CopperGate Enables DSL, DOCSIS Alternative for Home Networking

CopperGate Communications Ltd. announced this week the CopperGate CG3210M chipset, a HomePNA solution that enables an Ethernet over Coax alternative to DOCSIS and DSL in the multidwelling unit and hospitality markets.

CopperGate said it has doubled the communications bandwidth of the chipset, enabling twice as many apartments to communicate with each master device and, thus, resulting in a 50 percent lower cost per apartment. Now, more than 60 end points in apartments or hotel rooms can be supported with a single master device.

In addition, the solution is applicable to older infrastructure found in emerging markets, such as China, where using existing wires is essential.

"Service providers and systems integrators trying to deliver low-cost broadband access or triple-play services in urban areas are looking for a lower-cost, higher-performance alternative to DOCSIS- and DSL-based solutions," explained Gabi Hilevitz, CEO, CopperGate Communications. "Now, service providers don't have to install new wires to deliver HDTV, Internet and VoIP traffic to multiple apartments. This new solution saves on installation time and costs, eliminates customer hassles from drilling in cement walls to install CAT-5, and co-exists with satellite TV, broadcast TV and other services. It has the best cost/performance, by far, of all the existing technologies in the market."

CopperGate’s CG3210M chipset delivers up to 190mbps of IP traffic and is a third of the price of equivalent DOCSIS 3.0-based solutions, the company said.

The CopperGate CG3210M chipset and an evaluation board are available immediately. Five device manufacturers have plans to develop CPE and master units using this new technology. It is currently in field trials with service providers in four countries.

"The biggest benefit of the new CopperGate solution is it allows MSOs to quickly ramp up premium service offerings such as HDTV, VoIP, and very high speed Internet to residents without the tremendous cost for retrofitting with CAT-5," said Kurt Scherf, vice president and principal analyst with Parks Associates. "This new product will be particularly well-positioned in Asian markets because of the rapidly-growing middle class of consumers who are seeking these amenities for their apartments."

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