RDK deployments top 50m
June 5, 2019
Colin Mann @ ANGA COM
RDK Management has shared details about the adoption of RDK open source software used to power customer-premises equipment (CPE) from video and broadband services providers worldwide.
“Service providers around the globe recognise that RDK gives them ultimate control over their software roadmaps and data within the connected home, across video, broadband and IoT connected devices,” said Steve Heeb, President and General Manager of RDK, speaking at ANGA COM in Cologne. “As such, there are now more than 50 million deployed devices powered by RDK software.”
“On the broadband side, RDK has become the preferred software stack for broadband gateways from leading suppliers, and they are focused on providing RDK solutions across DOCSIS, DSL, and PON. For video, the RDK App Framework and RDK Video Accelerator make it easier to develop and manage apps in a consistent way across RDK video devices. And, notably, RDK also provides a common method for service providers to leverage device management and ‘big data’ to improve broadband and video performance.”
RDK is an open source software platform for the connected home that standardises core functions used in broadband, video, and IoT connected devices. It enables service providers to manage their devices; control their business models; and customize their apps, UIs and data analytics to improve the customer experience and drive business results. For video, RDK provides a common method across differing chipsets and OEMs to manage video tuning; conditional access; DRM; stream management; diagnostics and more. For broadband, it includes common methods to manage routing, Wi-Fi, DNS, device management, diagnostics, and IoT interfaces, such as Bluetooth, Thread and Zigbee. RDK software is available at no cost to RDK licensees, and RDK community member companies can contribute software changes and enhancements back to the community.
With more consolidations around the globe, many service providers are no longer tied to a single type of access network – DOCSIS, DSL, or EPON/GPON. In response, RDK is being expanded to work across all of them. Leading OEMs, including ARRIS (now part of CommScope), Humax, Sagemcom, and Technicolor are enabling satellite, telco, and cable operators to deploy RDK as their primary software stack on next-gen broadband gateways.
In autumn 20188, RDK unveiled a new video App development programme that gives service providers the flexibility to use the RDK App Framework and SDK to build and manage their own solutions, or select a RDK pre-integrated app store solution such as the Metrological App Store. In addition, ARRIS recently announced the availability of the RDK Video Accelerator, based on the ARRIS VIP5202W UHD IP set-top, which provides an efficient application development platform using the latest RDK version, App Framework and pre-integrated Metrological App Store.
Globally, the number of RDK devices deployed is over 50 million. Dozens of service providers across North America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia are in various stages of evaluation, testing, trials, or deployment. Companies that have publicly announced deployment plans for RDK-based services include Comcast, Cox, J:COM, Liberty Global, Melita, NOS, NOWO, Rogers, Shaw, Tele Columbus, Vidéotron, and Vodafone (formerly Kabel Deutschland).
There are now more than 400 technology companies participating within the RDK community. The community includes many of the world’s leading CE manufacturers, SoC companies, software developers, system integrators, and service providers making innovative code contributions and downloading RDK software components more than six million times per month.