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RDK8 marks an important step toward aligning Broadband and Video on a synchronized annual release cadence. This approach gives the ecosystem a clearer planning rhythm, improves coordination across profiles, and creates a stronger foundation for more scalable innovation over time.
for Videofor BroadbandRDK8 is the next evolution of app infrastructure, introducing a platform-agnostic app delivery model that is standardized, validated, and scalable across the ecosystem through the Firebolt Connect Program. Supporting both web and native apps through containerized delivery, RDK8 builds on the modular foundation established in RDK7 while giving operators the flexibility to address different device classes and deployment needs.
Released as a Development Preview, RDK8 enables early validation of key capabilities, accelerates ecosystem readiness, and reduces integration risk. It also provides a clear signal of platform direction, helping operators and partners plan product roadmaps and investments with greater confidence.
Gives developers and partners an opportunity to validate standardized app onboarding and integration through Firebolt Connect, including support for new App Managers and container-based technologies such as DAC 2.0, while reducing late-stage risk.
Enables earlier validation of app lifecycle behavior through Firebolt Connect, helping ensure alignment with W3C standards, Firebolt 8.0, and more consistent app behavior across devices.
Allows developers, OEMs, and silicon partners to test on real implementations sooner, gather practical feedback, and reduce fragmentation by enabling vendors in parallel rather than sequentially.
Helps operators assess new capabilities early without impacting live deployments, supporting more confident planning and adoption.
Standardized app onboarding and validation through Firebolt Connect streamline optimization and support repeatable deployment across the RDK ecosystem.
Gives developers visibility into CPU, memory, GPU, and I/O performance on real hardware before field deployment.
Improved performance and power efficiency—driven in part by Vulkan adoption—help reduce long-term costs while enhancing the user experience.
Enables flexible, platform-specific OSS integration, improving adaptability and driving greater community reuse and contributions.
With RDK8, Firebolt is now a globally standardized, versioned API set— based on a shared and scalable platform, ready for broad cross-industry adoption.
Firebolt is the portable app API layer in RDK8, giving developers one consistent way to access platform services across RDK-powered devices. It supports web and native apps with APIs for device info, settings, capabilities, user data, and more—speeding development and improving consistency.
By replacing fragmented, device-specific integrations with a secure, controlled model, Firebolt delivers predictable behavior across RDK implementations and device types. This makes it the foundation for scalable, maintainable app and native experience development on RDK8.
Available to the community starting with the 2026q1 release, RDK8 for Broadband is the first annual broadband release designed to bring the industry together on a common release version, strengthening collaboration across the ecosystem and reducing friction for community contributions. By creating a more unified baseline, RDK8 helps operators, silicon partners, OEMs, and developers align more easily around shared development, validation, and integration efforts.
Includes integrated Barton support for Matter, Thread, Bluetooth, and Zigbee natively within the gateway, provided the appropriate hardware (radios) are also present.
The Remote Debugger feature streamlines field issue resolution, helping reduce truck rolls and lowering operator support costs.
Prepares the platform for next-generation wireless performance with built-in Multi-Link Operation support for Wi-Fi 7 deployments.
Introduces MAC filtering support, enabling maintenance of device deny lists for stronger access control and operational flexibility.
Provides a validated reference implementation for MAP-T IPv4/IPv6 transition deployments, informed by community feedback and real-world needs.
Integrates DHCP client management with the latest WAN Manager framework and workflow, improving consistency and simplifying network management.
