Altice Labs, the Portugal-based technology arm of the eponymous global telecom conglomerate, has debuted a new line of RDK-based broadband gateways for service providers around the globe.

Most of the devices support the new WiFi 6, 802.11ax standard. And the gateways are available for both hybrid fiber coax and fiber-to-the-home networks, supporting DOCSIS 3.0, DOCSIS 3.1, GPON and XGS-PON.

Altice Labs will deploy the new devices with Altice Europe and Altice USA. The GPON version of the gateway is already deployed with SFR in France, which is part of Altice Europe

Altice, along with RDK Management, will also showcase the tech at the upcoming Broadband World Forum in Amsterdam (October 15-17).

RDK, or Reference Design Kit, is a consortium-backed set of pre-designed software bundles powering cable TV set-tops, broadband gateways and other CPE. The consortium is supported by Comcast, Liberty Global and Charter, and overseen by RDK Management.

“Our suite of Altice Labs’ gateways with RDK can help improve operator efficiency across access technologies and accelerate operator innovation by using a common approach for Wi-Fi management, device diagnostics and data analytics,” said Alcino Lavrador, general manager of Altice Labs, in a statement.

“Altice Labs is renowned for developing world-class broadband solutions, and we’re honored to have them in the RDK community,” added Steve Heeb, president and general manager of RDK. “Altice Labs should be commended for its ability to develop RDK solutions across multiple access network technologies, and for its use in the world’s first GPON deployment with RDK. These exciting broadband products are a clear testament to Altice Labs’ technological leadership and commitment to RDK.”

Altice Group has launched the first of a batch of R&D centers, called Altice Labs, in Portugal this week, while announcing plans to open up similar facilities in the U.S., France, Israel and Dominican Republic in the “coming months.”  

According to Telecompaper, PT Portugal’s R&D unit, PT Inovacao, has been merged with Altice Labs.

Altice, which completed its acquisition of Suddenlink Communications and is pursuing a deal for Cablevision Systems, said the labs will benefit 200 million people in more than 35 countries where Altice has customers.

Altice Labs will support “thousands of engineers,” with expertise spanning telecommunications hardware, business support systems, digital services and, of course, TV.

Notably, the launch and anticipated expansion of Altice Labs comes as CableLabs, the U.S.-based industry R&D consortium with global partnerships, reorganizes to focus on longer-term “innovation projects.”

“Altice Labs will be integrated into local ecosystems, through partnerships with universities, corporate networks, and start-ups, to become full participants in innovation in each country,” according to a summary on the plan.

Altice Group began to discuss its lab plans in November 2015, when the company outlined several strategic initiatives, including the introduction of an advanced home gateway, a multiscreen subscription VOD service, a rebranding of the Numericable and Virgin brands in cable in favor of a new one, SFR. Altice also announced the establishment of a procurement company for the group that will negotiate with suppliers.