Global cable operators favour network virtualisation, finds Dell’Oro

Dell’Oro Group revealed the results of the survey, which found that 100% of respondents have either deployed or are planning to deploy some form of vCMTS architecture in their networks within the next 24 months.

Of those planning to deploy within the next 13-24 months, 73% define vCMTS as a remote PHY device (RPD) connected to a software-based virtual CMTS running on a server, with 20 percent defining vCMTS as a remote MACPHY device (RMD).

The survey took place between January and March 2022, when the company conducted an online and telephone survey of 50 global cable operators. Other highlights from the survey include 66% of respondents stating they have deployed anywhere from 101-1000 distributed access architecture (DAA) devices (either RPDs or RMDs) in their networks to date, in a sign that DAA still remains in the early stages of deployment. Meanwhile, hub site consolidation, DOCSIS 3.1 high-split upgrades, and capping legacy CCAP platforms are the technical drivers leading the decision to migrate to a vCMTS platform. In addition, the survey found that improved subscriber experience and platform analytics are the primary business drivers behind the decision to migrate to a vCMTS platform.

Jeff Heynen, Vice President of Broadband Access and Home Networking market research at Dell’Oro Group says: “Virtualization and DAA provide clear benefits to cable operators, especially in highly-competitive environments where throughput, signal quality, and service uptime are critical differentiators. Adoption of these beneficial technologies is growing significantly.”