Comcast has unveiled 'Janus,' an initiative that will virtualize the operator's core network and give its broadband services a boost. The company is also equipping its network with Qwilt's open edge streaming platform.
On the heels of a plan to virtualize its access network, Comcast is now pushing ahead with virtualization of its core network. Dubbed "Janus," the new initiative aims to automate network configurations and open the door to AI and machine learning (ML) capabilities aimed at improving network reliability and performance.
Meanwhile, Comcast is also shoring up the capabilities of its network edge via a new agreement with Qwilt.
The company made the announcements in tandem with this week's SCTE TechExpo show in Atlanta, noting that Janus enables the operator to set aside its historic use of proprietary, purpose-built hardware.
Comcast, whose network reaches 63 million US locations, is testing Janus initially in Atlanta using network cloud software developed by DriveNets and a "white box" platform from UfiSpace. Comcast added that it is using a new generation of disaggregated, pluggable optics from multiple (but unnamed) vendors across its core network.
Janus will shift the management and control of Comcast's core routing, switching and transport network functions to its edge cloud platforms, putting it in position to support new AI- and ML-fueled analytics and automation aimed at improving overall network reliability and performance, the company said.
Comcast noted that with Janus it has effectively extended its strategy to disaggregate and virtualize the access network (via its deployment of a virtual cable modem termination system) to the core network.
Following the trials in Atlanta, Comcast expects to push ahead with a widescale rollout of Janus in 2025. Janus will support both residential and business customers, the company said.
Increasing capacity and reliability
Janus sets the stage for Comcast to boost its Internet platform and increase capacity as needed, according to the company, particularly when customers are streaming a marquee live sporting event. Notably, Janus is coming on the scene as Comcast pushes ahead with the deployment of DOCSIS 4.0, a set of specs that enable multi-gigabit speeds alongside lower latencies, higher levels of security and enhanced network reliability. Atlanta, Philadelphia and Colorado Springs are among Comcast's initial D4.0 markets.
Janus is designed to "transform" the Comcast network and boost the reliability of broadband for apps such as live 4K sports streaming, bandwidth- and latency-sensitive videoconferencing, virtual reality and online gaming, said the company. Virtualizing the core network, which reduces powering and cooling needs, also fits with Comcast's plan to be carbon-neutral by 2035, the operator added.
"Data usage continues to skyrocket at unprecedented rates, primarily due to the rapid increase in streaming high-quality live sports," Elad Nafshi, Comcast's chief network officer, said in a statement.
Comcast estimates that about 70% of broadband usage is streamed sports and entertainment and that 15% to 20% of its customers use more than 1 terabyte of data per month.
Blanketing the edge with Qwilt
Comcast said it is also shoring up the edge network and distributing content delivery by deploying Qwilt's Open Edge platform, which is based on specs developed by the Streaming Video Technology Alliance. In addition to deploying more capacity at the edge, the move also aims to reduce latency for live streaming and online gaming.
The deployment effectively puts the "brains of our network closer to customers," Nafshi said.
Comcast did not say how far along the Qwilt deployment is or when it expects to complete it.
The Qwilt deployment follows Comcast's recent launch of "enhanced" 4K during the Summer Olympics in Paris for X1 video customers.
Comcast's low-latency approach delivers 4K at higher bit rates and equips the stream with Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos spatial audio.
At a "Converge" event held in February at Comcast's tech building in Philadelphia, execs said the enhanced format packs about 66% more bits than a traditional 4K feed at latencies that are about 10 seconds behind the live action at the venue. The enhanced stream itself requires speeds of about 25 Mbit/s to 35 Mbit/s.
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