A Distributed Access Architecture (DAA) or Remote PHY Device offers many potential benefits, including increased bandwidth capacity, improved fiber efficiencies (wavelengths and distance), simplified plant operations with digital optics, decreased loads on facility space and power systems, and directional alignment systems of the future.
COMMSCOPE provides both the CCAP Core and Remote PHY Device (RPD). In this approach, the PHY layer is moved from the CCAP into a node or remote shelf, but the MAC processing, provisioning, and monitoring functions remain in the headend.
The E6000 CCAP Core runs on the Gen 2 E6000 hardware platform (E6000 Chassis, RSM-2, DCAM-2, and UCAM-2). The RPDs are add-in modules for existing COMMSCOPE nodes. COMMSCOPE supports three RPD form factors: E6000n RPD for the OM6000 Fiber Deep node, E6000n RPD for the NC4000 and NC2000 nodes, and E6000n RPD for Remote PHY Shelf.
Generating RF signals in the fiber optic node rather than in the headend can provide a cost-effective tool for:
Improving plant signal quality
Improving fiber utilization and reach
Improving service group density in the headend
Reducing space and power consumption in the headend
Simplifying plant maintenance by using digital optics
Reducing transmission costs by leveraging data center economies of scale for Ethernet switches and optics
Applications for DAA include:
Plant upgrade for DOCSIS 3.1 support
Hub consolidation
Enabling Fiber Deep deployment without requiring headend expansion