The Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA) is developing a specification targeting multiple dwelling units (MDUs) called MoCA Access. The specification will be based on the MoCA 2.0 standard — not the new MoCA 2.5 spec released in April — which is capable of 1 Gbps net throughputs.
“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,” says Charles Cerino, president of MoCA. “Our performance and reliability attributes are proving to be a great solution in broadband applications as well as the home network backbone.”
The recently approved MoCA 2.5 specification will also be integrated in the new specification serving as a technology roadmap on which to plan for future deployments. MoCA 2.5 is capable of up to 2.5 Gbps and is backward interoperable with MoCA 2.0.
MoCA Access aims to be a solution for numerous market segments addressing network access. For instance:
- Operators driving fiber deep into the network or to the building (FTTB) and want to leverage existing wiring without sacrificing performance.
- ISPs building fiber-based networks that terminate the optical signal in the basement and use the existing coax to reach each unit or apartment that addresses the market now.
- Commercial integrators designing and installing networks in hospitality, restaurants, offices and any other buildings that have coax already installed.
The move to MoCA Access is a strategic direction for the Alliance as it applies the performance and reliability superiority inherent in MoCA technology to applications where those two attributes in particular are critical. In addition, operators worldwide are requiring 1 Gbps net throughputs to the home as a minimal requirement for overall network design, which MoCA 2.0 can deliver now.
MoCA 2.0 offers actual data rates of up to 1 Gbps. MoCA 2.5 offers actual data rates up to 2.5 Gbps in addition to a variety of network management and security features. The Alliance has 210 certified products and 50 members worldwide.
