Two companies, Arris and Cadant, gained qualification status for their DOCSIS 1.1 cable modem termination systems (CMTS). DOCSIS stands for Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification.

The 1.1 modems are compatible with existing DOCSIS 1.0 equipment and will be compatible with modems that will be certified under future versions of DOCSIS, such as the recently announced DOCSIS 2.0.

Strategically, DOCSIS 1.1 opens a technological doorway to augmented revenue streams for cable providers. It does so by enabling the existence of high-speed Internet service tiers, via techniques known as data fragmentation and quality of service (QoS). Those two techniques allow cable providers to deliver high-speed Internet services simultaneously over the same plant - and in a path parallel to - core video services.

Equipment built to comply with the DOCSIS 1.1 specification becomes the foundation for expanding the list of advanced cable services offered by cable providers. Overall, DOCSIS 1.1 enables cable operators to deliver twice the level of functionality while reducing operating costs by half, the release states.

In the same announcement, CableLabs, announced it had bestowed certification stations on 29 DOCSIS 1.0 modems. This includes units from Accton, Ambit, Askey, Asustek, CastleNet, Correlant, Ericsson, High Speed Surfing, LG Innotek, Lynksys, Motorola, Panasonic, Samsung Electronics, Scientific Atlanta, SMC Networks, Terayon, Thompson, Toshiba, Turbocomm, and Zoom. One new 1.0 CMTS, manufactured by Motorola, was qualified as well.

Manu Sawhney, managing director of ESPN Software India Ltd. said: "We are overwhelmed by the phenomenal consumer response to the ESPN STAR Sports Super Selector. We always believed that Super Selector was a winning concept. The India cricket season begins on October 5 with the India tour of South Africa, and we only expect the participation number to grow exponentially."

"By setting a world record in just nine days of registration, it proves beyond doubt that Super Selector is the perfect platform for millions of cricket fans to extend their involvement and enhance the enjoyment of the game much beyond the live coverage of international cricket," he said.

Due to the geographical layout of Mumbai (it is a linear city), it is not possible for Hathway go the way of Bangalore, where it has consolidated with a fiber optic backbone into one headend. Earlier Bangalore had five headends.

The headend is the data centre for all Internet operations in Mumbai for Hathway. All points are hooked up from here through five CMTSs (cable modem termination system). Depending on the scheme under which a client has joined up, Hathway offers 64-512 kbps bandwidth Navroz P Behramfram, head - technical support, says. Hathway supplies modems as per client requirements but all models are DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Services Interface Specifications) compatible, Behramfram says.

Explaining the operational set-up, Behramfram says satellite signals (for their 92 channel feed) are captured through nine dishes using L band or intermediate frequency (IF) distribution to receiver / decoders. Each decoder transmits a single channel AV and each channel is modulated and then mixed using the principle of frequency domain multiplexing. The objective here is to combine all the individual channel feeds. At the end of it all, a single optic fiber cable carries the feed out from the headend.