Wireless communication hardware provider Gemtek Technologies has become the first company to achieve prplWare device certification from the prpl Foundation.

The certification acts as an effective quality stamp from the open-source group that confirms an organization's networking devices meet specific industry standards.

The WGRTD-159BE Tri-Band Multi-WAN Gateway and the TB-372 Wi-Fi 7 Tri-Band Gateway were the initial devices to receive certification, with operators utilizing these devices able to support prplWare-approved firmware from diverse vendors.

“By working closely with our broadband silicon partners and providing prplWare Certified devices across multiple SoC platforms to its customers, Gemtek can greatly accelerate time to market for operators," Gemtek CEO James Lee said.

The certification process was launched earlier this year, with devices subject to a series of benchmarks, including the HL-API test, which validates a device’s implementation of the Broadband Forum’s TR-181 data model; and the prplOS test, which examines core protocol features such as bridging, IPv4, and DNS.

Vendors looking to have their devices certified must ensure they’re capable of supporting test software on the CDRouter Test Platform from QA Cafe.

The prplWare Foundation was formed back in 2014, having grown out of the Linux-based OpenWRT OS project. The group counts big-name carriers and vendors among its backers, including Verizon, Nokia, and Qualcomm.

AT&T recently used the foundation’s container framework to help migrate millions of its broadband gateways as the telecom giant works to boost the reach of its broadband services.