7/23/2007 -- You might have missed it, but Cisco Systems Inc. last month launched its Cisco Cable ServiceMesh offering, a new line of Wi-Fi mesh offerings designed with cable operators in mind.

Cisco's Cable ServiceMesh-based offerings include the Aironet 1520 mesh access point, its Cisco Wireless Modules, its Wireless Control System software, its Intelligent Services Gateway, its Service Control Engine and, finally, its 7600 series routers.

Analysts were generally high on Cable ServiceMesh, which they described as a logical, if belated, move on Cisco's part.

"[It's] so logical that most competitors have already attacked the opportunity," commented Peter Jarich, a research director for Telecom Infrastructure with consultancy Current Analysis, at the time.

On the other hand, Jarich pointed out, Cisco not only managed to deliver a reasonably complete Cable ServiceMesh feature stack, but, crucially, was able to produce a few reference customers, too.

The only thing missing, he said, were the requisite partner testimonials. And there's a reason for that, he said: "The end-to-end nature of ServiceMesh leaves potentially attractive partner applications untouched."

Cable ServiceMesh builds on Cisco's still relatively new ServiceMesh, which it launched last November.

"[That] value proposition was simple yet compelling. Municipal mesh networks require more than just mesh nodes; they require clients, OSS/BSS tools, routing support, service delivery tools and even specialized applications," Jarich explained. "By supplying all of these assets -- along with Wi-Fi mesh nodes -- Cisco could deliver pre-integrated solutions promising credible, reliable services."

Jarich found Cable ServiceMesh compelling for many of the same reasons.

"Just as ServiceMesh was compelling on its own, Cable ServiceMesh is likewise compelling. No different than municipalities, cable MSOs are potentially interested in Wi-Fi mesh," he said. "Moreover, no different from municipalities, MSOs need more than Wi-Fi nodes; they need solutions. MSOs do, however, need specific product features such as the ability to interface directly with -- and deploy on -- [the cable] DOCSIS plant. Here, the new Aironet 1520 mesh node is an important improvement to Cisco's offer."

Not that Jarich sees ServiceMesh as a slam dunk.

"Yes, Cisco can deliver a complete mesh solution in terms of nodes, service delivery, client and routing assets. Some operators, however, will want to integrate products outside the Cisco portfolio, and the vendor has done nothing to highlight its capabilities to pull in these products," he said. "Just as importantly, some operators will want single-radio and dual-radio mesh nodes. Cable operators, for example, may not need a two-radio solution since transport is delivered on the DOCSIS plant. Yet, though Cisco has referenced its single-radio 1505 in the past, the company has still done little to market it, not even announcing the product." --Stephen Swoyer