MaxLinear has announced Puma 9, an 8 nm broadband platform designed to let operators deploy gateways that can move from DOCSIS 3.1 to DOCSIS 3.1+ or DOCSIS 4.0 through in-field upgrades. The company says the platform is currently available to broadband operators and OEM partners developing DOCSIS gateways and eMTA products.
One platform, three standards
MaxLinear says Puma 9 supports DOCSIS 3.1, DOCSIS 3.1+ and DOCSIS 4.0 on a single system-on-chip. The intended benefit is a staged migration: operators can deploy compatible customer-premises equipment before upgrading network capabilities, reducing the need for broad hardware replacement and separate qualification cycles. These are company claims about deployment economics, rather than independently verified cost results.
Performance and memory changes
In DOCSIS 3.1+ mode, Puma 9 supports five OFDM channels. MaxLinear says this can deliver up to 12 Gbps downstream over existing DOCSIS 3.1 networks, which it describes as a DOCSIS 4.0-like experience. The platform also supports DDR5 memory, addressing the company’s stated concern that suppliers are moving away from DDR4 and that legacy memory choices could complicate long-lived broadband hardware.
Security and AI positioning
The platform includes post-quantum cryptography readiness and is designed to support compliance efforts involving NIST IR 8425A, the EU Radio Equipment Directive and the Cyber Resilience Act. MaxLinear also lists Wi-Fi 8 gateway support and an integrated MaxAI neural-processing unit for edge processing, quality-of-service optimization and network management. The announcement does not provide independent testing or detailed performance measurements for those functions.
Availability and partner status
Puma 9 is presented as available to operators and OEM partners, while the announcement says additional product and partner updates are expected during 2026. Askey and Gemtek say they are developing next-generation gateway designs around the platform; FRITZ! says it plans to evaluate Puma 9 in its laboratory. Those statements indicate partner activity, but do not establish that consumer gateways using the chip are already shipping.
AI-generated editorial illustration; not a documentary photograph.
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