The Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA) has formally introduced MoCA Access, a technology/platform based on MoCA 2.5 that can deliver up to 2.5 Gbps downstream and 2 Gbps up using in-building coaxial cabling.

MoCA, whose technology initially has been used to power whole-home DVRs and other home networking setups, said the new Access flavor appeals to “commercial integrators” that target markets such as hospitality/hotels, restaurants, offices, and any other buildings wired with coax.

The Alliance said it’s particularly well-suited for operators and ISPs that have installed fiber-to-the-basement or fiber-deep networks and are looking to take advantage of the existing coax in multiple-dwelling units.

MoCA Access is point-to-multipoint technology that serves up to 63 modems (clients), and is designed to co-exist with legacy services such as TV, DOCSIS, and cellular (4G/5G) technologies. MoCA Access operates in the frequency range of 400MHz - 1675MHz, and supports latency of less than 5 milliseconds, the Alliance said.

As a fiber extension technology, MoCA Access is designed to suit MSOs and ISPs that are installing fiber-to-the-basement (FTTB) or fiber deep into the network, and want to use the existing coax for connection to each apartment or unit.

MoCA introduced MoCA Access in June 2016, targeting a mid-2017 release data. At the time, the organization said MoCA Access would be based on the MoCA 2.0 standard, with plans then to integrate newer MoCA 2.5 technology. The new MoCA Access technology is expected to gain traction in markets such as Europe and China, along with opportunities in North America’s MDU sector.

“MoCA Access leverages our core strengths in high-performance, reliability and no new wires,” Charles Cerino, MoCA’s president, said in a statement. “Service providers around the world can take advantage of a proven high-speed technology that is designed for all future installations. And the low latency makes it the perfect complement to a wired backhaul architecture for upcoming cellular technologies such as 5G.”  

The Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA), the group behind a speedy in-home networking platform, is looking to expand the reach of its core technology via the development of a new specification for the access market, with a specific focus on apartment buildings and other types of multiple dwelling units.

MoCA said the spec will be on the current MoCA 2.0 standard, which supports net data throughputs of 1 Gbps. The organization also has plans to integrate the new MoCA 2.5 spec, which will support speeds up to 2.5 Gbps and is backward-interoperable with MoCA 2.0.

The MoCA Access spec is expected to be available by mid-2017, according to the organization.

Among use cases for MoCA Access, the org said it will be a viable solution for operators driving fiber deep into the network or to the building (FTTB) and want to leverage existing wiring without sacrificing performance, and for ISPs building fiber-based networks that terminate the topical signal in the basement of a facility and use existing coax to deliver service to each unit or apartment. It also sees it taking hold with commercial integrators that design and install networks in restaurants, offices and any other buildings that have coax already installed.

MoCA believes the new Access spec will gain traction first in markets such as Europe and China, but also sees commercial opportunities in the hospitality and hotels segment arising in North America as well.

InCoax Networks AB of Sweden and Luster of China are among companies that are interested in the new access platform, MoCA noted.

“Our move into access applications is driven by operators worldwide who told us they need one Gbps actual throughputs with a long-term migration path and want to use the existing coax infrastructure,” Charles Cerino, president of MoCA, said in a statement. “Our performance and reliability attributes are proving to be a great solution in broadband applications as well as the home network backbone.”