​​Product Overview​​

The ​​A9K-48X10GE-1G-SE=​​ is a ​​48-port 10G subscriber-edge line card​​ for Cisco’s ASR 9000 Series routers, engineered for telecom providers managing ​​large-scale broadband or mobile subscriber networks​​. Unlike traditional licensing, its ​​1G-SE (Subscriber-Edge) model​​ ties costs to active subscribers rather than raw port capacity, aligning expenses with revenue-generating traffic—a game-changer for operators in competitive markets.

​​Technical Specifications​​

• ​​Port density​​: 48 x ​​10G SFP+ interfaces​​, backward-compatible with 1G optics for legacy CPE.
• ​​Throughput​​: ​​480 Gbps​​ line-rate forwarding using Cisco’s ​​Quantum Flow Processor ASIC​​.
• ​​Licensing​​: ​​1G-SE​​ tracks ​​per-subscriber usage​​, billing based on ​​simultaneous active sessions​​ (1G increments).
• ​​Energy efficiency​​: ​​0.14W per gigabit​​, 20% lower than the A9K-48X10GE-TR model.
• ​​Protocol support​​: Optimized for ​​PPPoE, IPoE, DHCPv4/v6​​, and ​​CGNAT​​ with hardware-accelerated scale.

​​1G-SE Licensing: Transforming Subscriber Economics​​

The ​​A9K-48X10GE-1G-SE=​​ addresses three pain points in subscriber networks:

1. ​​Cost predictability​​: Pay only for ​​active subscribers​​, avoiding overprovisioning for peak theoretical loads.
2. ​​Revenue alignment​​: Scale licensing fees with actual ARPU (Average Revenue Per User), ideal for ​​variable subscriber bases​​.
3. ​​Granular control​​: Apply policies per 1G subscriber group (e.g., prioritize enterprise over residential traffic).

​​Key Deployment Scenarios​​

• ​​Mass-scale broadband access​​: Manage ​​100K+ subscribers​​ per chassis with per-session QoS and CGNAT.
• ​​5G fixed wireless access (FWA)​​: Handle ​​bursty 5G Home Internet traffic​​ with dynamic license scaling.
• ​​Wholesale ISP services​​: Allocate licenses per reseller (e.g., MVNOs) for transparent billing.

For procurement or licensing terms, visit the “A9K-48X10GE-1G-SE=” product page.

​​Addressing Critical User Questions​​

​​Q: How does 1G-SE handle subscribers exceeding licensed limits?​​
A: Cisco’s ​​burst licensing​​ allows temporary overages, with alerts to upgrade subscriptions mid-cycle.

​​Q: Is the card compatible with ASR 9000’s older chassis like ASR-9010?​​
A: Yes, but 1G-SE licensing requires ​​Cisco IOS XR 7.9.1+​​ and ASR-9904/9912/9922 chassis for full feature support.

​​Q: Does enabling CGNAT impact performance?​​
A: No—hardware-based ​​CGNAT44/CGNAT64​​ runs at line rate, supporting ​​1M+ concurrent sessions​​ per card.

​​Q: Can licenses migrate between ports during hardware upgrades?​​
A: Yes—licenses are pooled at the system level, enabling seamless reallocation.

​​Strategic Value Perspective​​

Having witnessed operators drown in rigid per-port licensing models, the ​​A9K-48X10GE-1G-SE=​​ feels like a lifeline. In markets where subscriber churn averages 15–20%, paying for idle ports is fiscal insanity. This card flips the script by tethering costs to live traffic, effectively making it a ​​profit-sharing partner​​ rather than a cost center. While competitors cling to static models, Cisco’s 1G-SE approach acknowledges a brutal truth: in the subscriber game, scalability isn’t about hardware—it’s about economic survival. For providers prioritizing ARPU over raw port counts, this isn’t just a product—it’s a strategic ally.