As cable operators gear up for significant upgrades to their outside plant infrastructure to meet increased spectrum and bandwidth demands, the deployment of next-generation amplifiers (amps) and related equipment has become imperative.
Consequently, tech vendors are rolling out next-gen amplifiers, nodes, node modules and related outside plant equipment for operators. Tech suppliers are developing these “smart” amps and other products for plant upgrades as operators expand their Distributed Access Architecture (DAA) deployments and prepare for next-gen DOCSIS rollouts.
Meanwhile, cablecos are looking to manage their hybrid fiber-coax (HFC) networks more effectively by cutting labor expenses, reducing network downtime, slicing system repair costs and minimizing the loss of service revenue. They are increasingly interested in leveraging the remote network management enabled by these smart amps and other devices.
Carrying out these next-gen plant upgrades is challenging work, though. Reasons include the costs and complexities of integrating remote management across both legacy and new equipment; gathering all the information needed for remote network management; installing/integrating the new smart equipment into the HFC network; and training the workforce to use the new management tools.
Tackling the issues
To tackle such issues, Heavy Reading teamed up with leading tech supplier AOI to conduct a global survey of cable operators and other wireline providers to better understand their smart amp plans and produce a white paper detailing the results (Smart Amps, Smarter Networks). The survey defined smart amps as devices with automatic setup features that enhance operational capabilities without manual configuration.
Most notably, the survey revealed that nearly three-quarters of operators (72%) are either “interested” or “very interested” in remote network management capabilities enabled by smart amps.
Interest in remote monitoring/management of HFC network assets

Key benefits of remote network management identified by the survey include increased network efficiency and reduced operational costs. Nearly three-fifths (59%) of survey respondents chose increasing network efficiency, while slightly less than half (46%) picked cutting operational costs.
Primary benefits of remote network management

However, several major challenges persist, particularly in integrating new technologies with legacy systems. For instance, more than half of all survey participants (almost 55%) chose integrating remote management across legacy and new equipment as a key challenge.
Primary challenges of remote network management

The findings indicate a strong trend toward upgrading HFC networks to higher orders of DOCSIS technology. More than half of respondents are already initiating or planning upgrades within the next year. Heavy Reading’s paper also highlights the importance of predictive analytics in proactive network management, as 70% of providers expressed interest in utilizing these tools.
Interest level in using predictive analytics for network management

In conclusion, while challenges remain in implementing smart amps and remote management solutions, the cable industry is poised for transformation as operators seek to optimize their networks and improve service delivery. Heavy Reading’s Smart Amps, Smarter Networks white paper serves as a roadmap for understanding the current landscape of smart amps and their potential impact on future network architectures.
This blog is sponsored by AOI.