Shaw to Deploy Next Generation Cable Modem Technology.Business Editors/High-Tech Writers CALGARY, Alberta--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 14, 2003 Shaw Cablesystems announced today that it will be further strengthening its leadership in the high-speed data market by deploying an advanced generation of cable modems based on the DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification) A cable modem standard from the CableLabs research consortium (www.cablelabs.com), which provides equipment certification for interoperability. (TM) 2.0 specifications. Initial deployments will take place in Calgary and Vancouver beginning in the fall of 2003. This advanced generation of cable modem technology will enable Shaw to increase the capabilities and reliability of its high-speed data network by increasing the capacity and throughput in both the upstream and downstream portions of the cable plant creating a network that has up to 30 megabit per second A megabit per second (abbreviated as Mbit/s, Mbps, or mbps) is a unit of data transfer rate equal to 1,000,000 bits per second. Because there are 8 bits in a byte, a transfer speed of 8 megabits per second (8 Mbps) is equivalent to 1,000,000 bytes (Mbps) capacity in both directions, representing about 400% increase over the capacity of current cable modem systems. "This next generation of cable modem technology will give us the ability to offer our consumer and business customers a whole new spectrum of advanced IP based cable services such as dedicated bandwidth, guaranteed levels of services, peer-to-peer communications and video conferencing applications, said Michael D'Avella, Senior Vice President, Planning for Shaw Communications. We will be the first Canadian cable provider to adopt this leading-edge technology and develop new services on this platform," he added. "We have built an enormously successful high-speed data business with our existing cable modem technologies and they will continue to serve us well for some time to come. However, given the tremendous advancements, significant cost reductions and wide availability of DOCSIS equipment, now is the right time to begin our transition to the DOCSIS platform," said D'Avella. Shaw will begin selecting cable modem and cable modem termination system A cable modem termination system or CMTS is equipment typically found in a cable company's headend, or at cable company hubsite and is used to provide high speed data services, such as cable internet or Voice over IP, to cable subscribers. (CMTS (Cable Modem Termination System) A computerized device that enables cable modems to send and receive packets over the Internet. It inserts IP packets from the Internet into MPEG frames and transmits them to the cable modems via an RF signal. ) vendors over the next several months. Shaw Communications Inc. is a diversified Canadian communications company whose core business is providing broadband cable television, Internet and satellite direct-to-home ("DTH (Direct-To-Home) Typically refers to satellite TV broadcasting directly to a dish antenna on the roof of a house. See DBS. ") services to approximately 2.9 million customers. Shaw is traded on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges (Symbol: TSX - SJR.B, NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange - SJR) Data over Cable Service Interface Specification (communications, networking) Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification - (DOCSIS) ITU-approved interface requirements for cable modems involved in high-speed data distribution over a cable television network. (DOCSIS) is a trademark of CableLabs. |
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