Evolution Digital said it will now integrate OpenSync, an open-sourced framework for Wi-Fi management software, into its Android TV-powered Evo Force 1 set-tops. 

Under the first phase of the integration, OpenSync will make information about customer Wi-Fi networks, including diagnostics and telemetry, transparent to operators via Plume's Frontline proactive support tools.

Comcast-backed Plume is the Wi-Fi tech company that developed OpenSync, along with Samsung.

Subsequent stages of the OpenSync integration will enable Evo Force 1 gadgets to simultaneously serve as Wi-Fi extenders, while also providing customers with network security and parental controls. 

“That’s exactly what’s on our roadmap — so operators will be able to reduce the amount of CPE in the home by enabling Wi-Fi extender capabilities on the Wi-Fi chipset within the set-top box,” an Evolution Digital spokesperson told Next TV.

“This isn’t available yet today, but these are our plans to expand upon the OpenSync agent on the STB,” the rep added. “Other roadmap functionalities include Plume features such as parental controls in order to block certain streaming apps from being used, for example.”

With the OpenSync Summit unfurling in Taipei, Taiwan, this week, this was the second major global announcement surrounding OpenSync. Earlier on Wednesday, RDK announced that the open-sourced framework will now be baked into its RDK for Broadband standards. 

“The marriage of Evo Force 1 and future Android TV roadmap devices with the OpenSync framework delivers a truly optimized experience for the end customer, and offers best-in-breed cloud intelligence to CSPs worldwide that are looking to deliver high-quality IPTV video offerings,” said Marc Cohen, chief revenue officer for Evolution Digital, in a statement. 

Added Liem Vo, chief OpenSync officer at Plume: “With in-home 4K UHD multi-streaming putting increased loads on home networks, service providers must turn to intelligent cloud-managed solutions to ensure optimal set-top box connectivity and an impeccable customer experience. By opting for OpenSync and Plume’s SaaS Experience Platform — including whole-home adaptive Wi-Fi — Evolution Digital has taken an important step in providing a future-proofed and highly scalable platform that will fulfill the consumers’ streaming needs into the future.” ■

RDK Management has made OpenSync, a key software component for managed Wi-Fi, available for RDK for Broadband-abiding makers of residential gateways, access points and mesh extenders.

OpenSync is an open-source framework for Wi-Fi management software. It was primarily developed by Wi-Fi tech company Plume, which has major backing from Comcast. And Comcast, along with Charter Communications and Liberty Global, backs RDK Management. 

RDK for Broadband (RDK-B) consists of open-source software components that standardize core functions used in broadband customer premises equipment across network access technologies including DOCSIS, GPON (Gigabit Passive Optical Network), digital subscriber line and fixed wireless.

RDK-B provides a consistent technical approach for routing, device management, diagnostics, DNS settings and Internet of Things (IoT) interfaces (i.e. Bluetooth, Thread, and Zigbee), among other functions. 

By standardizing these functions, service providers can develop and deploy a consistent set of applications and services across various chipset and hardware suppliers. One of the key components of RDK-B is Wi-Fi management software.

The new RDK-B Wi-Fi management software standardizes core functionality used in Wi-Fi gateways, access points and Mesh extenders/pods for operators deploying OpenSync or Wi-Fi EasyMesh. It provides common methods to manage features such as band steering, device telemetry and interoperability with cloud-based Wi-Fi management systems via the common RDK message bus (RBus). 

Comcast and the OpenSync community worked jointly on the contributed component, which will become the default for RDK-B and be maintained by RDK Management moving forward.

“Wi-Fi connectivity, monitoring, and optimization are foundationally important to operators throughout the RDK community,” Jason Briggs, president and general manager of RDK, said in a statement. 

Added Labeeb Ismail, senior VP of global devices software for Comcast and Sky: “The contribution of the new Wi-Fi management software will provide a powerful set of tools to the RDK community and support cloud-based Wi-Fi connectivity services for the broadband devices used by Comcast, Sky and our syndication partners. The collective efforts of Comcast, Plume, OpenSync, RDK and others provide key underlying software technology designed to help deliver an exceptional home Wi-Fi experience to our customers.” ■

Despite having announced adoption of managed WiFi technology, Charter Communications is, increasingly, an outlier among U.S. telecoms for having yet to launch an actual service.

The eighth-largest cable company in the U.S., Atlantic Broadband, recently became the latest MSO to launch managed WiFi based on a cloud-based technology developed by Plume, OpenSync. 

Atlantic Broadband, which reported 492,212 broadband customers as of the end of September, is now offering these subscribers “WiFi Your Way.” Powered by Plume’s HomePass technology, the new service includes AI-driven optimization features, which adapt router settings to customer usage patterns to deliver better speed and performance over time. There are control and personalization features that let parents shut down and enable their kids’ devices from their iOS and Android smartphones. 

ALSO READ: WiFi Gets Its Biggest Upgrade in Decades

There are also online security features, as well as home security enablements, such as motion detection. 

