The broadband industry is only as strong as the people who power it. 

At CableLabs, we believe that innovation isn’t driven by technology alone — it’s driven by the people behind it. That’s why we’re focused on strengthening the industry through three key areas: collaboration, connection and preparation. By creating environments where people can exchange knowledge, engage with peers and accelerate skill development, we’re not just preparing for the future — we’re actively shaping it.

Together with our subsidiary, SCTE, we build our efforts around:

• Collaborating to solve industry-wide challenges
• Connecting experts, engineers and leaders
• Preparing the future workforce at every level

Through these pillars, groundbreaking ideas become real solutions — and the people who bring them to life are empowered to thrive.

Collaborating to Solve the Industry’s Toughest Challenges

From idea to impact, collaboration is at the core of everything we do.

We know that innovation is a team effort. CableLabs’ working groups bring together member operators, vendors and industry peers to align on challenges and develop real-world solutions. Whether it's advancing DOCSIS® technology through hands-on collaboration in our Interop·Labs events or shaping network evolution strategies across our innovation ecosystem, every breakthrough starts with the right people in the room.

This commitment to collaboration is reflected in efforts like the Technology Vision for the industry, which reframes broadband innovation around user experience — and the shared work it takes to deliver it. You can also see it in action through initiatives like our Interop·Labs events, where engineers and vendors test, refine and accelerate the development of new technologies together.

All of this is backed by the work happening inside our labs, where real-world testing environments make it possible to move from concept to deployment — with speed and precision.

This collaborative spirit is what enables solutions to scale. Collaboration within the broadband ecosystem helps align the industry and drive progress — ultimately allowing operators and vendors to accomplish more together. It’s essential that we create impact together by turning shared challenges into real-world solutions. We invite our members and the vendor community to engage with us and one another through CableLabs working groups, SCTE Standards, and a host of interoperability and industry events.

Connecting Industry Leaders

Innovation accelerates when people come together.

The broadband industry moves forward when people have the space to connect, exchange ideas and learn from one another. At CableLabs, we create opportunities — both in person and online — for members to engage in meaningful conversations that drive the industry ahead.

Events like the CableLabs Winter Conference 2025 bring leaders together to align on priorities and explore the technologies shaping tomorrow’s networks. Our ongoing webinars and virtual events offer flexible, accessible ways to stay informed and engaged throughout the year.

You’ll often see CableLabs at industry events — whether we’re attending, speaking or connecting with peers across the ecosystem. At CES 2025, President and CEO Phil McKinney explored how major trends like AI and immersive experiences are shaping the future of connectivity — and the key role the broadband industry will play in delivering those experiences. Catch the key takeaways in this recap.

Whether face-to-face or virtual, every event is a chance to learn and build the relationships that move innovation forward.

Preparing the Future Workforce

The future of broadband depends on the people who build it.

Sustaining innovation means preparing the next generation of broadband professionals — and supporting those already in the field. CableLabs and our subsidiary, SCTE, are committed to empowering these rising professionals through meaningful on-the-job experiences that help them build the skills, confidence and connections they need to thrive in the industry.

To cultivate future technology leaders, CableLabs’ summer internship program welcomes driven and talented university students to gain real-world experience at our Colorado headquarters and contribute directly to industry innovation. At the high school level, our support for programs like P-TECH are helping local underserved students gain hands-on STEM experience and mentorship.

We’re also proud to collaborate with SCTE, which plays a vital role in equipping engineers and technicians with the certifications, standards and skills they need to meet the challenges of today’s networks — and tomorrow’s.

By investing in education, mentorship and continuous training, we’re helping ensure the broadband workforce is ready for what’s next.

Looking Ahead

Collaboration, connection and preparation are foundational to the success of the broadband industry. By investing in people and creating opportunities to work and grow together, we’re not only getting ready for what’s next; we’re helping lead the way.

We look forward to building the future — together.

CableLabs is proud to partner with Broadcom, Cisco, the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) and the Wi-Fi Alliance (WFA) to offer an open-source version of the Open Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) solution.

This platform enables unlicensed devices to operate as Standard Power (SP) devices within the recently opened 6GHz band. SP devices have a higher power than indoor devices operating in the same band. While the most common unlicensed technology is Wi-Fi, the AFC can also support other wireless technologies.

What Is the Open AFC Project?

This partnership, called the Open AFC Project, focuses on maintaining an open-source version of the AFC. The goal is to provide a foundation for new AFC vendors to enter the ecosystem and to offer a platform for global regulators to further explore expanding share spectrum in their regions. The Open AFC open-source platform originated from the Open AFC work under the Telecom Infra Project (TIP).

In March 2024, TIP announced the retirement of the Open Automated Frequency Coordination Software Group, which had been tasked with developing a platform to enable Standard Power Wi-Fi operation in the 6GHz band. This industry collaboration group’s mission was to quickly develop an AFC platform for the U.S., with an eye toward global adoption.

The TIP Open AFC enabled three entities — Broadcom, WBA and WFA — to receive Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approval, expanding the number of AFC solutions available within the ecosystem. With the retirement of the TIP Open AFC, TIP has handed off the golden version of the open-source reference Open AFC platform to the Open AFC Project.

