Calix has announced major updates to its SmartHome™ platform, empowering broadband service providers (BSPs) to meet the evolving needs of residential subscribers with enhanced security and comprehensive services. Unveiled at Calix ConneXions, these innovations help BSPs support activities like work, gaming, and streaming, all on one network. The redesigned CommandIQ® app allows users to manage network settings easily, while integrated security features like ProtectIQ® (network-level cybersecurity), ExperienceIQ® (content controls), and ScamWatchIQ™ (dark web identity monitoring) provide robust protection. New premium services, such as HomeOfficeIQ for mobile backup and GamerIQ™ for optimized gaming, further tailor solutions to meet specific subscriber needs
Calix has transformed broadband service providers (BSPs) into experience providers by evolving its SmartHome™ platform, enabling them to thrive in a market where speed alone is no longer enough to meet modern expectations. Integrated with the powerful Calix Broadband Platform, SmartHome allows BSPs to utilize real-time insights to swiftly launch new services with minimal operating expenses; this enhances their ability to deliver superior experiences that enrich family connections, support the surge in remote work, and elevate online entertainment. Premium managed services, including anti-cyberbullying monitoring and property protection via connected cameras, offer BSPs an edge, all while addressing the critical need to protect their subscribers in an increasingly volatile cybersecurity landscape. As 2024 sees rising cyber threats from state-affiliated and ideologically motivated actors, the necessity for advanced protection becomes ever more pressing.
With the latest updates to SmartHome, BSPs can now create comprehensive, value-driven broadband packages that meet the diverse needs of residential subscribers, thanks to several new features. ScamWatchIQ, a service providing 24/7 dark web protection and identity threat alerts, is now a standard feature of SmartHome; subscribers can manage these alerts easily via the CommandIQ® app, which offers actionable advice to mitigate risk. A premium service, ScamAssist®, is also available, offering more extensive identity scam resolution services, including round-the-clock access to identity theft professionals who assist in filing claims, placing fraud alerts, and initiating credit freezes. Together, ScamWatchIQ and ScamAssist offer holistic protection that monitors beyond traditional search engines, safeguarding identities in an increasingly digital world.
Further enhancing personalized experiences, services like HomeOfficeIQ™ cater specifically to remote workers, providing mobile backup during outages to ensure continuity in essential tasks. Subscribers can link their Calix GigaSpire® systems to personal mobile hotspots and selectively back up critical networks. Meanwhile, GamerIQ™ provides a seamless experience for gamers, allowing them to prioritize their gaming systems with just a single click through the intuitive CommandIQ® app. These innovations ensure BSPs are equipped to offer subscribers precisely what they need, whether it be work-related reliability or high-performance gaming capabilities.
The evolution of the CommandIQ® app itself introduces a faster, more streamlined user interface; it offers quick access to critical network settings and integrates easily with BSPs’ branding. Through its redesigned home screen featuring quick-access tiles and carousels, subscribers can efficiently manage Wi-Fi settings, monitor activity, and access both billing and service updates. Furthermore, BSPs can use the app to promote engagement, embedding custom offers and services directly into the app, thereby boosting brand interaction while enhancing the overall customer experience.
As Marcus Bott, vice president of operations at Rally Networks, notes, these expanded SmartHome services allow BSPs to better serve their customers, providing critical solutions to enhance safety and elevate the online experience. Thanks to SmartHome’s integration with the Calix Platform, these services are easily launched without significant operational expenses, allowing BSPs to swiftly respond to the escalating cyber threat landscape while simultaneously catering to a wide array of customer needs, from empowering remote work to ensuring seamless, secure gaming experiences.
BSPs also benefit from access to Calix Success, a support program designed to assist in the deployment of SmartHome managed services. Whether through Success Delivery, which optimizes network design, or Success Guidance, which shortens the time required to launch new services, BSPs are given the tools they need to operate efficiently. The Success team further provides 24/7 support for service availability and offers comprehensive training and certification through Success Education, ensuring BSPs remain competitive in the evolving broadband landscape.
Michael Weening, president and CEO of Calix, emphasizes that community-focused broadband providers have a unique opportunity to protect their most vulnerable subscribers, such as the elderly, who are increasingly targeted by sophisticated cyberattacks. With more than $1 billion invested over a decade into their platform, Calix enables BSPs to stay agile, incorporating cutting-edge innovations that meet the evolving needs of households—all while ensuring robust security. As residential broadband continues to evolve, Calix customers remain at the forefront, providing exceptional, secure experiences tailored to the modern digital lifestyle.
Calix’s SmartHome is part of the broader SmartLife™ portfolio, which includes specialized solutions for different segments like SmartTown® for community networks, SmartBiz™ for small businesses, and SmartMDU™ for multi-dwelling units. Together, these services enable BSPs to deliver tailored Wi-Fi experiences while leveraging the same cloud-enabled platform, ensuring consistent service across various use cases.
Attendees of Calix ConneXions can visit the SmartHome booth at the Wynn in Las Vegas on October 14 and 15 to explore these innovations firsthand and discover how the Calix Broadband Platform and SmartHome managed services are driving residential market growth for BSPs across the industry.
