To ensure quality Ultra High Speed HDMI cables reach the market and support 4K and 8K video, HDR, VRR, eARC, and all other HDMI 2.1 features, HDMI Forum, Inc. today announced a mandatory certification program for all Ultra High Speed HDMI cables.

Ultra High Speed HDMI cable certification includes testing to meet current EMI requirements to minimize wireless interference. All certified cables of any length must pass certification testing at an HDMI Authorized Testing Center (ATC). Once certified, cables will be required to affix an Ultra High Speed HDMI Certification Label to each package notifying consumers of the certification status of the product.

"The Ultra High Speed HDMI cable is the only way to ensure all the features and capabilities of the HDMI 2.1 Specification are delivered from a source device to a display. Ensuring Ultra High Speed HDMI cables are compliant with the HDMI 2.1 Specification is essential to the HDMI eco-system," said David Glen of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. and president of the HDMI Forum. "The HDMI Forum's mandatory ATC-only certification requirements are designed to ensure cables are compliant with the HDMI 2.1 Specification. And the anti-counterfeit Ultra High Speed HDMI Certification Label and its scanning results provides a visible verification of certification that a product meets the HDMI Forum's requirements."

Over 140 cable manufacturers participate in the existing Premium Certification Program, and resellers have come to rely on the anti-counterfeit authentication label, regular cable audit testing and supply chain verification scanning app. The new program expansion will be available soon and HDMI Adopters will be informed when it launches.

This program will be administered by the HDMI Forum's authorized agent, HDMI Licensing Administrator, Inc. (HDMI LA) as part of its existing certification program.