The goal of the Open APF Project is to manage this open-source AFC platform, ensuring continued alignment with current and future FCC regulations. Contributions from the AFC community will support ongoing improvements, and as more global regions adopt 6GHz, the AFC can expand to include their regulations and rules — ultimately supporting a unified global platform.

As additional bands are reviewed worldwide to become shared spectrum between licensed, partially licensed and unlicensed deployments, AFC technology has the potential to play a key role in coordinating services within those bands.

For more information about the Open AFC Project, contact Luther Smith, or subscribe to the CableLabs blog for updates on our work on wireless technologies and more.

CableLabs is pleased to announce the certification of the industry’s first DOCSIS 3.1 Plus (DOCSIS 3.1+) device supporting four orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) channels. The certified device, developed by Vantiva, represents a key milestone in advancing broadband performance and capacity for cable operators worldwide.

The DOCSIS 3.1 specifications require support for at least two OFDM channels but have always included the option to support more; until recently, the available technology solutions did not support that additional capability. Devices identified as DOCSIS 3.1+ are certified to be compliant to the existing DOCSIS 3.1 specification with additional OFDM channels, extending the modem’s capabilities with increased downstream throughput (up to ~8-9Gbps).

By increasing the number of OFDM channels from two to four, the newly certified device significantly boosts potential bandwidth, improving user experience and opening up new service opportunities without expensive plant upgrades.

This achievement by Vantiva highlights the continued innovation in the broadband ecosystem and sets the stage for operators to begin delivering even greater speeds and capacity to their customers.

Why Certification Is Critical

This certification demonstrates both the readiness of the technology and the growing momentum toward more scalable, efficient network solutions ahead of full DOCSIS 4.0 deployments.

Although the DOCSIS 3.1 specification has been published for several years, certification remains an extremely important part of maintaining a reliable, interoperable ecosystem. Devices submitted to CableLabs often encounter issues during certification testing that require extensive troubleshooting and firmware changes before certification can be granted. This significantly reduces the amount of testing that needs to be conducted by operators prior to deployment, accelerating deployment. Therefore, operators rely on and choose devices that have been properly tested and certified at CableLabs.

Continuing the March Forward

In past years, DOCSIS technology has steadily advanced, driven by a strong ecosystem of member operators and vendors collaborating with CableLabs.

Every generation of the technology — from DOCSIS 1.0 to 3.0 and 3.1 to 4.0 — has enabled operators to deliver higher speeds, increased capacity, lower latency and more robust security. That momentum continues as CableLabs continues to define the future of DOCSIS networks and how that evolution fits into our broader strategy for member operators.

Learn more about CableLabs’ certification process and how DOCSIS technology has evolved over the years. To engage with us in our ongoing DOCSIS technology work, request to join a related working group or participate in a future Interop-Labs event.

For most consumers, staying connected to the services they rely on every day likely requires subscriptions to two separate services: a broadband service at home and another for their mobile phone when they’re away from home.

What if network operators could provide a single connectivity service that ensures their subscribers’ applications and devices would work seamlessly at home, away from home, in remote areas, on a plane or traveling internationally? All their devices and applications would connect — wherever, whenever — and they wouldn’t have to worry about managing connections, passwords, authentication or security.

That’s the objective of Connectivity as a Service (CaaS).

Multiple system operators (MSOs) are uniquely positioned to offer a CaaS solution. Those that either own and operate their own mobile networks or leverage mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) relationships can make the solution available to every household or business passed by their networks. CaaS can be positioned as a truly differentiated service that other types of connectivity service providers can’t match at scale.

Connectivity That’s On — Whenever, Wherever

Put yourself in your subscribers’ shoes.

If your gateway and service provider provided a solution like CaaS, you wouldn’t need to worry about your wired or wireless connection at home or work going down. Your provider would monitor both and ensure all your devices, security services and Internet of Things (IoT) applications remain online. When you start a video conference at home and head to work, the session would seamlessly switch from your home Wi-Fi to cellular. Then, when you arrive at the office, it would transition to your company’s Wi-Fi network — all without voice or video drops, or manual intervention. All without giving the network a single thought.

Imagine you’re at the airport and need to send a critical file to a colleague. Your CaaS would automatically tether your laptop to your smartphone and “know” not to use one of the many untrusted options that the corporate security team keeps warning about. In the air, you would enjoy the Wi-Fi that your CaaS provider offers through a partner satellite service — without the umpteen steps your mobile provider and the airlines make you jump through for a weak connection.

Then, at your foreign destination, you would still be connected, with your service leveraging the roaming agreements that your CaaS provider has with top local networks. Finally, if you head into a remote area, your smartphone would be able to stay connected via low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite connectivity, ensuring connectivity for critical messages, calls and safety purposes.

A Differentiated Service for Happier Users

With CaaS, the discussions over whether to use fiber, cable, fixed wireless or satellite at home or which mobile carrier works best at work, at school, on vacation or wherever become moot.

