The Layer 1 Lounge

The cable industry is deep into DOCSIS 4.0 deployments at 1.8 GHz, so why are engineers already talking about 3 GHz? AOI's Corey Chapman, Head of Product Management for Broadband, breaks down what it actually takes to push HFC networks to 3 GHz: the physics of signal loss, amplifier architecture tradeoffs, energy efficiency constraints, and the industry consensus still being built.

In this episode:

• Why operators need to plan for 3 GHz now, even mid-DOCSIS 4.0 rollout
• The physical layer challenges of higher-frequency HFC networks
• How smart, connected amplifiers and AI telemetry lay the groundwork
• Energy efficiency as a hard deployment constraint
• Timeline prediction: 2–3 years to early products, 3–5 years to operator-scale deployment

Timestamps 00:00 Intro 01:12 Why think about 3 GHz during DOCSIS 4.0 deployments? 03:07 Is there operator consensus yet? 04:20 Amplifier architecture changes at higher frequencies 05:52 Energy efficiency as a design constraint 07:47 AOI's 3 GHz proof-of-concept demo at SCTE TechExpo 08:33 Timeline prediction for 3 GHz at scale

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#CableNetworks #DOCSIS40 #HFC #BroadbandTechnology #SCTETechExpo26 #3GHz #CableTech #Layer1Lounge

In this podcast episode, Todd McCrum, SVP and GM of AOI's Broadband Business, breaks down what cable operators are really focused on in 2026, and why network intelligence is becoming just as critical as raw bandwidth.

From DOCSIS 4.0 spectrum planning to AI-driven predictive maintenance, Todd covers the trends reshaping how cable operators approach network investment. With AOI's unique vertical integration across lasers, optics, amplifiers, and nodes, the conversation goes deep on how HFC operators can upgrade efficiently, prepare for convergence, and shift from reactive maintenance to proactive network management.

In this Episode: 0:00 Intro 0:30 How cable operators think about network investment in 2026 1:10 DOCSIS 4.0 operational complexity and technician training 1:56 Network convergence: cable, fiber, and wireless — where it stands 3:18 Future-proofing HFC: spectrum, upstream capacity, and intelligence 4:19 AOI's vertical integration advantage — lasers, optics, amps, and nodes 5:09 If you had unlimited budget, would you still choose HFC? 6:13 The underrated trend: predictive intelligence and network analytics 7:18 How AI and machine intelligence are changing cable network management 8:31 What drives the next wave — hardware, software, or architecture? 9:15 Customer feedback shaping AOI's product roadmap 10:12 The one mindset shift cable operators need to stay competitive 11:05 Closing

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#DOCSIS4 #CableNetworks #HFC #NetworkIntelligence #AOI #BroadbandTechnology

In the debut episode of The Layer 1 Lounge, AOI Chief Financial and Strategy Officer Stefan Murry joins live from OFC 2026 in Los Angeles to explain how the company's optical transceivers stand out in the rapidly growing AI data center market.

AOI was among the first companies to purpose-build optical transceivers specifically for data centers, a bet made over 13 years ago that is now paying off as hyperscalers and enterprise operators race to scale AI infrastructure. What makes AOI different: unlike most transceiver vendors, AOI designs and manufactures its own laser diodes and compound semiconductor wafers in-house and assembles finished products through U.S.-based automated production in Sugar Land, Texas. That vertical integration means tighter quality control, stronger supply chain security, and the ability to meet domestic sourcing requirements increasingly prioritized by hyperscaler procurement teams.

In this Episode:

• AOI's 30-year history and early bet on data center optics
• Why being purpose-built for data centers matters as AI demand surges
• In-house laser diode and wafer fabrication — the supply chain security advantage
• US-based automated manufacturing and what it means for customers
• Demand signals from OFC 2026: stronger than expected
• Serving hyperscalers and enterprise data centers across 30+ countries
• Building AOI's partner and customer ecosystem

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#OpticalTransceivers #AIDataCenter #DataCenterOptics #AOI #Layer1Lounge