Samsung electronics has reached agreement with CableLabs for a streamlined license for its retail products to interface to two-way interactive cable networks using the industry consortium’s tru2way technology.
The products could be deployed in Comcast systems this year.
Samsung is the first consumer electronics company to sign such a license agreement.
The tru2way Host Device License Agreement allows self-certification of retail devices and other rights.
tru2way is a national platform that enables interactive cable services to be delivered to two-way plog-and-play TVs, set-top boxes and other devices. The platform aims to provide a national footprint to enable creators of new interactive services to be able to deploy them on cable systems in nearly every market.
“Comcast is committed to rolling out tru2way-enabled set-top boxes later this year, and Samsung’s rollout of retail tru2way-enabled devices demonstrated that the tru2way technology is the best solution for both retail and leased set-top boxes,” said Comcast President and CEO Brian Roberts. “We look forward to working with Samsung on this and other innovations that will continue to enhance the customer experience.”
Cable Labs also said modems and headend gear using the DOCSIS 3.0 had met its specifications for the first time. The DOCSIS 3.0 specs enable downstream data rates of 160 Mbps or higher and upstream data rates of 120 Mbps or higher.
CableLabs awarded certification status for Data over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) 3.0 cable modems to Ambit, Arris, Cisco, Motorola (for two modems) and SMC.
This represents the first certification of DOCSIS 3.0 cable modems. CableLabs also awarded “full” qualification status for Cable Modem Termination Systems (CMTS) to Casa Systems for two devices. This is the first qualification of a DOCSIS 3.0 CMTS representing “full” or complete compliance with all requirements of the DOCSIS 3.0 specification for headends. Motorola received bronze qualification for its CMTS.
“We have now achieved successful certification testing for a system of very high-speed cable data products,” said Roberts. “This is a great accomplishment, ensuring that cable customers will continue to have access to the fastest Internet service available, along with access to more advanced service offerings,” he added.
The three-tiered program for CMTS qualification — bronze, silver and full — progressively scales compliance with some of the more long term DOCSIS 3.0 CMTS requirements. DOCSIS 3.0 modem testing allows only one level of certification.
