Press Releases
For Immediate Release - Santa Clara, California, May 22, 2002
Aurora's Advanced Broadband Solutions Increase Capacity for Bandwidth-Intensive Services
Cable-Tec Expo Demo Shows Fiber Deep, Passive HFC Architecture
Santa Clara, CA. — May 22, 2002 — Aurora Networks, a leading
developer of advanced optical transport and distribution systems for broadband networks,
will demonstrate its fiber deep, passive hybrid fiber/coax (HFC) architecture at SCTE's
Cable-Tec Expo (June 5-7, 2002, Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center, San Antonio, Texas,
Booth 8102). Aurora's implementation of its next-generation optical networking equipment
is an evolutionary progression of traditional HFC architectures that meet the high bandwidth
demands of new, revenue-generating residential and business services. While Aurora's
products are ideally suited for fiber deep architectures, where they provide unparalleled
speed, reliability and cost savings, they are also backward compatible with existing HFC
networks, providing an optimal migration path to future network architectures, including
fiber-to-the-home. In addition, Aurora's integrated digital technology enables cable
multiple system operators (MSOs) to address the lucrative business-to-business Ethernet
services market at very low costs.
Bandwidth-intensive services such as video-on-demand (VOD), high-speed Internet
access, circuit-switched telephony, voice-over-IP (VoIP) and interactive television are
driving cable operators to increase available bandwidth per home. Aurora's passive HFC
architecture drives fiber deeper into the network by reducing the typical HFC node service
area into fiber serving areas of 80-200 homes, versus the traditional HFC node service
areas of 500 homes. Optical node locations are optimized to eliminate active components,
such as all RF amplifiers and most power supplies, dramatically increasing both the
bandwidth to and from each subscriber, as well as the reliability of the network. At the
same time, the ongoing operating and maintenance expenses of the network are substantially
lower than those of a traditional HFC network, but at comparable construction costs.
In addition to improving operating costs, Aurora's passive architecture offers
operators additional revenue opportunities by enabling them to offer an integrated Ethernet
solution for small office/home offices (SOHOs) and small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs)
with very little additional cost.
Aurora products and systems being demonstrated at Cable-Tec Expo include:
Passive HFC Hub
Aurora's Passive HFC Hub simplifies the network configuration, enabling a
reduction in size of typical hub components to the extent that an entire hub can be
installed in a reasonably sized enclosure, effectively a "hub-in-a-box." Each hub
serves 20,000 to 30,000 subscribers in a typical passive HFC, fiber deep architecture,
and consists of the following elements, mountable in Aurora's high-density CH3000
platform:
• Optical switch modules for alternate routing protection
• Optical amplifiers to boost signals
• Demultiplexers to separate narrowcast wavelengths for combining with broadcast signals
• Demultiplexers to fan out Ethernet forward signals
• Multiplexers to combine return ITU channel signals for transport to the headend
• Optical splitters and combiners.
The compact size of Aurora's "hub-in-a-box" — only nine to
twelve rack units (24'' H X 21'' W X 20'' D) — eliminates the need for costly hub
buildings, employing instead a cost-effective pedestal enclosure. This all-optical system
moves cable modem termination systems (CMTS), video servers and other data processing
equipment to the headend, improving efficiency and making the system easier to install
and maintain, with faster service restoration. Power level monitoring is performed by
Aurora's Optiplex narrowcast demultiplexer/broadcast combiner. This single-slot module
simplifies dense wave division multiplexing (DWDM) installations, improves efficiencies
by reducing optical losses, and requires less rack space than alternative equipment.
Nodes
Optimized for high bandwidth capacities in both the forward and return path,
Aurora's NC4000 and NC5000 series optical nodes offer substantive advantages for operators.
Both node series are available in configurations for fiber deep, passive
HFC applications. For larger node service areas, both can be segmented to meet bandwidth
demands, providing a cost-effective method for greatly increasing the available bandwidth
per user.
When optimized for fiber deep, passive HFC architectures, the Aurora NC4000
series node, with one of the industry's highest RF output capabilities, enables cost-effective
design and deployment of networks by eliminating the need for RF amplifiers. The result is
increased reliability, a 70 to 75 per cent reduction in active components and increased
return bandwidth.
All Aurora nodes feature Aurora's patent-pending digital daisy chain return
capability to reduce capital and operating costs, while increasing capacity, performance
and reliability. In addition, Aurora's diverse family of digital transceivers and
transponders incorporate 100BaseT Ethernet capability for serving business customers
(SOHOs or SMBs) with Fast Ethernet service, providing an additional revenue opportunity
for operators.
Ethernet Products
Aurora offers the lowest cost-of-entry for operators looking to provide Fast
Ethernet services to commercial customers. The product line consists of:
• Model NI3000 network interface modules, located in the
headend to interface between routers and switches, and manage the Ethernet transport
network
• Model OE1110 Ethernet access devices for business premises to
interface with customers' local area networks (LANs)
• Integrated network transport products, comprised of node
transceivers, headend digital receivers, and headend transponders for forward transmission
of the Ethernet signals.
With this suite of products, operators can offer Fast Ethernet at 100 megabits
per second (Mb/s). The system supports external, value-added services, such as virtual local
area network (VLAN) tagging, quality of service (QoS) and differentiated services (DiffServ
and IPSec). Aurora's Fast Ethernet solution offers the security found in a SONET network,
but with a higher level of performance and better economics. For the cost of a fiber drop,
located as far as six miles from a node, a 100BaseT Ethernet customer can be activated,
saving time and money.
Optical Switches
Aurora will also be introducing its compact OS3200 series of optical switch
modules for the CH3000 platform. These switches are available in a single or dual switch
configuration for each single-width, half-depth module. Designed to support telephony
traffic over alternate routing architectures, the OS3200 series is guaranteed to have a
switching time of less than 10 milliseconds. Additionally, the switches have been designed
with a wide dynamic threshold adjustment range to support any combination of both analog
and digital transmission applications. The module is self-sensing of fiber restoration for
maximum network reliability and efficiency, and is fully controllable both locally and
remotely.
Press Conference
Aurora Networks will hold a press conference at SCTE's Cable-Tec Expo on
Thursday, June 6, 2002 at 9:00 a.m. Central Time in Room 006B at the San Antonio Convention
Center. Announcements regarding new products and future developments will be made and
company executives will be available to answer questions.
About Aurora Networks
Founded in November 1999, Aurora Networks designs, develops, and markets advanced
optical communications systems for traditional hybrid fiber/coax (HFC) networks
and advanced, fiber-deep broadband networks. The company's advanced technology
delivers significant increases in bandwidth and functionality while providing
substantial cost savings when compared to traditional HFC network technology.
Aurora Networks is privately held, with headquarters at 4151 Burton Drive, Santa
Clara, California 95054. For more information on Aurora Networks or its products,
e-mail info@aurora.com, phone (408) 562-1770 or visit www.aurora.com.
Contact:
John Dahlquist
Vice President, Marketing
Aurora Networks, Inc.
408.562.1770 x133
jdahlquist@aurora.com
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