AT&T has taken a significant step forward in broadband innovation by implementing prpl Foundation’s Life Cycle Management (LCM). This advancement promises to enhance efficiency and unlock more potential in internet services. By transitioning to prplware’s LCM, AT&T can reduce resource consumption on broadband equipment, resulting in more efficient internet services.
The rollout of LCM to over 12 million gateways demonstrates its scale and capability. This system allows more applications to run simultaneously, benefiting users with more options without degrading service quality. The carrier-class platform of prplware supports multi-carrier application deployment. This feature ensures different internet providers can offer varied options to end customers and developers, fostering innovation.
AT&T began this initiative in 2019, focusing on improving application delivery on internet-connected devices. ARM-based chipsets in home gateways provided an opportunity to enhance customer experiences. Initial efforts involved containerized security applications, allowing customers to easily manage and install applications of their choice.
While the container-based approach was adopted widely, it posed resource usage challenges. Containers consumed significant CPU and memory resources, even when not active, limiting the number of concurrent applications. As internet devices grew more powerful by 2022, there was a pressing need for a more efficient solution. Enter prplware’s LCM, which allows for multiple applications on devices without sacrificing performance.
Jason Savard, AVP of Technology at AT&T, expressed enthusiasm for the developments. “We are excited about the benefits this transition brings to our broadband customers and the broader ecosystem,” he stated. The integration of prplware’s LCM improves efficiency, provides more choices, and empowers developers to innovate across carriers. This ultimately delivers greater value and flexibility to subscribers.
Looking ahead, AT&T plans to roll out new applications within this year, providing both free and premium options to enhance user experience. Full compliance with prplware software on upcoming gateways is expected to boost performance and developer flexibility further.