MaxLinear has announced Puma 9, a next-generation DOCSIS platform designed to help broadband operators speed up the rollout of D4.0/D3.1+ multi-gigabit services, power Edge AI, personal AI and Wi-Fi 8 connectivity, and cut the cost and complexity of moving to DOCSIS 4.0. The announcement was made from Carlsbad, California, on September 28, 2026. Puma 9 also brings post-quantum cryptography (PQC) readiness and DDR5 memory compatibility, helping operators guard against future threats and avoid supply chain risk tied to legacy memory types. Built with a secure-by-design approach, it is intended to support compliance with leading cybersecurity frameworks and regulations, including NIST IR 8425A in the U.S. and the Radio Equipment Directive and Cyber Resilience Act in the EU.
Operators now face demands that go well beyond raw bandwidth, from Edge AI and Wi-Fi 8 to tighter security requirements and smaller capital budgets, so success depends on evolving services without constantly replacing hardware. Puma 9 is meant to reimagine the gateway lifecycle, helping operators get more from their existing DOCSIS 3.1 investments while preparing for next-generation services. Through flexible in-field upgrades, they can deliver multi-gigabit experiences on their own timeline, without frequent hardware refreshes or costly requalification cycles. Built in 8 nm process technology, Puma 9 is described as the first and only platform able to support DOCSIS 3.1, 3.1+, and 4.0 on a single SoC without significant added cost.
Among its key capabilities, Puma 9 offers post-quantum security readiness and is billed as the industry's only DOCSIS platform compatible with DDR5 memory, which gives operators more freedom in choosing memory suppliers and a longer platform lifecycle. It provides a scalable foundation for Wi-Fi 8 gateways, with the low latency and processing headroom needed for AI-driven applications. Support for all three DOCSIS standards on one platform allows easy in-field upgrades and better return on investment over time. With five OFDM channels, it delivers more than 10 Gbps of downstream throughput in 3.1+ mode, higher than many other DOCSIS 3.1 solutions available today, and an integrated MaxAI-powered NPU improves QoS, optimizes networks, enhances user experiences, and lowers operating costs.
MaxLinear frames this as a solution to the DOCSIS 4.0/3.1 upgrade dilemma. Existing options typically require expensive DOCSIS 4.0 CPE refreshes and long qualification cycles, so many operators delay CPE investment until broader network upgrades are under way. That raises financial pressure and removes the flexibility to introduce D4.0 selectively in markets where competition or consumer demand calls for it sooner. Operators also face supply chain uncertainty as major memory vendors move away from DDR4, and dependence on DDR4-only D4.0 CPE adds price pressure and longevity risk for equipment that must stay supported over long product lifecycles.
Puma 9 addresses both problems with a software-driven migration path from DOCSIS 3.1 to 3.1+ or 4.0 through in-field upgrades, and Puma 9-based designs offer CPE cost parity with existing D3.1 equipment. Operators can therefore deploy DOCSIS 4.0-ready devices today, preserve their investments, and upgrade only when the business requires it, without costly truck rolls, expensive hardware and software spending, or large-scale replacement programs. With five OFDM channels, Puma 9 supports up to 12 Gbps downstream, giving operators a D4.0-like experience over existing D3.1 networks and letting them phase their network spending. The company says its highly integrated architecture can reduce CPE costs by 30% to 50% compared with alternative DOCSIS 4.0 solutions, and that the platform builds on MaxLinear's field-proven DOCSIS 4.0 front-end technology and mature DOCSIS and voice software already deployed worldwide, which lowers implementation risk and speeds time to market.
Jeff Heynen, Vice President of Broadband Access and Home Networking at Dell'Oro Group, said operators value flexibility above all when planning next-generation network and CPE upgrades, especially with the current DDR supply situation. He noted that separating the timing of network and CPE spending, avoiding long software qualification cycles with a single backward- and forward-compatible CPE platform, and upgrading CPE at legacy hardware cost all materially lower deployment risk and capital expense. A recent Dell'Oro forecast indicates that DOCSIS 4.0 and fiber expansion investment is entering a new spending cycle expected to peak in 2028, while rising residential gateway costs remain a concern, and Puma 9 was designed for exactly this environment.
Puneet Sethi, SVP and GM of MaxLinear's Network Infrastructure and Carrier Business Unit, said operators want a smarter path to DOCSIS 4.0 that minimizes cost and risk while maximizing the value of today's investments. He said Puma 9 changes those economics for operators and consumers, allowing DOCSIS 4.0-ready equipment to be deployed now without enlarging CPE budgets, and that its 12 Gbps in D3.1+ mode brings a D4.0 experience to D3.1 networks while letting operators spread out their upgrade spending.
Several partners also commented. Diego Friedel, Vice President of Software at FRITZ!, said the company has long worked with MaxLinear to give consumers a strong broadband experience and looks forward to evaluating Puma 9 in its lab. Eric Lui, R&D VP at Askey, said the combination of Wi-Fi 8, AI processing, post-quantum security readiness, and a forward-looking DOCSIS architecture gives the company a foundation for platforms that support new revenue-generating services, and that Askey is developing its next-generation gateways on Puma 9. James Lee, President of Gemtek, said the company is using Puma 9 to develop next-generation DOCSIS and Wi-Fi gateways, citing DDR5 support, post-quantum readiness, and future broadband upgrades as ways to protect operator investments. JR Walden, SVP Technology and CTO of Mediacom Communications, called a platform that supports DOCSIS 3.1+, 4.0, and future services without significant CPE cost increases an attractive concept and said Mediacom looks forward to evaluating it.