By providing such a service, operators can guarantee their customers stay connected with whatever applications they’re running, whenever, wherever they are. Add in customizable privacy features and an “away” button for when users just need to disconnect, and you have a winning connectivity solution — and more satisfied subscribers.

CableLabs is working on the concepts, user stories, requirements and architecture elements that MSOs will need to offer Connectivity as a Service. Let’s work together to deliver the only connectivity service your subscribers will ever need.

Contact us to learn more about CaaS, share your ideas for additional features and get involved.

Last year, we shared how CableLabs is transforming networks through open-source API solutions as part of our work in the CAMARA project. Today, we’re excited to highlight the progress made in CAMARA’s newly published spring 2025 meta-release. The new release includes significant updates across CAMARA’s expanding suite of open network APIs — and spotlights CableLabs’ continued contributions to this global effort.

We actively contribute to the open-source project, which is hosted by Linux Foundation, to drive the development of new APIs and help advance industry alignment. These contributions are all part of CableLabs’ work on Network as a Service (NaaS), which allows network operators to expose previously unavailable features to application developers via open-source APIs. Other contributors to CAMARA include network operators — both wired and mobile — as well as application developers and hardware vendors.

Through this open-source approach, CAMARA aims to ultimately improve the performance of applications across all types of networks — a win for the entire industry.

What's New in CAMARA's Spring 2025 Meta-Release?

CAMARA’s spring 2025 meta-release marks a major milestone for the project, boasting 38 APIs — 9 stable APIs, plus 13 new and 16 updated APIs. The project continues to grow in momentum and industry adoption, bridging the gap between network operators and application developers through a common set of open APIs.

Here are some of the highlights from the Spring25 release that multiple service operators (MSOs) should have on their radar:

• Quality on Demand (QoD) with advanced quality of service (QoS) profile support, including Low Latency Low Loss Scalable Throughput (L4S)
• Continued enhancements to Edge Cloud, Connectivity Insights and Network Access Management APIs
• Creation of Session Insights sandbox API repository, which will enable real-time visibility into device behavior and network sessions from application to network operator. This was previously called Quality by Design and is now called Session Insights at CAMARA.

You can explore the full scope of the spring 2025 meta-release on the CAMARA wiki or read the Linux Foundation’s summary.

This spring release is the first of two planned for this year. After being released by CAMARA, APIs are available for anyone to download and use. The fall 2025 meta-release is currently in the planning phase.

Here’s a look at the timeline for the upcoming fall release:

• End of April: Scope finalized
• June: Code ready for testing
• July/August: Testing and defect fixing
• September: Official release targeted

Get Involved

Read more about the CAMARA open-source project on its website and join the project on GitHub. If you are a CableLabs member or part of our vendor community, you can join the Network as a Service working group. Member operators can also learn more by visiting our recently updated Member Portal, which requires a CableLabs account for log-in.

Let's help drive the industry forward together!

The future of connectivity will be built on networks that deliver seamless customer experiences. To differentiate themselves in the broadband market, operators must embrace relentless innovation and adaptive service models centered on network evolution, monetization strategies and enhanced user experiences.

As networks evolve beyond traditional boundaries, CableLabs’ ongoing commitment to network platform development, standards and specifications, and vendor interoperability provides a foundation for continuous service innovation.

The shift from infrastructure-centric competition to service-driven differentiation demands a new approach to service delivery. The convergence of fixed and mobile networks — and rapid advancements in satellite network technology — will empower operators to offer next-generation services.

Partnering for Progress in Next-Gen Connectivity

Key to advancing seamless connectivity services is collaborative innovation and problem-solving — a tenet of the Technology Vision for the future of the industry. By joining forces with others in the ecosystem, CableLabs, our member operators and the vendor community can align goals, bring together diverse perspectives, and accelerate the innovation and deployment of new services.

Below, we break down some of the areas of opportunity for differentiated services, what operators should consider now and how they — and other industry stakeholders — can engage with CableLabs in this work.

Fixed Network Evolution: Weighing the Benefits of PON

To meet growing demand for broadband, operators must ensure their networks can deliver higher capacity, lower latency and increased reliability. Passive optical networks (PONs) offer one strategic option to achieve these goals by:

• Extending fiber deeper into networks while maintaining cost efficiency.
• Enabling multi-gigabit speeds and supporting advanced applications to enhance service offerings.
• Providing a scalable foundation for emerging demands such as enterprise SD-WAN, Internet of Things (IoT) and AI-powered services.

Of course, DOCSIS-based HFC networks can also support many of these capabilities, but PON presents an alternative path that could align with some operators’ long-term strategies.

However, deciding when to transition to PON requires careful consideration. Here are three key indicators that may signal the right time to move forward:

• Capacity Constraints and Network Performance: If existing hybrid fiber coax (HFC) networks are approaching capacity limits, PON is one option that can provide the scalability needed to support data-heavy applications like cloud gaming and 8K streaming. When congestion and reliability issues impact quality of experience, operators should assess whether PON can improve performance.
• Long-Term Cost and Infrastructure Strategy: PON simplifies network architecture and supports higher-density service areas. In many cases, it may be a cost-effective long-term investment for operators looking to expand fiber deeper into their networks.

