CableLabs has selected advanced voice codecs from Broadcom Corp. and Global IP Sound for all future PacketCable 1.1- and 1.0-certified and qualified embedded multimedia terminal adapters (eMTAs) and PSTN media gateways.

Both vendors have agreed to make their selected codecs available on a royalty-free basis. CableLabs issued a request for proposal on the subject back in May 2002. Previously, toll-quality voice compression codecs within the PacketCable spec were an option, rather than a requirement.

Among the selections, CableLabs picked Broadcom's BroadVoice 16 codec and Global IP Sound's iLBC product.

BroadVoice16, which runs at about 16 kbps, is designed for toll-quality VoIP networks. Broadcom claimed the technology can reduce the bandwidth requirements of VoIP services by more than 50 percent. Broadcom also markets a 32 kbps voice codec called BroadVoice32, which supports enhanced quality telephony service "approaching natural voice or CD quality."

"We believe that the BroadVoice16 solution will be used extensively by cable operators as new cable VoIP services roll out," said Steve Craddock, senior vice president of new media development for Comcast Cable, in a release. Craddock also serves as chairman of the CableLabs PacketCable business team.

Global IP Sound is supplying a version of its iLBC product that operates at 15.2 kbps, and delivers "speech quality equal to or better than G.729 and G.723.1," according to a company product description.

Global IP Sound President & CEO Gary Hermansen said the next step is to get the company's codec implemented with eMTA and media gateway manufacturers.

Before CableLabs picked codecs from Global IP Sound and Broadcom, it was up to the equipment manufacturers to make those choices.

Hermansen said the selection of voice codecs should boost vendor adoption of the PacketCable spec. "This is a great step forward," he said.

The selection becomes formal in April 2005, pending the successful conclusion of multi-vendor interoperability demonstrations, Broadcom noted, in a press release.