Airoha Technology Sets New Standards with prplOS Fiber Broadband Platforms
Airoha Technology, a subsidiary of MediaTek, has recently hit a remarkable milestone by becoming the first silicon provider globally to successfully commercialize prplOS-based fiber broadband platforms. This groundbreaking development comes after three years of collaboration with leading Tier-1 operators, firmly positioning Airoha at the forefront of the open-source systems landscape.
The momentum towards open-source systems has surged, fueled by the need for flexibility and innovation among network operators. Airoha’s move to successfully bring prplOS to market is a major game-changer, particularly as this platform allows operators to better engage with a vast range of applications, thus enhancing service offerings to consumers. In 2025, two of Airoha’s chipset platforms achieved mass deployment, which solidified its reputation as the first-ever fiber broadband silicon provider to achieve commercial relevance across all three major open-source ecosystems: OpenWrt, RDK-B, and prplOS.
This significant achievement was backed by SoftAtHome, a global software leader for telecom operators, which strongly believes that Airoha's innovations will catalyze a more active fiber broadband ecosystem. The ability to incorporate more systems and applications means that operators can dramatically reduce the time and effort needed to deliver new services in response to customer demand.
Airoha’s prplOS platform is built upon stringent standards, requiring substantial technical resources to meet the "Triple Challenge" of compliance with Low-Level API (LL API), achieving Carrier-Grade Interoperability, and adhering to EU Cybersecurity Standards. The company dedicated over three years to tackling these challenges efficiently, and as a result, it has successfully compressed the integration cycle from the average industry duration of 18-24 months down to just 6-9 months. This reduction significantly mitigates the total cost of ownership (TCO) for fixed-line broadband operators, making it a compelling option for many.
By 2025, Airoha Technology witnessed two of its GPON SoC platforms gain prplOS certification and undergo commercial deployment with several operators, receiving accolades for their stability and performance. In 2026, the company is set to extend its capabilities by introducing three new 10G-PON platforms and another GPON SoC platform to its prplOS portfolio. This expansion illustrates Airoha's commitment to providing global fiber broadband operators with versatile and open options, ultimately de-coupling the application ecosystem and fostering a potentially disruptive impact on the industry.
Airoha’s Executive Vice President and spokesperson, MH Shieh, emphasized their long-term dedication to supporting operators through each evolution of broadband technology. He remarked on the constant battles operators face when trying to adopt new technologies, highlighting Airoha’s focus on customer needs and its relentless pursuit of software enhancement across its platforms.
The industry has long been hindered by a lack of investment from key chipset providers in open-source ecosystems, often leading to obstacles for operators looking to fully capitalize on prplOS. Yet, Airoha has exemplified its customer-centric philosophy over the past three years, collaborating with SoftAtHome and various system integrators to enter rigorous technical and market validations.
SoftAtHome's VP of Marketing, Arnaud Bensaid, noted the significance of Airoha's contributions, as their stable platforms not only aid in innovating on prplOS but also lead to tangible benefits for customers, such as the world's inaugural home fiber services built on a complete prplOS framework in partnership with Orange Jordan.
In summary, Airoha Technology has set a compelling precedent with prplOS, marking a pivotal moment in the fiber broadband sector and paving the way for more innovative, versatile, and customer-friendly technologies moving forward. This initiative is expected to enhance the competitive landscape for telecommunications operators, bringing about new synergies and operational efficiencies that will ultimately benefit end-users.