Technical Committee (TC) Integrated Broadband Cable Telecommunication Networks (CABLE) Activity Report 2023

Chair: Volker Leisse, CableLabs

Responsible for standardization related to integrated broadband cable telecommunication network technologies.

ETSI’s Integrated Broadband Cable Telecommunication Networks committee (TC CABLE) develops standards addressing the evolution of the capabilities of broadband cable networks. At the same time, it serves as the point of contact within ETSI for expertise in hybrid-fibre coax (HFC) network technology and systems.

The committee’s work leverages close relationships with the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE), CENELEC (especially TC209) and ITU-T (especially SG9). In parallel, TC CABLE works with the wider global cable community to foster innovation and competitiveness, making technology available industry-wide based on voluntary standards.

Within ETSI, TC CABLE interacts with other Technical Committees, notably TC EE and TC CYBER, contributing its expertise on cable technologies on horizontal topics led by those committees and assessing potential impact on integrated broadband cable telecommunication networks and services.

The committee’s deliverables primarily relate to standards concerning:

  • Integrated broadband cable telecommunication network terminals, including cable CPE devices and network terminating devices;
  • Network infrastructure, including network topologies, HFC (hybrid fibre-coax) network distribution, data over cable systems, and frequency management;
  • Service, security, energy efficiency and sustainability aspects of integrated broadband cable telecommunication networks.

Driven by contributions from its members – mainly from the cable operator community and its vendor partners – in 2023 TC CABLE continued to make progress on a number of Work Items, including new deliverables as well as updates and revisions to existing publications:

  • Adopted as a Work Item in February 2023, a new ETSI Standard on standalone routers will define a core set of features that enable multiple subscriber devices to gain access to operator provided high-speed data service independently of the underlying access network. This core set of features allows for both IPv4- and IPv6-enabled devices to gain connectivity to the Internet.
  • Reacting to the current focus of the industry, work on energy efficiency concentrated on the revision of EN 305 200-2-4 on global KPIs for energy management in operational infrastructures identifying specific requirements for cable access networks. Other deliverables on the topic – such as a multi-part European Standard (EN 305 200-4) on design KPIs for energy management in operational infrastructures of broadband cable networks, covering aside from the access network also ICT sites in the core network, edge facilities as well as monitoring and operations support systems – remain in the committee’s work programme.
  • Development of Technical Specification (TS 103 128) on network performance measurement methods for broadband data services continued, addressing requirements on service providers.
  • Development of a Technical Report (TR 103 785) on mapping of cable equipment and standards to support assessment of conformity with the European Commission’s Radio Equipment Directive (RED), the Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Directive, and the Low Voltage Directive (LVD) covering safe operation of electrical equipment for consumer and professional use; as well as development of a Technical Specification (TS 103 469) on performance characteristics of coaxial cables used for RF signal transmission in hybrid fibre-coax (HFC) telecommunication networks. These deliverables will establish important tools for operators and manufacturers of cable technology.

See the full list of TC CABLE Work Items currently in development here.