Universal Powerline Association & HomeGrid Forum sign agreement to support G.hn wireline networking standard

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UPA and HomeGrid Forum Execute Agreement for Cooperative Joint Research, Development, and Commercialization Interoperable, & Compliant Networking Technologies

February 26, 2009 – London, UK – The Universal Powerline Association (UPA) has announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the HomeGrid Forum. The UPA is a leading industry consortium providing a forum for the development of interoperable and open specifications to cover all Powerline markets and applications. HomeGrid Forum is a global, non-profit trade group promoting International Telecommunication Union’s Standardization Sector (ITU-T) G.hn standardization efforts for multimedia over coax, power and phone lines. The memorandum of understanding entails joint research, development, and commercialization of networking technologies and products ensuring coexistence, interoperability, and specification compliance.

Under the multi-year MOU, the UPA which last year began development of PowerMAX, its next generation specification process for 400Mbps+ Powerline Communications networking and HomeGrid Forum commit to cooperating to create a single MAC and PHY protocol for transporting multimedia across a home’s existing wiring to benefit consumers globally. In December 2008 the G.hn standard group reached consent on a single PHY protocol for next generation wireline technologies.

The UPA and HomeGrid Forum will conduct activities in the areas of:

1. Researching and development of compliance and interoperability tools;
2. Test processes, & procedures for developing coexistence and compatibility between UPA based powerline technologies and other wired technologies
3. R&D of coexistence mechanisms that enable compatibility between multiple wired technologies
4. R&D of coexistence mechanisms that enable compatibility between multiple in-home wired technologies and access technologies.
5. Joint marketing of UPA and HomeGrid based networking technologies
“This alliance will combine the technical and marketing capabilities of both organizations and its international members allowing the ability to successfully meet market challenges and to further enhance interoperable and coexistent networking technologies for the benefit of consumers worldwide” stated Daniel Drolet, Chairman of the UPA. “The UPA sees the HomeGrid Forum as an excellent catalyst to driving a single standard for the next generation home network and we are happy to contribute to that effort”.

[an error occurred while processing this directive] President of the HomeGrid Forum, Matt Theall, Intel Corporation stated, “HomeGrid’s goal of a single specification and standard for 1 Gbps home networking on all wires: coax, electrical lines, and phone lines will greatly benefit from the UPA’s contributions given their broad experience and worldwide deployments of Powerline and Coaxial networking devices.”

About the Universal Powerline Association:
The Universal Powerline Association (UPA) is an International not-for-profit trade association working to promote global standards and regulations in the fast developing Powerline communications market. The UPA aims to catalyze the growth of Powerline technology by delivering UPA plug tested and certified products that comply with these specified standards and regulations. All products and applications designed around UPA guidelines will communicate, from simple coexistence to full interoperability. The UPA provides all Powerline players the opportunity to respond to key customer expectations with open standards, based on interoperability, security and coexistence and supported by exclusive and independent certifications, the only global guarantee of quality and confidence for high-speed power line technology available today.

Members of the UPA include: AcBel Polytech Inc., Ambient Corporation, Analog Devices, Belfuse Inc., Buffalo Inc., Comtrend, Corinex Communications Corp., D-Link, DS2, Freedom Digital Networks, China Gridcom Company Ltd, Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute, Logitec Corporation, LS Cables, Netgear, PCN Technology, Pirelli Broadband, Power Monitors Inc., Toshiba Electronics Europe GmbH, Towada Well Design, Toyo Networks & System Integration Co.,Ltd and Watteco.

Additional information about the UPA is available at www.upaplc.org 

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