Intel Puma 6 Powers Comcast's XFINITY Wireless Gateway
Intel Corporation today announced that Intel Puma 6 is the silicon powering Comcast’s recently announced XFINITY Wireless Gateway. The Cisco-made XB3 device is a blazing-fast next-generation DOCSIS 3.0 wireless gateway that delivers data, voice, MoCA 2.0 wireline networking and dual-band wireless coverage in the home to power PCs, game consoles, tablets, smartphones and other customer owned Internet-connected devices. The Wireless Gateway (XB3) from XFINITY Internet is capable of up to 16 bonded downstream channels supporting speeds up to 640 Mbps.
Intel Puma 6 is the first DOCSIS silicon to reach up 1 Gbps downstream by bonding up to 24 DOCSIS channels and up to 240 Mbps upstream by bonding up to 8 DOCSIS return channels. Intel Puma 6 incorporates a powerful Intel Atom core that can be used to support multiple services in the home including home automation, security, and energy management. Intel’s hardware-based virtualization technology allows service providers to deploy a single gateway to support multiple services in a secure and stable environment, eliminating the need and cost of multiple, dedicated devices.
“Comcast and Cisco’s selection of Puma 6 as the silicon powering this new generation of powerful wireless gateways illustrates the value of Intel to service providers,” said Alan Crouch, Intel vice president and general manager, PCCG Service Provider Division. “The integration of these fast gateways and powerful new Intel-based Ultrabook and all-in-one PCs bridge the client and cloud to deliver exciting TV and broadband entertainment experiences to consumers.”
Joe Chow, vice president and general manager of Cisco’s Connected Devices Business Unit, said, “Cisco and Intel have a long-standing relationship as Intel is one of several strategic suppliers of silicon to Cisco. We look forward to the opportunities our combined technology offers, as we expand our collaboration to include CPE like the XB3 wireless gateway for Comcast."
MoCA-enabled wireless gateways will enable service providers such as Comcast to extend their video delivery into consumer devices over Wi-Fi. The combination of Comcast’s X1set-top boxes, launched last year based on an Intel chipset, and the wireless gateway allows Comcast to stream live and On Demand content wirelessly to Intel-based devices in the home, all without the need of additional set-top boxes. That capability was previously only available on MoCA-connected set-top boxes. The same new graphically enhanced, cloud-based guide and user interface that you see on your TV will be available on subscribers' Ultrabooks and all-in-one PCs.
“Intel continues to be a great partner as we work to develop a platform that supports an in-home gateway and client architecture,” said Steve Reynolds, senior vice president of Customer Premise Equipment for Comcast. “Intel’s powerful silicon platforms have enabled us to quickly develop a flexible platform for the delivery of our cable video services that will give customers the ability to view them on a wide range of consumer devices in the home.”
The Intel Puma family system architecture provides OEMs with flexibility to easily customize their products to fit a wide range of MSO-required and optional features such as high data rates, wireless communications, power down modes and telephone support. Intel was the first to deploy DOCSIS 3.0 technology with Intel Puma 5, and over 40 million DOCSIS 3.0 systems have shipped.