The days of measuring network performance by speed alone are long gone. Nearly six years ago, the broadband industry launched its 10G initiative, setting in motion significant achievements toward the widespread availability of a future-ready network capable of much more than multi-gigabit speeds. CableLabs has delivered on every commitment of the initiative since, and we continued that momentum in 2024.

As we move forward into the next era of seamless, context-aware connectivity and intelligent networks, users will expect more than just faster speeds — including more reliability, lower latency and enhanced security from their network connections in addition to faster speeds.

“Digital transformation demands a future-ready network that is not only fast but smart, reliable and adaptive to the user’s needs at any moment,” said CableLabs President and CEO Phil McKinney.

This year, CableLabs and its members have achieved multiple milestones on our path toward a 10G platform that supports all of these goals. These milestones include breakthroughs that will accelerate the transition from the pursuit of ultrafast speeds to an emphasis on creating adaptable networks that can meet the dynamic needs of users and devices in real time.

Among these breakthroughs are advancements in Network as a Service (NaaS); Low Latency, Low Loss, Scalable Throughput (L4S) equipment; interoperability events and the release of new security frameworks.

Building the Future of 10G

The 10G platform of the future is defined by four themes: increased reliability, lower latency, enhanced security and faster speeds. These themes align with the Technology Vision’s core pillars of seamless connectivity, network platform evolution, and pervasive intelligence, security and privacy.

Reliability: NaaS and Operational Practices

Complex application needs require dynamic network solutions. But without a standardized approach, operator capabilities are limited in potential innovation and user experience advancements.

Earlier this year, CableLabs unveiled NaaS to meet this need for a standard solution. In essence, NaaS enables third-party developers to connect directly to network services and data through a common set of APIs. It closes gaps between application needs and network capabilities, supporting faster development at industry scale.

Collaborating with experts from CableLabs and our operator and vendor communities, CableLabs subsidiary SCTE released an operational practice document specifically intended to guide the industry toward improved network reliability. The publication, released in July, serves as a guide for operators and vendors to help achieve the highest network and service reliability through measurement and management of key performance indicators while also lowering operations costs.

Latency: L4S Interoperability

Latency is the key to better user experiences with real-time communication applications. Over the course of 2024, CableLabs facilitated and hosted a series of events focused on improving interoperability between the next-generation applications that implement L4S and the networking gear (including DOCSIS® 3.1 and DOCSIS 4.0 equipment) that provides the necessary L4S congestion signaling.

At these events, application and operating system developers worked to enable future immersive experiences that require low latency at high data rates. Operators were also able to test network configurations for field trials and deployments of Low Latency DOCSIS (LLD) technology.

CableLabs also facilitated a series of L4S interoperability events this year in coordination with the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). The goal of these events was to provide further opportunities for application developers and network equipment developers to collaborate.

In another significant milestone, CableLabs secured a Differentiated Services Code Point (DSCP) value from the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority to mark non-queue-building (NQB) traffic. After years of consensus-building at the IETF, this assignment helps reduce delays and improve the user experience for latency-critical applications such as voice calls and gaming.

Security: Advanced Cybersecurity Standards and Zero Trust Practices

Because intelligent networks have many points of access, they need a comprehensive security framework that can safeguard against threats at each of those points. This framework should emphasize credential protection, supply chain risk management, policy-based access and consistent control.

In January 2024, CableLabs released the Routing Security Profile, or RSP, an actionable and adaptable guide to enhancing internet routing security. The RSP focuses on helping organizations better identify, protect, detect, respond to and recover from cybersecurity events using the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) 1.1’s core functions.

On Oct. 1, 2024, CableLabs released version 2.0 of the RSP, incorporating feedback from stakeholders.

Speed: DOCSIS 4.0 Interoperability

CableLabs also facilitated and hosted a series of events focused on multi-supplier interoperability across the DOCSIS 4.0 ecosystem this year. These events brought participants from various companies together to advance preproduction and development versions of network hardware and application software.

The April event highlighted developments in virtualization and speed, setting new records in downstream speeds — over 9 gigabits per second through a DOCSIS 4.0 modem. The August event focused on advancing upstream capabilities.

In another key milestone for the industry, CableLabs made strides toward further innovation across technology and business models and from multiple suppliers by advancing DOCSIS 4.0 technology with Full Duplex DOCSIS, or FDX, now extending operation to 1.8 gigahertz.

Also this year, SCTE worked with industry and CableLabs experts to publish operational guidelines to aid operators in their transition from DOCSIS 3.1 to DOCSIS 4.0 networks. The December release, which focuses on optimizing the network for the extended spectrum ranges for both upstream and downstream transmissions, is designed to ensure that operators are well-prepared for the upgrade.

CableLabs Members Reach 10G Milestones

Progress toward functional 10G technologies is at the forefront of innovation and development among CableLabs members. Over the past year, several of our members made key advancements:

Charter Communications and CableLabs: Bryte IQ

In September, Charter Communications collaborated with CableLabs to launch a NaaS platform called Bryte IQ. Based on Linux Foundation's open-source CAMARA project, the platform streamlines and secures access for developers on Spectrum’s wired and wireless networks. Bryte IQ will foster innovation through easy-to-use, interoperable APIs, accelerate application development and broaden service possibilities for business-to-business clients.

CableLabs, Charter, Cox Communications, GCI and Rogers Communications: Security and Infrastructure

September also saw the release of the Zero Trust and Infrastructure Security (ØTIS) Best Common Practices (BCP), which aligns CableLabs’ RSP to zero-trust implementation for core and access network infrastructure. ØTIS is a joint initiative with Charter, Cox Communications, GCI and Rogers Communications and focuses on credential protection, secure storage, secure automation and other key security controls.

Comcast and Cox: Speed and Infrastructure

This year, Comcast and Cox both made advancements that will move the industry closer to a 10G platform. Comcast introduced DOCSIS 4.0 and met their goal of reaching 10 million premises with multi-gigabit speeds. Cox committed to a multibillion-dollar annual infrastructure investment in a 10G network.

Comcast: Latency

In November, Comcast successfully completed its field trial of LLD and is now deploying the technology.

Midco: Latency

Midco presented a technical paper at SCTE TechExpo 2024 showing that high-speed data services can be delivered on HFC networks with latency levels comparable to or better than PON performance for NQB traffic.

Midco: Speed and Reliability

As part of its Fiber Forward initiative, Midco is expanding and upgrading its next-generation fiber network its entire footprint which includes Kansas, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. The $500 million investment is on track to deliver 10G speeds to this region by 2030. As a milestone of this next-gen fiber expansion and upgrade, Midco launched multi-gig speeds to all eligible passings and continues to see improved performance, as verified by Ookla Speedtest Intelligence for the fastest internet speeds and highest network Consistency Score.

Rogers: Speed

Also this year, Rogers started trialing DOCSIS 3.1+ cable modems in select neighborhoods in Canada to deliver speeds of 4 Gbps downstream and 1 Gbps upstream, enabled by new DOCSIS 4.0 modem technology, a global first.

Envisioning the Future

The future of context-aware connectivity and intelligent networks is closer than we think.

Heading into a new year, CableLabs continues its commitment to realizing that future through our Technology Vision for the industry. Together with our members and other industry partners, we will work to deliver network technologies that bring us closer to that vision — all made possible by the power of the 10G platform.