Cisco claims that the ASR 9000 brings unsurpassed scale, non-stop video experience, and a reduced carbon footprint to the network edge. Given the complexity, resiliency, and high-availability required at the edge, especially given video-enabled services for mobile and wire line environments, the ASR 9000 is powered by the IOS-XR operating system developed for its CRS-I. The QuantumFlow processor, used for the ASR 1000 is also being used.

According to Len LuPriore, Sr. Manager, Strategic Communications Group for the Service Provider Organization, "Based on the Cisco Visual Networking Index forecast spanning 2007 to 2012, IP traffic is expected to increase 6x, and by 2012, half a Zettabyte will cross the global network. During the same period, mobile data as a result of 3G and 4G is expected to grow at 125% CAGR, while video, consumer IP quadruples by 2012."

In Figure 1, each box represents US Internet Backbone traffic for the year 2000. Expectations are astonishingly visible, with video traffic showing a growth of 390x what crossed the US backbone in 2000. Cisco asserts that what's been developed over the past 7-8 years is inadequate for upcoming traffic patterns as are 100Gbps/Slot offerings that are currently being introduced. Cisco, in contrast, is delivering up to 6.4Tbps capacity with the ASR 9000, using up to 400Gbps/Slot line cards. IPoDWDM transponders are integrated directly into the ASR 9000. Bringing IOS-XR to the edge of the network is important since IOS-XR, already tested by service provider networks worldwide, enables anon-stop video experience to any screen--whether it's laptops through mobile devices. In addition to the IOS-XR, Cisco put content streaming on a blade, incorporated advanced visual quality experience (VQE) technology, and added IP RAN capabilities in the mobile video backhaul space.

The advanced video service module that delivers terabytes of content capacity plugs into an ASR 9000 and enables Cisco to move content and content distribution capabilities closer to the edge. Integration with the router means that the integrity of the system is increased since it's integrated from a standpoint of availability, resiliency, and has a high availability characteristic. The video delivery system, router-enabled, becomes much more integral to the router, simplifies network operation, eliminates cost and energy.

In the area of non-stop video experience for 3G/4G, Cisco sees 125% CAGR in mobile video traffic. The old voice per bit pricing models that existed for mobile carriers in terms of being able to increase their voice minutes on the basis of over usage is no longer viable because the price points are going down, while the backhaul costs are going up given the sheer volume of data to transport.

Power is also a major consideration. The ASR 9000 was designed with modular power based on a "pay for what you need" scheme. Less power is consumed by a lower-capacity system and modularized to grow over time on an as-needed basis. The chassis is designed to cool and the backplane is designed to power up to the full capacity of the 400G/Slot. Side to back airflow allows units to stack side to side.

Japan's SoftBank is the first user, and trials are ongoing. Availability is expected first quarter of 2009 at an approximate price of $80,000.

For additional information, see: Cisco ASR 9000