CableLabs, the developer of the DOCSIS data transmission standard, promises 10Gbps Internet speeds in the next few years. To do this, the company and its partners are working on the widespread implementation of the DOCSIS 4.0 standard.

DOCSIS 4.0 promises forward link speeds of 10 Gb/s or more and 1 Gb/s return link. The new technology is already available in the US: in late December, ISP Armstrong, a partner of CableLabs, launched a 10-gigabit fiber network in Medina, Ohio. The network operates for over 3,000 businesses and homes in the area. In January, Charter Communications achieved speeds of over 8.5 Gbps downstream and 6 Gbps upstream using a hybrid fiber coax (HFC) network. This was done without laying new cable or fiber, but using existing infrastructure.

Despite some successes, the widespread adoption of DOCSIS 4.0 still needs support. It won't become a mainstream technology overnight, although companies are working on solutions that will make 10Gbps internet connectivity a reality within this decade.

To make it easier for operators to migrate to DOCSIS 4.0, CableLabs has developed a device called the Coherent Termination Device (CTD), which works by combining coherent optics and wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) technologies to improve the efficiency of existing fiber optic networks and, therefore, increase in data transfer rate. The technology works, but it is not known how quickly the industry will adopt it.

In addition, CableLabs launched the 10G Challenge in an effort to support companies and startups that are developing 10G technologies and applications. The prize fund of the competition is $300,000; the final will select six winners who will have the opportunity to present their technologies at the SCTE Cable-Tec Expo 2022 in September.

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