Comcast and Broadcom developing dual FDX/Extended Spectrum DOCSIS 4.0 chipset with advanced AI capabilities

US cable giant Comcast has teamed up with chispet specialist Broadcom to develop what it describes as the world’s first AI-powered access network with a new chipset that embeds artificial intelligence and machine learning within the nodes, amps and modems that make up the last few miles of Comcast’s network.

Comcast says the move means it will be able to automate more network functions and deliver an improved customer experience through better and more actionable intelligence.

According to Comcast, the new chipset will be the first in the world to incorporate DOCSIS 4.0 Full Duplex (FDX), Extended Spectrum (ESD) and the ability to run both simultaneously, enabling cable providers across the globe to deliver DOCSIS 4.0 services using either technology.

The announcement with Broadcom follows Comcast’s announcement last week of the launch of services via DOCSIS 4.0 using FDX.

While the company will continue to use FDX, it says the collaboration with Broadcom will give it additional options.

The AI and ML capabilities in the chipset will, says the operator, enable it to make smarter network performance decisions using diagnostics insights produced by both local and cloud AI and deliver enhanced monitoring and issue detection using bandwidth-efficient telemetry data.

It will also, says Comcast, improve maintenance of the network using real time issue localization plus predictive and self-healing network intelligence, protect network facilities and customers with improved cybersecurity intrusion detection, assist customers more effectively through local and cloud-based AI, and enable monitoring of home IoT devices for connectivity disruptions.

Comcast and Broadcom are designing and building the new chipset based upon CableLabs’ DOCSIS 4.0 specifications.

The companies expect to begin trials early in 2024 and to begin deploying the new chipset in live networks before the end of the same year.

“With this new Unified DOCSIS 4.0 chipset from Broadcom, we can broadly deploy transformational AI network capabilities alongside symmetrical multi-gig speeds. FDX is the best technology for Comcast, but this groundbreaking unified chipset will provide the entire industry with options when upgrading their nodes, amps, and cable modems for DOCSIS 4.0,” said Elad Nafshi, chief network officer, Comcast Cable.

“By enabling a toolkit that includes FDX, ESD or both simultaneously, this new Unified DOCSIS 4.0 chipset incorporates the advantages of both technologies and will enable economies of scale as well as a common retail modem for the industry. The edge network and in-home capabilities of this chipset will improve network intelligence and reliability to create an improved broadband experience with enhanced privacy protection and cyber security for the consumer,” said Rich Nelson, SVP and general manager, broadband video group, Broadcom.