Arris Adds Global Flavor to RDK

RDK is getting is getting a new dose of DVB.

Just ahead of the 2015 RDK Users Conference in Denver today, RDK Management LLC announced that it's adding new support for Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) systems to the Reference Design Kit (RDK) framework. Crediting Arris Group Inc. (Nasdaq: ARRS) with "significant contributions" in developing the new components, the RDK management group noted in a press release that the technical additions will extend the potential use of RDK throughout Europe and other parts of the globe where DVB is widely deployed.

The newest RDK development work from Arris focuses on in-band DVB Service Information (DVB-SI) elements. DVB-SI provides in-band data for TV program guides and other services, and, when applied to the RDK Media Framework (RMF), offers a reliable way of delivering that data to RDK devices over one-way video networks. The new DVB-SI components add to earlier DVB capabilities -- including teletext and subtitles -- brought to RDK last year.

Want to learn more about where the cable industry is heading with RDK and other next-gen technology? Then check out the agenda for our upcoming Cable Next-Gen Technologies & Strategies event, Tuesday, March 17, 2015, at The Cable Center in Denver.

While the Reference Design Kit software bundle was initially created solely by Comcast Corp. (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) to help standardize development of customer premises equipment (CPE), it has expanded wildly in the last few years. Now managed by a joint venture of Comcast Corp. (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK), Time Warner Cable Inc. (NYSE: TWC) and Liberty Global Inc. (Nasdaq: LBTY), RDK has more than 200 licensees worldwide.

The scope of the software framework has also broadened significantly. In addition to supporting video equipment, RDK now includes an open source software stack for broadband modems and gateways called RDK-B. Both Arris and Cisco Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: CSCO) have contributed to RDK-B, and Comcast announced it would begin field trials with the software integrated into Arris gateways in the fourth quarter of last year. (See Comcast Plans RDK-for-Broadband Gateway Trials in Q4.)

— Mari Silbey, special to Light Reading