSIS 1.1(TM) and PacketCable(TM) Modems
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Jan. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- VeriSign, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRSN - news), the leading provider of Internet trust services, today announced that it has been selected to operate the CableLabs® ``Root Certificate Authority,'' (CA) which establishes the hierarchy to use digital certificates to secure cable modems across the industry. This enables the implementation of the cable modem security provisions detailed in the CableLabs DOCSIS(TM) 1.1 (Data over Cable Service Interface Specification) and PacketCable(TM) suites of specifications -- key components in securing new and existing services delivered over broadband networks. Operating the Root CA, VeriSign will serve as the starting point for authenticating digital certificates embedded in future cable modems. To date, VeriSign's Cable Modem Authentication Services have been selected by three leaders in cable modem manufacturing; 3Com, Toshiba and Terayon to integrate digital certificates within next generation cable modems.
According to Kinetic Strategies, the cable industry is expected to grow to 20.3 million users and $6.6 billion in revenue in 2004. As cable operators move to delivering value-added services over broadband networks, the need to protect data and content from unauthorized use becomes highly critical. DOCSIS and PacketCable are CableLabs-managed initiatives that require inclusion of digital certificates in cable modems at manufacture to prevent pirating of cable services.
``To ensure that the DOCSIS 1.1 and PacketCable network security architecture is established with highly robust technology, CableLabs has chosen VeriSign to execute its Root Certificate functionality,'' said Ed Miller, Director of PacketCable. ``The correct establishment of the public key infrastructure (PKI) is the cornerstone to securing these CableLabs designed networks against cloning and theft of service,'' Miller added.
Utilizing its carrier-class, 24X7 digital certificate architecture, VeriSign will generate, host, and manage the operation of the Root CA, the single point for authenticating the digital certificates on every DOCSIS 1.1 certified cable modem, on every PacketCable conformant Multimedia Terminal Adapter (MTA), and for every PacketCable cable operator. VeriSign's role as the CableLabs root CA and as a provider of digital certificate services to cable modem manufacturers provides key benefits including:
creating a secure environment enabling cable service providers to accelerate the delivery of value-added secure broadband services to their customers
setting the stage for next-generation broadband services that require tight security, such as pay-per-view, digital rights management, and online software delivery
ensuring interoperability between cable modem manufacturers and operators, and
lowering costs for cable service providers, manufacturers and end-users
``As the industry moves forward in providing next generation services including video and software on demand, the need for a comprehensive trust infrastructure becomes mission critical,'' said Anil Pereira, senior vice president & group general manager of VeriSign's Enterprise & Service Provider Division. ``The establishment of the CableLabs certificate authority hierarchy provides manufacturers and cable operators with the framework needed to prevent cloning of devices and theft of service while maintaining continuously high levels of service for their end-customers.''
VeriSign introduced the industry's first Cable Modem Authentication Services, allowing manufacturers to embed digital certificates into their cable modems to help prevent pirating of broadband services due to device cloning. VeriSign generates and securely delivers keys and certificates in batches that mirror requirements of cable modem manufacturers and VeriSign provides the necessary expertise to develop customized interfaces for existing manufacturing systems, resulting in minimal impact to manufacturing operations.
``This is another testament to VeriSign's ability to secure, to scale and to service,'' said Michael Pula, director of marketing for 3Com's Residential Connectivity Group. ``VeriSign gained 3Com's business by meeting high standards and they've obviously done the same with CableLabs.''
``CableLabs choice of VeriSign to run the root CA makes me feel extremely confident in the new cable modem authentication system,'' said Kunihiro Nagura, General Manager of Toshiba's Computer & Network Platform Division. ``Toshiba has already chosen VeriSign's Cable Modem Authentication Services, which have proven invaluable this time. By using these services, Toshiba will provide our customers with highly trusted products and continue to be a leading company in advanced digital cable products.''
About DOCSIS and PacketCable
DOCSIS is a CableLabs-managed initiative aimed at developing interoperable interface specifications for delivering high-speed data services over the cable network. DOCSIS is responsible for the industry's highly successful cable modem infrastructure, which uses advanced techniques over the physical and link layer to enable two-way data communication. Security for DOCSIS 1.1, is specified in the DOCSIS 1.1 BPI+ Specification and was created to prevent pirating of cable services due to device cloning, protection against eavesdropping and secure control over the software downloads into the cable modems. More information on the DOCSIS project and specifications are available at www.cablemodem.com.
PacketCable is a CableLabs-managed initiative aimed at developing interoperable interface specifications for delivering advanced, real-time multimedia services over two-way cable plant. Built on top of the industry's DOCSIS cable modem infrastructure, PacketCable networks will use Internet protocol (IP) technology to enable a wide range of multimedia services, such as IP telephony, multimedia conferencing, telecommuter services, and other integrated multimedia applications. PacketCable required security is described in the PacketCable security specification and includes digital certificates for its MTAs as well as digital certificates for the cable operators and their PacketCable networks. The PacketCable security specification was developed to provide a wide range of security over cable network for the cable IP multimedia platform. Protection exists for theft of service, eavesdropping, cloning of MTA devices, spoofing of users and service providers, network disruptions, packet replays, and much more. More information on the PacketCable project is available at www.packetcable.com.
Both of these industry specifications require authentication using digital certificates. The digital certificate serves as a unique online credential, proving the identity of each individual cable modem or MTA to the service provider. It does this by cryptographically tying the Media Access Control (MAC) address of the device to its public key. Through an exchange of digital certificates, the user is permitted to access cable services based on enrollment as a legitimate user on the cable system.
About VeriSign
VeriSign, Inc. is the leading provider of trusted infrastructure services to web sites, enterprises, electronic commerce service providers and individuals. The company's domain name, digital certificate and payment services provide the critical web identity, authentication and transaction infrastructure that online businesses require to conduct secure e-commerce and communications. VeriSign's services are available through its web site ( verisign.com ) or through its direct sales force and reseller partners around the world.
Statements in this announcement other than historical data and information constitute forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking statements. The potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, potential volatility in VeriSign's stock price, uncertainty of Internet privatization, increased competition in the domain name registration business including price competition, customer acceptance of new products and services offered by the company in addition to or as enhancements of its registration services, risks associated with the company's international business, uncertainty of future revenue and profitability and fluctuations in its quarterly operating results. More information about potential factors that could affect the company's business and financial results is included in VeriSign's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, especially in the company's Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed on April 12, 2000, as amended, Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2000.
NOTE: VeriSign is a registered trademark of VeriSign, Inc. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.
SOURCE: VeriSign, Inc. |
