Ntelos shifts to PON, using Tellabs gear
By Brian Santo, CED
Ntelos, a communications provider serving areas of the Mid-Atlantic States and the south, is upgrading its IPTV network with gigabit passive optical network (GPON) features on its Tellabs 1150 multiservice access platform.
Ntelos calculates the move to GPON will allow it to quadruple the amount of bandwidth available. Ntelos said it plans to use the capabilities to deliver high definition (HD) video services and faster data services.
Tellabs’ GPON products, part of the Tellabs DynamicHome solution, deliver up to 2.4 gigabits per second (Gbps) downstream and up to 1.2 Gbps upstream. With the installation of a new line module, the Tellabs 1150 platform offers a simple and cost-effective GPON fiber-to-the-premises solution, in addition to previously supported fiber-to-the-curb and fiber-to-the-node applications.
Ntelos provides products and services to customers in Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, Maryland and North Carolina, including wireless phone service, local and long distance telephone services, and data services for Internet access and wide area networking.
The company recently reported quarterly results that included increased revenue, and growth in wireless subscriber and broadband subscriber numbers.
Anadigics debuts amp, tuner for DOCSIS 3.0 modems
By Brian Santo, CED
Anadigics has introduced two chips that make up the RFIC element of DOCSIS 3.0 cable modems: a programmable gain upstream amplifier, and an integrated wideband data tuner.
Anadigics claims its ARA2017 is the first upstream amp available for DOCSIS 3.0. It delivers output power levels of +64 dBmV with very low (-55 dBc) harmonic distortion and output noise levels as low as -53.8 dBmV.
The company also says its AIT1061 has the smallest form factor (6 x 6 x 1 mm) of any current DOCSIS 3.0 tuner.
The chip integrates an upconverter, downconverter, VCO, synthesizer, IF amplifier, RF gain control and IF gain control.
The wide capture bandwidth of the AIT1061 tuner enables the simultaneous reception of multiple channels, and the linearity characteristics of both components in the chip set preserves the integrity of each channel. The company also warranted that the ARA2017 upstream amplifier’s high output power capability and low voltage transients meet the DOCSIS standard’s specs for power output.
SA pumps up Cisco’s third quarter
By Brian Santo, CED
Results from Cisco’s third fiscal quarter (ended April 28, 2007) included sales of $8.9 billion, up 21 percent from last year, and net income of $1.9 billion, up 33.9 percent from the company’s Q3 of 2006. Cisco’s Scientific Atlanta experienced a great burst in sales, to $752 million, up from $407 million last year.
Record revenue for Scientific Atlanta was driven by several factors, including the impact of Regulation 707, a shift in the installed base to HD set-top-boxes, network upgrades and international expansion.
The “707 regulation” is the mandate from the FCC that cable operators on July 1, 2007 (7/07), begin populating their systems with set-tops that have separable security modules.
WJ intros high-linearity/low-current amps for broadband RF and IF
By Brian Santo, CED
WJ Communications announced a new family of high-performance broadband amplifiers, the WJA amplifier family. The WJA broadband amplifiers offer up to 20 dB of gain and an output IP3 up to 43 dBm, while consuming only 60-90 mA from a +5V supply.
The company said the WJA amplifiers are ideal solutions for existing and next-generation cellular (CDMA, GSM/GPRS/EDGE, W-CDMA, and WiMAX) infrastructure, CATV and other wireless applications.
The first items in the product family to be introduced are the RF (WJA10xx) and the IF (WJA15xx) amplifier series. These new products offer a mix of power gain, linearity, and supply current performance, enabling designers to integrate with their designs. Active bias circuitry is incorporated to minimize performance variations due to temperature.
The WJA10xx & WJA15xx amplifiers are broadband products, housed in a small, RoHS-compliant, and SOT-89 surface-mount package. The new amplifier family includes both RF and IF devices, offering high linearity and low current. The WJA series can be operated from a +5V supply, and have P1dB of 20 dBm, 15 and 20 dB of power gain and OIP3 of 35-43 dBm. With built-in active biasing circuitry, designers can reduce the performance variations over the temperature.
Amplifiers in both lines are currently sampling with customers, and scheduled for production in July.
Broadband Briefs for 5/10/07
* Ellacoya expands its board of directors
Ellacoya Networks has appointed Dr. Niel Ransom to its board of directors. Most recently, Ransom was CTO at Alcatel, where he led overall product strategy, corporate research, R&D investment, M&A strategy, participation in venture funds, patents and intellectual property.
Ransom has served as a member of the Technological Advisors Council of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission. He is co-author of the book Broadband Access Technologies, published by McGraw-Hill.