The Atlantic Broadband announcement comes about 14 months after Charter, the No. 2 U.S. cable operator, said its Spectrum operations would deploy managed WiFi based on Plume’s core technology, the open-sourced, cloud-based software OpenSync. 

But Charter still hasn’t deployed the managed WiFi service, which it calls “Advanced In-Home WiFi,” to key markets such as Los Angeles. 

For its part, Charter just published a self-produced Q&A with its top technology executive, Stephanie Mitchko-Beale, who said the company is “in the process of launching” Advanced In-Home WiFi “throughout our footprint.”

The service, she said, will enable Charter’s more than 28.6 million home internet customers “control over their security and privacy by letting them see every device that’s connected to their network and how it’s being used.

“Throughout the year, we plan to make Advanced WiFi available in more markets, and we continue to expand the availability to our own Spectrum-branded WiFi Pods to enable customers to maximize network connectivity throughout their home,” Mitchko-Beale added. 

ALSO READ: Netgear Debuts Pricey WiFi 6E Router

Asked which Charter markets have seen Advanced In-Home WiFi deployments,
a representative for the MSO referred Multichannel News to the Mitchko-Beale statement. 

Notably, top U.S. cable operator Comcast, an early investor in Plume, has been offering managed WiFi services based on OpenSync to 30 million-plus broadband customers for several years. 

For now, the limited penetration of managed WiFi doesn’t appear to be curtailing Charter’s overall proliferation of broadband services, with the cable operator adding 537,000 high-speed internet customers in the third quarter.  

Earlier this week, the eighth largest cable company in the U.S., Atlantic Broadband, announced that it has become the latest MSO to launch a managed WiFi service based on a cloud-based technology developed by Plume, OpenSync. 

Atlantic Broadband, which reported 492,212 broadband customers as of the end of September, is now offering these subscribers the managed WiFi service “WiFi Your Way.” Powered by Plume’s "HomePass" technology, the new service includes AI-driven optimization features, which adapt router settings to customer usage patterns to deliver better speed and performance over time. There are control and personalization features that let parents shut down and enable their kids’ devices from their iOS and Android smart phones. 

There are also online security features, as well as home security enablements, such as motion detection. 

The Atlantic Broadband announcement comes about 14 months after the No. 2 U.S. cable operator, Charter Communications, announced that it would deploy managed WiFi services based on Plume’s core technology, the open-sourced, cloud-based software OpenSync. 

But Charter still hasn’t deployed the managed WiFi service, which it calls “Advanced In-Home WiFi,” to key market such as Los Angeles. 

Also Read: Charter Promises 200 Mbps Base Speeds in 17 More Markets

Earlier this week, Charter published a self-produced Q&A with its top technology executive, Stephanie Mitchko-Beale, who said the cable operator is “in the process of launching” Advanced In-Home WiFi “throughout our footprint.”

The service, she said, will enable Charter’s more than 28.6 million home internet customers “control over their security and privacy by letting them see every device that’s connected to their network and how it’s being used.

“Throughout the year we plan to make Advanced WiFi available in more markets, and we continue to expand the availability to our own Spectrum-branded WiFi Pods to enable customers to maximize network connectivity throughout their home,” Mitchko-Beale added. 

When asked which Charter markets have seen Advanced In-Home WiFi deployments, a Charter rep referred Multichannel News to the Mitchko-Beale statement. 

Notably, top U.S. cable operator Comcast, an early inventor in Plume, has been offering managed WiFi services based on OpenSync to 30 million-plus broadband customers for several years. 

For now, the limited penetration of managed WiFi doesn’t appear to be curtailing Charter’s overall proliferation of broadband services, with the cable operator adding 537,000 high-speed internet customers in the third quarter. 

Charter Communications has formally announced its adoption of OpenSync, an open-source managed WiFi technology developed by WiFi tech company Plume.

Charter said it’s already using OpenSync in Austin, Texas, allowing customers visibility into their home WiFi networks, as well as the ability to control the usage of individual devices.

The official announcement of the MSO’s OpenSync adoption comes as most wireline broadband providers—including much smaller cable companies—already have deployed managed WiFi services. It also comes just over a month after MCN reported the Charter-Plume partnership out of Cable-Tec Expo.

Related: Charter To Team with Plume For Managed WiFi

“Advanced in-home WiFi provides Spectrum Internet and WiFi customers with the ability to optimize their home networks, offering both detailed insights and providing greater control of their connected devices to deliver an unmatched home WiFi experience,” said Rich DiGeronimo, Charter’s chief product and technology officer, in a statement. “Integrating our core advanced technology and leading WiFi router with the OpenSync cloud platform and software stack allows us to nimbly deliver best-of-breed features and services.

“Approximately 300 million devices are connected to our vast network, and we take seriously our responsibility to deliver fast, reliable service, while protecting and securing our customers’ online private information,” DiGeronimo added.

OpenSync has already been adopted by Comcast and Liberty Global, among other cable companies.

“Leveraging OpenSync, Charter has taken a bold step by decoupling the curation and delivery of smart home services from the CPE hardware, gaining a massive time-to-market and scalability advantage,” said Fahri Diner co-founder and CEO of Plume.