Operator Takeaway: Before switching to PON, operators should consider whether it could help them maximize investment returns and stay ahead of industry demands by aligning network evolution strategies with business objectives.

Advanced Optics: A Path Toward Coherent PON

Advanced optics play a critical role in ensuring that networks can deliver multi-gigabit speeds, support low-latency applications and optimize fiber deployments for both residential and enterprise customers. To meet growing demand, operators need fiber-optic solutions that can scale to meet increasing bandwidth and reliability requirements.

Investing in next-generation optical technologies allows operators to:

• Maximize fiber network efficiency by increasing capacity without requiring excessive infrastructure overhauls.
• Deliver higher-speed, lower-latency services to meet the needs of ultra-HD streaming, cloud gaming and AI-driven applications.
• Prepare for future speeds of 10G and beyond by leveraging advanced optical transport solutions that enable seamless scalability.

Designed for long-term scalability, Coherent PON (CPON) is one such solution. It allows for multi-gigabit symmetrical speeds while also reaching farther and splitting higher, and it improves on spectral efficiency relative to traditional PON technology. It is ideal for high-density areas, enterprise services and next-generation applications that require higher fiber capacity and lower latency.

Operator Takeaway: There is no one-size-fits-all approach to optical network evolution. Operators must assess their growth objectives, market conditions and infrastructure readiness to determine the best path for the future.

Fixed-Mobile Convergence: Leveraging the HFC Network

Fixed-mobile convergence (FMC) is emerging as a key strategy that allows operators to deliver a consistent connectivity experience across broadband, Wi-Fi, cellular and, in the future, satellite networks. As consumer demand for seamless, always-connected experiences grows, operators must find ways to integrate fixed and mobile networks to provide a more unified service.

By leveraging the HFC network for FMC, operators can:

• Reduce reliance on costly mobile spectrum by offloading mobile data to fixed networks where possible.
• Improve customer experience without service disruptions.
• Optimize network efficiency by dynamically routing traffic based on capacity and cost.

FMC allows operators to maximize their existing fixed network infrastructure while enhancing mobile service capabilities. Here’s how operators can take advantage of this shift:

• Wi-Fi Offload: Operators with extensive HFC deployments can offload mobile traffic to their Wi-Fi networks. This reduces cellular network congestion and improves performance by leveraging home and public Wi-Fi hotspots to supplement mobile coverage.
• Seamless Network Handoffs: With improved integration between fixed and mobile networks, as well as network intelligence, users can transition between fixed broadband and mobile networks without disruption. This is an important way to improve customer satisfaction in densely populated areas where mobile networks may experience congestion.

Operator Takeaway: Fixed-mobile convergence represents the next phase in network evolution, offering cost efficiencies, improved service reliability and a superior user experience. Operators who invest in HFC-driven FMC solutions will be well-positioned to compete in a world where customers expect continuous, high-quality connectivity across all their devices.

Security and Privacy: Leveraging Security as a Competitive Advantage

In today’s digital landscape, network security and data privacy are no longer just compliance requirements — they have become key differentiators that influence customer trust, retention and revenue growth. With cyber threats increasing in both sophistication and frequency, operators must move beyond reactive security measures and instead offer proactive, built-in security features that enhance service value.

Investing in advanced security and privacy solutions enables operators to:

• Differentiate their services by highlighting existing premium security features in networks that customers may not see from competitors.
• Reduce operational risks by preventing cyberattacks that could result in downtime, data breaches or regulatory action.
• Enhance customer trust and loyalty by providing robust protections for user data and privacy.

When security is viewed as a revenue driver rather than a cost center, operators can create value-added services by leveraging cutting-edge technology to protect network and customer data. Here’s how:

• In-Home Security: Enabling experiences in the home that are built upon a security foundation for device connectivity, making secure living easy and automated while providing peace of mind.
• Infrastructure and Operations Security: Implementing zero trust architectures ensures that network components don’t rely upon geography for security, but that every element is credentialed and authenticated. This creates challenges for adversarial lateral movement within the network and enhances security for both consumers and enterprises.
• Privacy-Enhancing Technologies: With increasing regulatory scrutiny on data privacy, operators can differentiate themselves by implementing confidentiality in communications — led by cable networks, through secure onboarding of devices and privacy-preserving practices pioneered by the cable industry.

Operator Takeaway: Security and privacy are no longer just back-end considerations. They are now frontline competitive advantages that impact customer decisions. Operators that proactively integrate zero trust security, privacy-enhancing technologies and intelligent threat detection into their service offerings will not only protect their networks but also gain a strategic edge in the market.

Next Steps for Investment in Service Innovation

Continuous service innovation is the heartbeat of the broadband industry. By investing strategically in network evolution, security and service integration, operators position themselves to capture new revenue opportunities and maintain market leadership.

The path forward for market differentiation begins with a careful assessment of where to invest and what to prioritize. If you’re an operator, here’s how to get started.

