Comcast hits distributed access architecture milestone

Comcast has surpassed 100,000 rPHY digital nodes deployed across its nationwide network. Digital nodes are a critical part of the distributed access architecture (DAA) that enables the speed increases Comcast has launched to more than 55 markets and over 15 million homes and businesses since October 2022.

The upgraded technology will also be instrumental in Comcast’s implementation of Full-Duplex DOCSIS 4.0, supporting multi-gig symmetrical speeds that will be available to the first customers in Q4 2023.

Comcast first began rolling out digital nodes in 2019, surpassing 50,000 rPHY nodes deployed across the network in 2022. The pace continued to increase in 2023, with the organization upgrading 25 percent of its footprint to date.

The node upgrades are part of Comcast’s broader DAA and virtualization journey, which has included world’s first activation of a virtualized cable modem termination system (vCMTS) powered by Full Duplex DOCSIS 4.0 technology in 2021. Since then, Comcast has implemented vCMTS technology across its network and continues to improve the platform to deliver even greater capacity, reliability, visibility, and security. The technology has been recognized with an Emmy® Award for Technology & Engineering from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) and as part of the 2023 NAB Show Excellence in Sustainability Awards for Sustainability in Product or Service for a Large Organization.

“But what’s more exciting about our continued commitment to deploying network innovation, as evidenced by the digital nodes across our network, is the immediate benefits it delivers to our Xfinity 10G Network customers with respect to speed, reliability, sustainability and scalability,” said Elad Nafshi, EVP & Chief Network Officer at Comcast Cable. BCS Bureau