SCIENCE

BroadLogic Network Technologies and ZTE are teaming to showcase a first-of-its-kind solution for using Ethernet Passive Optical Network (EPON) infrastructure to deliver broadcast-quality video services to digital TVs for new business video services. The new solution comprises BroadLogic’s high-performance Internet Protocol to Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (IP-to-QAM) reference system integrated with ZTE’s C300 optical line terminal (OLT) carrying broadcast video to a QAM-ready digital TV. It will be demonstrated during the CableLabs Winter Conference at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis, Feb. 28 – March 1, 2011 in Atlanta.

The new EPON-to-QAM gateway enables EPON (both 1G and 10G EPON standardized in 2009) to deliver High-Definition (HD) and Standard-Definition (SD) television channels to hospitality and other bulk commercial accounts. This approach enables operators to offer an enhanced service for customers by providing digital channels that offer a much better user experience than traditional analog channels. EPON is being widely deployed for commercial data and transport services; leveraging these existing networks for new video services enables operators to better capitalize on that investment. EPON-to-QAM gateways also can be used for residential services and are ideal for cost-effective Multiple Dwelling Unit (MDU) digital TV services.

ZTE is a leading global provider of telecommunications equipment and network solutions with a comprehensive product range covering virtually every sector of the wireline, wireless, service and terminals markets. The company delivers innovative, custom-made products and services to more than 500 operators in more than 140 countries. According to Richard Peske, vice president of marketing at BroadLogic, “ZTE is a global leader in PON technology and has established EPON as a popular network solution for cable operators. We are pleased to be working with ZTE to demonstrate how a QAM gateway can use EPON to deliver new types of video services. Our low-power, high-density QAM silicon makes these EPON gateways practical for new video services.”

“BroadLogic brings unique silicon solutions to a QAM device,” said Xu Ming, general manager of ZTE’s Fixed Network product line. “We can build an EPON-to-QAM gateway that is both high-performance and cost-effective at the capacity and density required for this application. This new solution that offers joint advantages of BroadLogic and ZTE can help cable operators generate new revenue using their existing EPON systems.”

The EPON-to-QAM demonstration for the Winter Conference includes

• BroadLogic’s IP-to-QAM full hardware and software reference design using the BL85000 TeraQAM chip that delivers 32 QAMs on a single RF port
• ZTE’s ZXA10 C300 1G/10G EPON OLT
• SFP-ONU for interfacing the OLT to the IP-to-QAM over a 1 Gbps EPON link