• Identify Market Gaps: Start by conducting thorough market research, including customer insights and competitor analysis. Using this analysis, identify unmet customer needs and competitive gaps to inform your technology investment strategy and service development roadmap.
• Leverage Industry Collaboration: Industry collaboration accelerates innovation while reducing individual risk. Participation in working groups and interoperability events helps operators share knowledge, validate solutions and ensure compatibility across vendor ecosystems while leveraging emerging technologies to differentiate.
• Adopt Emerging Technologies Strategically: Prioritize investments that align with long-term service objectives and focus on network upgrades that enable multiple service opportunities rather than single-use solutions.
• Measure ROI and Market Impact: Track key performance indicators such as customer response, technology performance and revenue indicators to measure implementation success. Adjust strategies and next steps based on market response.

Accelerating Service Differentiation Through Collaborative Innovation

While collaboration may seem counterintuitive as a differentiation method, working with other industry stakeholders is one of the best ways to develop scalable, real-world solutions that meet user needs. Industry collaboration drives standardization, accelerates technology adoption and reduces deployment risks. Without it, operator capabilities may be limited and could result in lost growth opportunities, poor user experiences and lagging innovation.

CableLabs remains committed to bringing the industry together by fostering collaboration among our member operators and the vendor community. Working groups, Interop·Labs events and other joint initiatives give operators a platform to help shape the networks of tomorrow by pooling resources, sharing best practices and developing interoperable solutions.

Our member operators can explore the newly updated member portal for details about our ongoing work and how to get involved in our projects, or learn more about working groups using the button below.

Connectivity is experiencing a revolution. Low Earth orbit (LEO) broadband has moved with lightning speed from a futuristic concept to reality, and it’s rapidly becoming a cornerstone of modern connectivity.

SpaceX's Starlink, the leader and only commercially operational player in this field, besides OneWeb, already serves almost 5 million subscribers in 117 countries. The company has provided critical emergency infrastructure during recent hurricanes and wildfires.

This rise of LEO broadband shows no signs of slowing down: Starlink is further pushing the envelope on network capacity as it prepares to deploy its latest V3 satellites on the new, much larger Starship rocket. V3’s supposedly twentyfold increased capacity would even enable gigabit services once sufficiently deployed. Provided Starlink’s claims of “breakeven cash flow” stand investors’ scrutiny, the company will also have the funds to further expand its constellation and service offering. Competitors such as Amazon's Project Kuiper and China's burgeoning LEO programs are hot on Starlink’s heels, and in the coming years could provide robust alternatives.

But what does this satellite internet boom mean for the terrestrial broadband industry? There’s no doubt that satellite will bring both opportunities and challenges, forcing operators like CableLabs’ member companies to ask some hard questions.

A new addition to CableLabs’ strategy brief series on LEO discusses how to analyze the technology’s capacity and examines scenarios for Starlink’s ramp-up. It is available exclusively for CableLabs member operators here.

Below, we provide a high-level look at five considerations for terrestrial broadband operators to keep in mind and also pose five questions for them to consider as the satellite broadband industry moves forward.

Competitive Threat

Starlink’s growing capacity will drive further rising broadband subscriber numbers. So far, most Starlink customers have no terrestrial alternative, so the company’s offer effectively expands the broadband market to remote areas. But once Starship deploys V3 at scale, there would be enough capacity for Starlink to become a significant competitor for home broadband subscribers everywhere.

Question 1: Where is cable market share vulnerable to LEO providers, and how far?

We examine this further in the new members-only strategy brief.

Truly Seamless Converged Low-Latency Connectivity

Starlink already has nine global mobile network operator (MNO) partners beginning to complement its terrestrial coverage with satellite-based connectivity. In the mid-term, this broadened coverage will provide “direct-to-cell” service to any reasonably up-to-date phone anywhere, making dead zones a thing of the past and ubiquitous connectivity table stakes. At the same time, optical free space communication between satellites will enable a major leap in reducing latency.

Question 2: How can broadband operators with a converged network vision integrate LEO as a complementary layer to enhance their service offerings?

“Coopetitive” Ecosystem Building and Coordination

It seems obvious that (at most) a few global LEO connectivity providers will prevail, and any communications service provider (CSP) wanting to offer seamless connectivity will have to partner. Any LEO satellite will be serving on its orbit as a “cell tower in the sky” for many operators in quick succession, and LEO players will simultaneously be competing with CSP’s core service offering.

Question 3: What are the best ecosystem and competitive strategies with LEO players in the mid and long-term? How can we coordinate spectrum use and allocation across borders?

Transactional Connectivity and Capacity Trading

Highly automated transactional trading will become a key mechanism to ensure that the emerging multi-layered ecosystems provide users with the right connectivity option at any time, using, for example, automated roaming and dynamic spectrum allocation.

Question 4: How can networks and users negotiate connectivity and capacity transactions effectively?

Edge Computing

LEO satellite constellations will effectively function as a new edge location with high computing capacity that is only one millisecond-hop away from any point on the planet. Already now, compute capacity on satellites handles complex image processing tasks. Amazon Kuiper has announced to integrate their offer with their AWS footprint. CableLabs’ Next-Gen Systems team is exploring the possibilities of this “Cloud in the Sky.”

Question 5: What use cases will this new satellite edge enable? How can it interplay with the evolving terrestrial edge footprint?

