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.