CableLabs® Custom Connectivity
A Device-Centric Technology for Deploying Internet Access
Residential internet access has been deployed the same way since broadband internet service was first popularized: a wired drop to the residence, a customer premises equipment (CPE) adapter, a wireless access point and a single password for all wireless devices in the house. This model has been successful in reaching many customers, but not all. Technical issues or prohibitive costs may make broadband inaccessible for some potential customers. In addition, many high-density housing developments with broadband service, such as multi-dwelling units (MDUs), have unreliable Wi-Fi due to the ad-hoc deployment of Wi-Fi access points with overlapping and interfering wireless channels. This results in unsatisfied customers and unnecessary support calls.
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An Alternative Deployment Model
CableLabs Custom Connectivity changes the internet experience for consumers and improves the economics of delivering services for operators. It promotes the device-centric service delivery paradigm, in which the goal is to deliver connectivity directly through the consumer end devices. The architecture also enables a shared-CPE deployment model. It allows operators to customize the delivery of services such as bandwidth, latency, security and other features — per Wi-Fi-enabled device — and to provide a complete home network experience without the need for a CPE, wires or truck rolls for each subscriber.
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Service Customization and Flexibility
The device-centric model is based on a unique credential and identity for a device or a specific group of devices, offering the customer and the operator high-fidelity control and visibility into the home network. Subnetworks can also be set up to provide isolated guest access and create dedicated networks for different device categories such as home security devices and work-from-home users. Additionally, a particular device’s credentials can be revoked without affecting the connectivity of the other device on the network.
Custom Connectivity also enables flexible subscription and payment methods. Using a mobile app, a customer can set up their own home network in minutes and fund it using a variety of subscription or on-demand models, which can be metered based on a variety of business policies like bandwidth and/or the number of provisioned devices. Billing flexibility allows for services for individual devices to be assigned to separate payers, such as employers or health care providers. -
Custom Connectivity in Action
Custom Connectivity can be used in the following ways:
- An individual unit or households in an MDU can subscribe to its own plan without the need for CPE inside the household.
- Employers can connect their work-from-home employees’ devices directly to a secure enterprise network and provide a different tier of service for work-specific services on employer-owned devices that can be billed to the employer.
- Insurers can support health-at-home by connecting medical devices securely and directly to health care providers.
- Low-latency service can be provided directly to gamers’ devices, even in a location that isn’t subscribed to the service.
- Device operators can bundle connectivity for Internet of Things (IoT) devices.
- For emergency services, first responders can receive prioritized access to critical communication services.
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Proof of Concept
One application of this device-centric technology — CableLabs’ initial proof of concept — shows how it can serve the unserved or underserved in dense, unbanked communities. During an early trial deployment in Panama, CableLabs collaborated with Liberty Latin America and Veea to successfully demonstrate the customer ease-of-use and flexible operator deployment models supported by Custom Connectivity. In this test deployment, we put users in the driver’s seat with a simple experience and straightforward implementation.
For unserved and underserved communities like this, Custom Connectivity changes the game. It not only delivers connectivity but also empowers people to participate in the modern economy. With its potential to narrow the digital divide, Custom Connectivity opens a world of possibility.