How CableLabs Can Help

This exciting time demands proactive engagement to stay ahead of the curve and chart a successful course towards sustained differentiation.

CableLabs experts have insights, tools and research at the ready to help our members deepen their understanding of the LEO broadband landscape, assess market risks and competitive threats, and drive innovation. Whether you’re a strategist, an engineer, a product manager or just someone fascinated by the LEO possibilities, the message is clear: Pay attention, engage with the experts and be ready to adapt. LEO broadband isn’t just on the rise — it’s redefining the horizon.

For more in-depth analysis, check out the new members-only strategy brief about LEO and subscribe to the CableLabs blog to stay tuned for future updates.

Seamless connectivity is increasingly becoming an integral part of the connectivity service offerings of multiple system operators (MSOs). MSOs with their hybrid network infrastructure and varied service offerings may supplement their connectivity offerings with other wireless operators — for example, mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) agreements with mobile network operators (MNOs) — in addition to leveraging their own infrastructure. Depending on the infrastructure they own, MSOs may have to contend with disparate sets of wireless infrastructures.

In such scenarios, the transition of the user’s data traffic between these disparate networks becomes critical for ensuring a consistent user experience. It is also key to enforcing uniform and personalized policies as users move in and out of coverage of these networks with regards to:

• The transition being optimally triggered, considering not just the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) but also the network congestion, availability of and interference from neighboring networks and the traffic requirements (based on traffic/application type).
• The transition being as quick and seamless as possible (without any noticeable service disruption to the user) while maintaining security and privacy of user data.

Addressing these challenges will enable seamless and consistent connectivity for subscribers, dynamically adapting to evolving user needs and network conditions.

CableLabs’ Work In the Seamless Connectivity Space

CableLabs recognizes the evolving mobile industry landscape driven by the introduction of 5G and the availability of new and innovative spectrum options. Aware of our members’ growing mobile subscriber base and a need to complement their existing broadband offerings, we understand how critical it is to resolve the pain points that they face today (or may face in the near future).

Considering this, CableLabs, in collaboration with our members, started a Seamless Connectivity working group (WG) to understand and validate some of these issues. The aim of the group is to come up with multiple solutions that could cater to specific member needs by aligning with their infrastructure and deployment strategies. Seamless connectivity is a key theme of the Technology Vision for the future of the industry.

One potential solution for addressing the seamless connectivity issue is ATSSS, or Access Traffic Steering, Switching and Splitting. To learn more about the standardized ATSSS feature, watch our demo video below. You can watch the full video, “Harnessing ATSSS: Seamless Traffic Switching for Uninterrupted Connectivity,” here.

To learn more, check out the paper on seamless connectivity that we published at SCTE TechExpo24.

If you have any questions on the ATSSS demo or seamless connectivity initiative or if you would like to participate in the working group and collaborate with us, please reach out to me or my colleagues Sanjay Patel, John Bahr and Neeharika Jesukumar.

At the recent DOCSIS® Provisioning of XGS-PON Interop·Labs event at CableLabs, suppliers of PON optical line terminals (OLTs) exercised their systems’ ability to configure XGS-PON optical network units (ONUs) via the use of DOCSIS-style configuration files. The event took place February 24–28 at our headquarters in Louisville, Colorado.

CableLabs member operators have long been familiar with the method of using a configuration file to provision services on a DOCSIS cable modem. Beginning a decade or so ago, DOCSIS-style configuration was also utilized by many operators to simplify the provisioning of IEEE EPON systems compliant to the DOCSIS Provisioning of EPON (DPoE) specifications. These DPoE virtual cable modem (vCM) config files enabled an operator to use the same service provisioning back-office systems that they originally deployed for DOCSIS cable modems to provision services on DPoE EPON networks.

Fast-forward to today, and many CableLabs member operators are deploying or preparing to deploy ITU-T-based PON technologies, including XGS-PON, 25GS-PON and 50G HSP.

Some XGS-PON OLT suppliers have now also adopted the vCM config file method for provisioning ONU services by adding a DOCSIS adaptation layer (DAL) software function to their system offering. The DAL solution performs the well-known cable modem DHCP and TFTP transactions on behalf of each ONU registering on each OLT managed by the system. The DAL parses the contents of each config file and translates those contents into directives on the OLT. This provides the OLT with the necessary details to complete the service configuration of a given ONU.

Using an OLT with a DAL capability isn’t the only method to configure services on each ONU. Other methods include the use of SDN-based procedures and protocols such as Netconf or OLT supplier-provided RESTful APIs. But the use of the DAL and DOCSIS-style config files can ease the transition of member operators into ITU-T-based PON technologies, without the need for wholesale replacement of the operator’s service provisioning back-office.

Supplier Participation in the Provisioning of XGS-PON Interop

We thank the supplier participants who helped make the February interop event so successful. The primary participants were XGS-PON OLT suppliers who showcased their DAL implementations.

