Bright House Networks has created a path toward a virtualized network and programmable networking with its deployment of Cisco’s Network Convergence System (NCS), largely to support business services.
Cisco NCS enables Bright House Networks (BHN) to support cloud-based, managed services for businesses, such as hosted voice, call center, application and infrastructure-as-a-service, the vendor said. NCS also supports managed security, network transport, Wi-Fi and traditional voice and data services to business customers.
Cisco said BHN is the first cable operator to deploy its NCS 6000, the company’s newest router, a system that relies on the company’s new optical-based C-Pak technology. Bright House Networks and Cisco first started down the convergence pathway three years ago when the cable operator deployed Cisco’s ASR 9000 aggregation routers. The ASR routers are now paired with the NCS 6000 line card.
Like many of its peers, BHN has been aggressively installing more optical-based computing higher-capacity networking. Recently, the company has been working with Fujitsu on 400G and 800G backbone connectivity. On the residential side, Bright House is installing its first GPON-based FTTH systems to provide up to 1 Gbps connectivity for individual households.
The NCS 6000 features a 1 Tbps line card. A fully-loaded, multi-chassis configuration has the capability of transporting up to 5 Tbps per slot and a total system capacity of 1.2 petabits per second (Pbps).
The Cisco NCS 6000 delivers programmability and virtualization capabilities that enables Bright House Networks to accommodate growing network traffic and seize the opportunity created by trillions of programmable device-driven events and generated by the Internet of Everything (IoE), the networked connection of people, data, processes and things.
Ultimately, the move means that Cisco technology will end up anchoring BHN’s core, edge, last mile, customer premise, as well as indoor and outdoor WiFi coverage, the vendor noted. The benefit to BHN is that it should be able to rapidly and flexibly scale network solutions to meet the growing demands of high-bandwidth data networks and cloud-service adoption by business customers.
The Cisco NCS 6000 works together with the company’s Carrier Routing System (CRS) and ASR 9000 Series Aggregation Services Routers to act as a foundational network fabric.
Craig Cowden, chief network officer and senior vice president of Enterprise Solutions, Bright House Networks, said, “Our continued collaboration with Cisco allows us to be one of the first cable operators in the United States to offer comprehensive, world-class, cloud-based services to businesses and consumers. Working with Cisco we’re able to quickly bring new business and residential services to market and perform in-service software upgrades without any downtime or service interruption or degradation.”
Bill Gartner, vice president and general manager, High-End Routing and Optical Group, Cisco, said “With our widely Evolved Programmable Network solutions for converged networks, we are now able to deliver software-defined networking and network functions virtualization innovations that accelerate new business possibilities for Bright House Networks.”
BHN is the sixth largest owner and operator of cable systems in the U.S. and the second largest in Florida, with systems located in five states including Florida, Alabama, Indiana, Michigan and California. The operator serves approximately 2.5 million customers who subscribe to one or more of its video, high-speed data, home security and automation and voice services. The company also offers a strong portfolio of customizable, advanced business solutions for video, voice, data, cloud-based and managed services. The company is MEF-certified and also recently received the Cisco Master Service Provider Certification under the Cisco Cloud and Managed Service Program, the first cable operator in the United States to achieve this designation.