Add Altice Group to the group of MSOs that are putting their weight behind DOCSIS 3.1, the emerging CableLabs-specified platform that deliver multi-gigabit capabilities to HFC networks.

The operator said it will deploy a Converged Cable Access Platform (CCAP) from Cisco Systems across its multi-country footprint, starting with Numericable in France, to serve as the foundation for its eventual move to DOCSIS 3.1.

D3.1, the successor to DOCSIS 3.0, is a more bandwidth-efficient platform that is being made to support downstream capacities of up to 10 Gbps and at least 1 Gbps in the upstream.

"This step is part of our long-term investment strategy,” Max Blumberg, CTO of Altice Group, said in a statement. “We are building the next generation of fixed mobile converged networks. With a combination of Cisco's Evolved CCAP, DOCSIS 3.1 and migration to NFV/SDN, Altice will continue providing the best customer experience, based on the highest bandwidth and cutting edge technology." 

"Cisco is working closely with Altice to provide them with a CCAP platform offering D3.0 plus D3.1 designed for long-term investment protection and full spectrum video, to simplify the evolution of their cable access network,” added Brett Wingo, VP and GM of Cisco’s Cable Access business Unit.”

Cisco is expected to support D3.1 in its next-gen CCAP, the cBR-8, a product also known by its “Battlestar” code-name.