These OLT suppliers included Calix, Harmonic and Nokia. In particular, Calix tested using their E7-2 OLT and DPx DAL. Harmonic brought their Pier OLT and cOS virtualized core software platform. And Nokia tested using their Lightspan MF-2 OLT with Altiplano controller and a DAL from their solution partner, ZCorum. As a bonus, Nokia demonstrated that the DOCSIS provisioning method can also be used to provision services on a 25GS-PON optical network unit (ONU).

In addition to the OLT supplier participants, MaxLinear was in attendance with their reference-design XGS-PON ONU, and TraceSpan participated with their NG-PON Xpert analyzer, whose DPoX Validation capability was instrumental for validating the correctness of the OMCI configurations that were set by the OLTs.

How the XGS-PON ONU Test Cases Unfolded

During the interop event, CableLabs provided an identical set of XGS-PON ONUs of various makes and models to each of the three OLT suppliers. CableLabs also provided a set of standard config files — one for each of the test cases defined in the interop test plan.

By utilizing a common set of ONUs and config files, we could see how each OLT-plus-DAL system reacted to a given config file on a given ONU. The overall goal of the event was to work towards a given ONU having an identical service configuration — for a given test case — across all the OLTs.

The test plan executed at this event was derived from the DOCSIS Provisioning of ITU-T PON tech report, which CableLabs published in December 2024. Test cases included basic HSD configuration of ONUs with a single Ethernet port as well as ONUs with multiple Ethernet ports. When configuring services on ONUs with multiple ports, a config file construct called a Cable Modem Interface Mask (CMIM) Classifier was utilized to control which ports on the ONU were active. Testing also included a triple-play (HSD, IP Voice and IP Video) test case, which utilized Differentiated Services Code Point (DSCP) traffic classifiers in the config file. A final test case that was executed from the interop test plan included the use of an ONU with an integrated eRouter functionality.

In cases where an OLT supplier was not initially able to successfully configure a given ONU for a given test case, we allowed the supplier to make customizations to the standard config file. This enabled the supplier to execute the test case and note where changes in their software might be needed to successfully use the standard config file in the future.

Each test case executed during the event made use of the lab’s 100GE traffic generation system, the lab’s standard DHCP and TFTP server infrastructure, and a PON analyzer to decode the ITU-T-specified ONU Management and Control Interface (OMCI) message exchanges across the PON. Many thanks to Charter Communications and TraceSpan Communications for supplying additional NG-PON Xpert analyzer units, enabling each OLT supplier test setup to utilize a dedicated analyzer.

Beyond the primary DOCSIS provisioning focus of this February event, we were pleasantly surprised that one of the supplier participants in this event brought OLT and ONU software versions that demonstrated partial compliance to the Cable OpenOMCI I01 specification. We look forward to seeing many more suppliers follow suit in the near future.

Applying the Lessons Learned

Overall, the results of the event were encouraging, with both established as well as new supplier entries into this product space showcasing their abilities to provide common service configurations across a wide variety of ONU makes and models.

The implementations exercised at this event indicate that these suppliers believe that a DOCSIS Provisioning of XGS-PON solution will be an important part of their product portfolio for the foreseeable future. We plan to take the lessons learned from this event and apply them to a future update of the DOCSIS Provisioning of ITU-T PON tech report.

Join the Next PON Interop

CableLabs is planning three more PON Interop·Labs events to be held in our Louisville, Colorado, labs in 2025. Our next event is scheduled for the week of April 28, 2025.

The April event will provide an opportunity for OLT suppliers to return with their DAL solutions to once again test ONU and config file interoperability. In addition, ONU and OLT suppliers with software implementations compliant to the Cable OpenOMCI I01 specification will be invited to exercise the capabilities defined in that specification.

There has been momentum in the broadband industry to provide fiber to the premises (FTTP) solutions as a part of an operator’s service portfolio. While optical technologies have long been a part of the cable network, FTTP is the chosen architecture for all-fiber access networks.

For FTTP, the premises can be a subscriber’s home, a commercial location, a campus environment, a multi-dwelling unit (MDU) or another location. Over the past couple of decades, operators have embraced the passive optical network (PON) technology for their fiber-based access network implementations. The point-to-multipoint topology of PON lends itself nicely to the current and future designs of the broadband network.

More recently, many operators have begun deploying PON technologies defined by the International Telecommunications Union Telecommunications Standardization (ITU-T). As a part of its standards development, ITU-T has released standards for 10 Gigabit Symmetrical PON (XGS-PON).

With broadband operators beginning to deploy multiple gigabit service, there’s a growing current of enthusiasm and interest for the efficient deployment, management and maintenance of those access networks. Furthermore, the speed at which technology is moving is impressive and expensive. It is challenging to keep pace with these advancements, which require a matrix of expertise and decision-making support.

Building on PON’s Momentum

PON is one of the technologies that keeps marching forward. CableLabs has participated in the development of PON-based standards and specifications for over a decade, and we’re continuing in that vein to help operators lower barriers for deploying and operating FTTP solutions.

Common provisioning and management of PON in the broadband industry typically requires support of legacy systems that have been in place for decades, e.g., DOCSIS® operations support system (OSS) or integration with newer back-office systems. Near-term objectives for the work CableLabs is beginning include XGS-PON and 25GS-PON support, covering applicability for next-gen PON flavors with special focus on vendor neutrality through device interoperability.

