Leading Vendors Agree to Expedite MCNS Interoperability
Testing; Independent Developers to Begin Open Testing in
January
07:01 p.m Dec 10, 1997 Eastern
ANAHEIM, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 10, 1997--Major manufacturers of
data-over-cable solutions today announced their intent to conduct joint
interoperability testing of their Multimedia Cable Network System (MCNS)-based
cable modem and headend products.
The companies desire to accelerate the global deployment of data communications
over cable networks, based on the Data Over Cable Service Integration
Specification (DOCSIS), as specified by the MCNS partners. Their efforts, in
conjunction with Cable Television Laboratories, Inc., will promote multi-vendor
participation within the industry and enable interoperability among multiple systems.
Cable modem technology will provide businesses and households the ability to
access the Internet and other high bandwidth data services with unprecedented
speed.
The participating vendors include: 3Com Corp., Bay Networks, Cisco Systems,
Harmonic Lightwaves, NEC America, Phasecom and Toshiba.
Following their announcement in October to begin open interoperability testing, Bay
Networks and 3Com engineers have drafted requirements and procedures to
facilitate the testing of cable modems and headend products during development,
and provide an opportunity for early identification of problems affecting multivendor
interoperability. Technical staff from all participating companies will meet in
January to contribute to the test plan and establish the initial product testing
schedule.
This program is designed to complement the testing being conducted by CableLabs
and to achieve a high degree of interoperability when submitting products to
CableLabs for evaluation. Further, the results of interoperability testing will be made
available to the MCNS development community in order to reduce the product
development cycle for all vendors and accelerate the availability of cost-effective
and interoperable data-over-cable products and services.
"We are very pleased to see these vendors come together toward the shared
objective of interoperable systems," said Bob Cruickshank, director, digital network
technologies for CableLabs. "Such cooperation bodes well for the growth of this
industry and consumer choice and is at the heart of CableLabs' intent and goals."
The DOCSIS protocols were initially drafted by the MCNS partners and are
supported by CableLabs. The objective of MCNS is to provide a non-proprietary
data-over-cable standard to promote multi-vendor participation in the cable market,
which is estimated at 65 million households in the United States.
"The industry's support of MCNS can only speed operators' deployment of
end-to-end cable modem systems and enable subscribers to get online sooner," said
John Dahlquist, vice president of marketing for Harmonic Lightwaves. "We will
gladly work with other vendors to ensure the interoperability of all our products,
which will give operators and consumers the freedom to choose."
"NEC America looks forward to being part of this joint interoperability testing," said
Dr. Kunihiko Niwa, associate senior vice president of NEC America. "This will
help expedite the process of delivering a standards-based MCNS cable modem to
cable modem to cable industry consumers and permit high-speed access to the
Internet as well as other services."
"Mass deployment of cable modems in the United States is dependent on the
availability of standards-based, interoperable, low cost cable modems," said Shaul
Berger, president and CEO of Phasecom. "All of us are aware of network and
interoperability issues that will drive this market. We are committed to working with
each other to ensure true standards-based interoperability at both ends of the
spectrum -- the headend and the client modem," Berger said.
"With broad interoperability, consumers will be able to purchase a cable modem
from a variety of vendors at a reasonable price with the confidence that it will work
on any MCNS cable system," said Sam Nalbone, vice president and general
manager, Toshiba Multimedia Systems Division. "We are committed to universal
interoperability and will take a very active role in this testing program." About
3Com
3Com Corp. enables individuals and organizations worldwide to communicate and
share information and resources at any time from anywhere. As one of the world's
preeminent suppliers of data, voice and video communications technology, 3Com
has delivered networking solutions to more than 100 million customers worldwide.
With global reach and local touch, the company provides enterprises, network
service providers and carriers, small businesses and consumers with
comprehensive, innovative information access products and system solutions for
building intelligent, reliable and high performance local and wide area networks.
3Com has worldwide revenues of more than $6.0 billion and employs
approximately 13,400 people in 45 countries. For further information, visit 3Com's
World Wide Web site at 3com.com
Contact: Brian D. Johnson, 3Com Corp., 408/326-1962,
brian_d_johnson@3com.com
About Bay Networks, Inc.
Bay Networks, Inc. (NYSE:BAY) is a leader in the worldwide networking market,
providing a complete line of products that serve corporate enterprises, service
providers and telecommunications carriers. The company offers frame and ATM
switches, routers, shared media, remote and Internet access solutions, IP services
and network management applications, all integrated by Bay Networks' Adaptive
Networking strategy.
With headquarters in Santa Clara, Calif., Bay Networks markets its products and
services around the world, providing 24x7 support coverage. For additional
information visit the company's World Wide Web site at
baynetworks.com or call 800/8-BAYNET.
Contact: Matt Burke, Bay Networks, 978/916-1320, mburke@baynetworks.com
About Cisco Systems
Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) is the worldwide leader in data networking
for the Internet. News and information are available at cisco.com .
Contact: Clare Whitecross, Cisco Systems, Inc., 408/525-2957, cwhite@cisco.com
About Harmonic Lightwaves, Inc.
Harmonic Lightwaves, Inc. is a worldwide supplier of highly integrated fiber optic
transmission, digital headend and element management systems for the delivery of
interactive services over broadband networks. These products are used by major
communications providers, such as cable television operators, in bi-directional
networks.
Headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., Harmonic Lightwaves was founded in 1988
and employs over 240 people. An ISO 9001-certified company, Harmonic
distributes its products internationally and maintains sales and support centers in
Philadelphia and the United Kingdom and an R&D facility in Caesarea, Israel. For
more information, visit the company's web site at www.harmonic-lightwaves.com .
Contact: John Giddings, Harmonic Lightwaves, 408/542-2692
john.giddings@harmonic-lightwaves.com
About NEC America
NEC America, Inc. develops, manufactures and markets a complete line of
advanced communications products and software for public and private networks,
including digital key telephone and PBX systems; ATM switching systems; PCS
equipment; cellular telephones; pagers; facsimile equipment; videoconferencing
equipment; fiber optic transmission systems; data communications products; digital
microwave radio; satellite communications and network management systems.
NEC America, Inc. is an affiliate of NEC America Corp., a leading provider of
cable products in Japan. NEC America Corporation and its affiliates worldwide are
a $40 billion global leader whose 152,000 employees are dedicated to providing
leading-edge computer, communications and semiconductor products and services.
Visit nec.com .
Contact: Frank Scaraglino, NEC America, 516/753-7394,
scaraglf@ccgate.ml.nec.com
About Phasecom
Phasecom Inc., based in Cupertino, Calif., is a privately held company specializing
in the design, manufacture and marketing of voice and data communications
products for CATV networks. The company develops standards-based cable
modems that enable telecommunication and interactive multimedia applications over
broadband HFC networks. Its customers include cable operators,
telecommunications companies, and organizations that own private networks. For
more information visit the company's Web site at www.speed-demon.com .
Contact: Yvonne Avery, Phasecom Inc., 408/777-7799 yavery@speed-demon.com
About Toshiba
Toshiba, a world leader in high technology, is a manufacturer of products spanning
information and communications systems. The company is dedicated to creating
advanced systems and products and is highly sensitive to changing needs and
demands. Toshiba America is in every sense a U.S. based company, a $6.5 billion
diversified electronics and high-technology enterprise employing nearly 8,000 people
across the nation.
Contact: Karen Allen, The Benjamin Group, 714/245-7500 (See also:
businesswire.com)
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