Puma 9 is currently available to broadband operators and OEM partners developing next-generation DOCSIS gateways and eMTA solutions, with additional product and partner announcements expected throughout 2026.
Operators now face demands that go well beyond raw bandwidth, from Edge AI and Wi-Fi 8 to tighter security requirements and smaller capital budgets, so success depends on evolving services without constantly replacing hardware. Puma 9 is meant to reimagine the gateway lifecycle, helping operators get more from their existing DOCSIS 3.1 investments while preparing for next-generation services. Through flexible in-field upgrades, they can deliver multi-gigabit experiences on their own timeline, without frequent hardware refreshes or costly requalification cycles. Built in 8 nm process technology, Puma 9 is described as the first and only platform able to support DOCSIS 3.1, 3.1+, and 4.0 on a single SoC without significant added cost.
Among its key capabilities, Puma 9 offers post-quantum security readiness and is billed as the industry's only DOCSIS platform compatible with DDR5 memory, which gives operators more freedom in choosing memory suppliers and a longer platform lifecycle. It provides a scalable foundation for Wi-Fi 8 gateways, with the low latency and processing headroom needed for AI-driven applications. Support for all three DOCSIS standards on one platform allows easy in-field upgrades and better return on investment over time. With five OFDM channels, it delivers more than 10 Gbps of downstream throughput in 3.1+ mode, higher than many other DOCSIS 3.1 solutions available today, and an integrated MaxAI-powered NPU improves QoS, optimizes networks, enhances user experiences, and lowers operating costs.
MaxLinear frames this as a solution to the DOCSIS 4.0/3.1 upgrade dilemma. Existing options typically require expensive DOCSIS 4.0 CPE refreshes and long qualification cycles, so many operators delay CPE investment until broader network upgrades are under way. That raises financial pressure and removes the flexibility to introduce D4.0 selectively in markets where competition or consumer demand calls for it sooner. Operators also face supply chain uncertainty as major memory vendors move away from DDR4, and dependence on DDR4-only D4.0 CPE adds price pressure and longevity risk for equipment that must stay supported over long product lifecycles.
Puma 9 addresses both problems with a software-driven migration path from DOCSIS 3.1 to 3.1+ or 4.0 through in-field upgrades, and Puma 9-based designs offer CPE cost parity with existing D3.1 equipment. Operators can therefore deploy DOCSIS 4.0-ready devices today, preserve their investments, and upgrade only when the business requires it, without costly truck rolls, expensive hardware and software spending, or large-scale replacement programs. With five OFDM channels, Puma 9 supports up to 12 Gbps downstream, giving operators a D4.0-like experience over existing D3.1 networks and letting them phase their network spending. The company says its highly integrated architecture can reduce CPE costs by 30% to 50% compared with alternative DOCSIS 4.0 solutions, and that the platform builds on MaxLinear's field-proven DOCSIS 4.0 front-end technology and mature DOCSIS and voice software already deployed worldwide, which lowers implementation risk and speeds time to market.
Jeff Heynen, Vice President of Broadband Access and Home Networking at Dell'Oro Group, said operators value flexibility above all when planning next-generation network and CPE upgrades, especially with the current DDR supply situation. He noted that separating the timing of network and CPE spending, avoiding long software qualification cycles with a single backward- and forward-compatible CPE platform, and upgrading CPE at legacy hardware cost all materially lower deployment risk and capital expense. A recent Dell'Oro forecast indicates that DOCSIS 4.0 and fiber expansion investment is entering a new spending cycle expected to peak in 2028, while rising residential gateway costs remain a concern, and Puma 9 was designed for exactly this environment.
Puneet Sethi, SVP and GM of MaxLinear's Network Infrastructure and Carrier Business Unit, said operators want a smarter path to DOCSIS 4.0 that minimizes cost and risk while maximizing the value of today's investments. He said Puma 9 changes those economics for operators and consumers, allowing DOCSIS 4.0-ready equipment to be deployed now without enlarging CPE budgets, and that its 12 Gbps in D3.1+ mode brings a D4.0 experience to D3.1 networks while letting operators spread out their upgrade spending.
Several partners also commented. Diego Friedel, Vice President of Software at FRITZ!, said the company has long worked with MaxLinear to give consumers a strong broadband experience and looks forward to evaluating Puma 9 in its lab. Eric Lui, R&D VP at Askey, said the combination of Wi-Fi 8, AI processing, post-quantum security readiness, and a forward-looking DOCSIS architecture gives the company a foundation for platforms that support new revenue-generating services, and that Askey is developing its next-generation gateways on Puma 9. James Lee, President of Gemtek, said the company is using Puma 9 to develop next-generation DOCSIS and Wi-Fi gateways, citing DDR5 support, post-quantum readiness, and future broadband upgrades as ways to protect operator investments. JR Walden, SVP Technology and CTO of Mediacom Communications, called a platform that supports DOCSIS 3.1+, 4.0, and future services without significant CPE cost increases an attractive concept and said Mediacom looks forward to evaluating it.
Puma 9 is currently available to broadband operators and OEM partners developing next-generation DOCSIS gateways and eMTA solutions, with additional product and partner announcements expected throughout 2026.
ADVERTISEMENT
