Charter Communications (NASDAQ:CHTR) has adopted OpenSync, an open-source initiative intended to enable the curation, delivery and support of services, and management of devices throughout the smart home. As applied by Charter, OpenSync powers Spectrum's Advanced In-Home WiFi service.
OpenSync is a cloud technology that is portable across various router operating systems. It is designed to enable third-party smart home services to be deployed across consumer premises equipment (CPE) from multiple vendors through a common software framework. Charter is porting OpenSync to its latest WiFi router platforms and is committed to continuous upgrades of the software to deploy and support third party applications, including whole home WiFi, AI-driven security, parental/guest controls and others.
"Advanced In-Home WiFi provides Spectrum Internet and WiFi customers with the ability to optimize their home networks, offering both detailed insights and providing greater control of their connected devices to deliver an unmatched home WiFi experience," said Rich DiGeronimo, Charter's chief product and technology officer. "Integrating our core advanced technology and leading WiFi router with the OpenSync cloud platform and software stack allows us to nimbly deliver best-of-breed features and services. Approximately 300 million devices are connected to our vast network, and we take seriously our responsibility to deliver fast, reliable service, while protecting and securing our customers' online private information."
"Leveraging OpenSync, Charter has taken a bold step by decoupling the curation and delivery of smart home services from the CPE hardware, gaining a massive time-to-market and scalability advantage," said Fahri Diner, co-founder and CEO of Plume. "We are honored to see that one of the most innovative and forward-thinking service providers in the world has chosen to build a one-of-a kind consumer experience management platform using OpenSync."
Spectrum recently launched Advanced In-Home WiFi in Austin, TX, providing subscribers greater control and visibility into their home WiFi networks, including the ability to see all connected devices and to pause Internet access to any single device. Customers also get a single SSID for both the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands, steering between those bands, and remote telemetry to help Charter service representatives identify and resolve issues to provide superior customer support. Additional features are expected to launch in the coming months, including parental controls and additional functionality to provide greater security of in-home networks.
Advanced In-Home WiFi features are accessible through the My Spectrum App. Spectrum plans to launch Advanced In-Home WiFi in a number of additional markets this year, with broader roll-out planned in 2020.