MoCA ratifies next generation specification

SAN RAMON, USA: MoCA, the worldwide standard for home entertainment networking, has ratified its next-generation specification, MoCA 2.0.

MoCA 2.0 offers two performance modes, Basic and Enhanced, with 400 Mbps and 800 Mbps net throughputs (MAC), using 700 Mbps and 1.4 Gbps PHY rates, respectively. For point-to-point WAN applications, performance can be optimized for two node networks with Basic mode delivering 500 Mbps net throughput (MAC) and Enhanced mode providing 1 Gbps net throughput.

The new specification also features an expanded operating frequency range to serve an even broader array of use cases and two network wide, low power-saving modes.

Essential to the specification is its full backward interoperability with MoCA 1.1/1.0, enabling operators to capitalize on their MoCA investment and future proof their networks to deliver the next level in high performance and highly reliable home networking.

"MoCA 1.1 meets the bandwidth and reliability requirements of service providers today. MoCA 2.0 addresses the requirements of operators and their subscribers in the future," said Charles Cerino, president of MoCA.

MoCA is the only home networking technology standard endorsed by all three pay TV segments: cable, satellite and IPTV. MoCA 1.0 and 1.1 are already deployed in millions of households.

"Performance becomes ever more critical as service providers add higher-bandwidth applications to their service offerings," said Dr. Anton Monk, VP of Technology at Entropic Communications and MoCA CTO. "MoCA 2.0 will feature unrivaled performance and reliability and MoCA continues to be the networking technology of choice for today's and tomorrow's home entertainment network."

MoCA 2.0 technical highlights:
* Net throughput (MAC) rates of 400 Mbps (baseline mode) and 800 Mbps (enhanced mode), up from 175 Mbps for MoCA 1.1, with turbo modes at each level. PHY rates are 700 Mbps and 1.4 Gbps, respectively.

* More than doubling the performance of MoCA 1.1 the 400 Mbps baseline level is achieved through higher levels of modulation and expansion of the operating channel bandwidth to 100 MHz from the current 50 MHz. Enhanced mode performance of 800 Mbps is made possible through channel bonding.

* To assure an even more robust and satisfying customer experience, the packet error rate (PER) has been improved to one packet error in 100 million. The PER mode is programmable on a per flow basis and can be assigned depending on the necessity of content. On time delivery is assured with an average latency of less than 3.5ms across all received packets and traffic profiles.

* The addition of sleep and stand-by modes for networked devices helps manufacturers and operators comply with worldwide energy reduction initiatives.

* Expanded operating frequency range of 500 MHz to 1650 MHz enables all types of pay-TV providers to provide advanced home entertainment networking simultaneously with devices and services already in use on the same coaxial cable.

Full backward-interoperability with MoCA 1.0 and 1.1 protects investment in current equipment. MoCA 1.0 and 1.1-based devices continue to operate at full speed even when MoCA 2.0-based devices are on the network.