Harmonic extends broadband bridge to low-density MDUs
Technology supplier Harmonic believes it’s filling a gap in operators’ broadband strategies with ‘SeaStar,’ a compact optical node tailored for small multiple-dwelling units (MDUs).
By Jeff Baumgartner, Senior Editor, Light Reading - May 28, 2025
https://www.lightreading.com/broadband/harmonic-extends-broadband-bridge-to-low-density-mdus
Harmonic believes it has found a way to fill a gap in cable and telco broadband strategies with a platform tailored to bring multi-gigabit speeds to small multiple-dwelling units (MDUs) that connect to individual units with coax. Harmonic originally targeted large MDUs with a platform called Oyster. Sticking with its oceanic theme, the broadband vendor is approaching the low-density MDU segment with a platform called SeaStar.
SeaStar is a hardened, low-power, compact optical node that, when centrally located, can support up to 16 MDUs and up to 32 individual units per MDU. SeaStar can connect to an MDU that is up to 5 kilometers away, the company said. … SeaStar then connects over point-to-point fiber to relatively inexpensive mini-nodes deployed at the MDU building (on the side of a building, in the basement or inside an IT closet, for example), which convert the optical signal back to RF. From there, the RF signals are carried over the existing in-building coax to DOCSIS modems or gateways nestled in the individual apartment units.