Published by Todd McCrum, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Broadband Access Business Unit at AOI
The broadband industry is at a critical juncture. With data consumption climbing and digital applications evolving faster than ever, operators face a new imperative: deliver symmetrical and multi-gigabit connectivity with greater intelligence, speed, and reliability than ever before.
The industry’s move to DOCSIS 4.0 and 1.8 GHz HFC networking isn’t just about bigger numbers, it’s about enabling a new generation of experiences: 10 Gbps downstream speeds, 1 Gbps upstream capacity, and true symmetrical and multi-gigabit services.
At AOI, we see this as more than an engineering challenge. It’s our mission. And our recent milestones with Charter Communications prove that the future of connectivity is here—and AOI is helping to drive the innovation behind it.
Opening the door to unified amplifier management
Earlier this month, AOI achieved certification from Charter across both its Gainmaker and Motorola product platforms for deployment of AOI’s smart amplifier technology.
This will allow standardization of 1.8 GHz Extended Spectrum DOCSIS (ESD) upgrades, improving the ability to:
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Stream 4K and 8K ultra-high-definition content
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Power immersive VR and AR experiences
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Enable seamless video conferencing and telehealth
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Support latency-sensitive applications like cloud gaming and music production
AOI’s Quantum Bandwidth™ solutions give operators a future-ready pathway from legacy to next-generation HFC networks, maintaining compatibility with existing housings and management systems. Using the QuantumLink™ HFC remote management platform, operators can up-level network intelligence and unify amplifier management. AOI’s QuantumLink™ Transponder plugs directly into the amplifier and uses LoRaWAN standard protocol to communicate with the cloud-based systems. With this level of data, users can detect network challenges early, prevent outages, and safeguard operations, all while standardizing amplifier control across select vendor equipment.
Why this matters for the industry
Broadband providers face constant pressure from both consumer demand and competitive disruption. Proactive monitoring, smart grid readiness, and new fiber buildouts are not just growth levers, they’re necessities.
AOI’s Quantum Bandwidth solutions directly address the three pillars of modern network success:
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Capacity – Support for Extended Spectrum DOCSIS (ESD) enables unprecedented downstream and upstream throughput.
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Compatibility – Designed for existing amplifier housings, reducing deployment complexity.
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Control – Remote management ensures operational agility and proactive maintenance.
AOI is proving that innovation in broadband isn’t just about faster speeds, it’s about smarter networks. With our QuantumLink™ transponders, remote management, and new modules on the horizon, we’re focused on how to do just that with our customers and set the pace for what comes next.
As we look ahead, we’re excited to showcase our breakthrough technologies at the upcoming SCTE® Cable-Tec Expo® in September. Stay connected as we announce our booth demos and much more in the coming weeks.
Todd McCrum has served as our Senior Vice President and General Manager of Broadband Access since June 2023.
Before joining AOI, Mr. McCrum spent 27 years in increasingly senior roles in product marketing and business development for Scientific-Atlanta, continuing after its acquisition by Cisco Systems in 2009. Mr. McCrum’s career with Scientific-Atlanta and Cisco Systems, includes serving as Vice President of Marketing and beginning in 2015, lead of Cisco’s Cable Access Business Unit, where he was responsible for product strategy and execution for all of Cisco’s cable television products. Mr. McCrum earned his MBA from the Rutgers, State University of New Jersey – New Brunswick and holds a BS degree from Winona State University in Economics.
Other Resources from AOI
QuantumLink | Remote Management
The Ultimote Guide to DOCSIS 4.0
Quantum18 | 1.8GHz Amplifiers