CableLabs has created two working groups dedicated to optimizing the integration of ITU-T PON technologies into cable networks. The two working groups are the Common Provisioning and Management of PON (CPMP) and Optical Operations and Maintenance (OOM). These two groups are complementary in their activities. The CPMP group is focused on supporting the back-office provisioning and management of XGS-PON as well as the interoperability of optical network units (ONUs) with optical line terminals (OLTs). The OOM working group is focused on the operations and maintenance of the underlying optical networks.

Hurdles in Interoperability

There are always tradeoffs with technology, whether it’s price, timing or things out of an operator’s control, such as product availability. However, when customer premises equipment (CPE) is required, there is always an underlying benefit to the interoperability of that device with the network that it connects to.

Interoperability provides necessary competition, which results in pricing benefits, innovation and choice for operators. Having the choice of which ONU is connected to the OLT is instrumental in providing lower cost services with the ability to help foster innovation.

Interoperability involves several technical and logistical challenges. Addressing these hurdles typically involves a combination of adherence to standards, thorough testing and collaboration between vendors to ensure equipment from different manufacturers can work together seamlessly. These hurdles to interoperability include:

• Standardized technology: Standards are not necessarily the end-all-be-all for successful interoperability. In the context of XGS-PON, there is the ONU Management and Configuration Interface (OMCI). This OMCI information is defined in the ITU-T G.988 standard. This is the accepted way to configure and manage ONU equipment via the OLT. OMCI is extremely comprehensive and as such, it is very difficult to provide simple and extensible ways to support interoperability.
• Vendor-specific implementations: Vendors may support proprietary features or extensions in their products. While these can offer enhanced performance, additional functionality and vendor differentiation, they can also create interoperability issues if these features are not supported universally across different vendor equipment.
• Operator requirements: Each operator deployment is different, and each operator requires a specific implementation to support their business objectives. While certain configuration parameters, fault reporting and performance monitoring are common among different implementations, there are always variations, and this requires different configurations for network components and CPE.
• Network configuration, service activation, and management: XGS-PON networks require precise network management and configuration to ensure proper operation. Differences in management systems and configuration approaches between vendors can create integration challenges.
• Testing and certification: Comprehensive testing is required to ensure that equipment from different vendors works together as expected. Many operators and vendors don’t have the infrastructure to support such testing, which becomes a barrier when choosing equipment suppliers. A significant impact on time-to-market is testing. Testing and validation of requirements is a significant cost and effort.

Mitigating Interoperability Hurdles

CableLabs, with the support from vendor partners and member operators, has long had a successful formula for developing specifications that have transferred to CPE interoperability. Device interoperability is the primary objective when producing interface specifications between network components. Vendor neutrality through that device interoperability is a key intention for operators deploying XGS-PON in cable networks.

Developing documentation to standardize technology with the intent for interoperability is a fine line to walk when working with multiple operators and equipment manufacturers. To add fuel to the fire, when standards have already been written, developing a method for interoperability can require modifications to the original formula. By leveraging the existing G.988 OMCI standard, CableLabs is developing a Cable OpenOMCI specification to support ONU configuration in an interoperable way within the industry.

While it is always a goal to develop common processes and requirements that encourage the vendor ecosystem, sometimes vendor-specific parameters are required to support vendor differentiation. It’s important for vendors to differentiate their products, which provides their teams to innovate. The work CableLabs is doing to support device interoperability includes the ability for vendor-specific configurations when needed.

Each operator is different, and each operator has its own set of business objectives that translates to the products it buys, the services it offers, and the networks it builds. When developing specifications to support a myriad of operator requirements that span the globe, we must always be cognizant on ways to support those requirements. During our specification development we work together to identify and accommodate those differences needs across the industry.

While each network is different, for interoperability, some network configuration, service activation, and management must be standardized. This can be required anywhere in the network from the back office all the way to the end of the network with CPE. When building a program to support interoperability this entire ecosystem is in play. The coordination effort and the development of a common set of processes to support interoperability with device configuration, service activation and management is key.

In February, we hosted a DOCSIS® Provisioning of XGS-PON Interop·Labs event for members of the CPMP working group. Testing and certifying devices are very important for interoperability. To help remove the barriers of cost and reduce time-to market with comprehensive testing, CableLabs provides formal interoperability events like this as well as ongoing interoperability activities. Additionally, if needed, CableLabs will develop a certification program to test and certify ONUs against the specification.

Pushing Toward XGS-PON Adoption

While XGS-PON is gaining interest with cable operators, the industry is keen to develop procedures and specifications to support ONU interoperability with OLTs. While there are always common hurdles to interoperability, they are never enough to stop interoperability. Since the XGS-PON technology has already been defined and standardized by ITU-T, this does bring a different hurdle to the work.

Typically, CableLabs and its vendor partners and member operators develop the specifications that support interoperability. However, in this instance, we must leverage existing standards from another SDO. It won’t be impossible, but it will be a heavy lift.

Learn more about our working groups and how CableLabs members and our vendor community can help us chart the way forward for technologies like this.