Cable TV leader to work in unison with IP giants

Comcast, the largest cable operator in USA has joined hands with Cisco, one of the largest provider of Internet Protocol based networking solutions, and Nortel, a recognized leader in delivering communications capabilities, to form an open transport initiative (OTI). OTI aims at improving the interoperability between optical and Internet protocol network layers and compatibility among multiple vendors’ equipment within Comcast’s network.

The initiative "plans to first identify and define a set of common interfaces, which will be used to integrate and manage Nortel DWDM (dense wavelength division multiplexing) and Cisco (Internet protocol) equipment. Such open interfaces will help improve the vendors’ ability to interoperate seamlessly within the same transport infrastructure, making it simpler to combine optical and IP technologies on the same network," Comcast said.

Separately Cisco said on Monday that Comcast has selected its CRS-1 Carrier Routing System, the core of the Cisco Internet Protocol Next-Generation Network, for the cable operator’s integrated national delivery platform for broadband, communications, and video. And Nortel announced that Comcast had selected its Adaptive All Optical Intelligent Network system for Comcast’s converged national optical backbone, which traverses 30,000 kilometers across the U.S.

OTI begins with defining common interfaces that would be used to bring some of the flexibility inherent in IP communications to Comcast, as well as make it easier to combine optical signaling technology and IP transport on the same network.

So far telecommunications carriers have recognized the flexibility inherent in IP technology as a key differentiator as they begin the rollout of their video networks. Closer cooperation between Cisco and Comcast could erase some of the differentiators between traditional cable-signaling technology and IPTV, the standard that AT&T and Verizon Communications are adopting.

Under the agreement among Comcast, Cisco, and Nortel, the companies will work on next-generation photonic line interfaces that define power levels, wavelengths, modulation schemes, optical signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and wavelength identification.

They also plan to work on extending the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) generalized multi-protocol label switching (GMPLS) signaling and routing standard to address service activation, restoration, path viability, wavelength selection, and other photonic aspects.

The deal is Nortel’s 24th cable contract this year.