Contact Information: CONTACT: Layla McHale McHale Communications for HomeGrid Forum 408.981.6394
United Nations ITU-T Ratifies G.hn Standard for Wired Home Networking
New Standard Opens Door for a Unified Home Network, First Silicon Expected in Early 2010
| Source: HomeGrid Forum
GENEVA--(Marketwire - October 9, 2009) - HomeGrid
Forum today announced that International Telecommunication Union
(ITU-T) has successfully agreed upon the key components of the G.hn specification at its meeting
held at the United Nations in Geneva. As a result of this agreement, ITU-T
will publish an Approved G.hn Recommendation for the Physical Layer (PHY)
and architecture portion of the standard. Also, Recommendation G.9972
achieved Consent, allowing coexistence between G.hn products and other
wireline networking standards. In addition, the Data Link Layer (DLL)
portion of the G.hn standard was deemed stable and is expected to reach
Consent at the January 2010 ITU-T meeting. Through one worldwide standard,
G.hn will unify the networking of content to devices over any wire -- coax
cable, phone line, and power line.
This standard is now stable enough to allow silicon manufacturers to
confidently move forward with their development programs and bring products
to market. The outcome of this meeting marks another step in the steady
adoption of G.hn and reaffirms the desire to unite a fragmented industry
which currently uses a variety of incompatible technologies that typically
address only single types of household wiring options -- coax, phone line,
or power line.
"G.hn will empower service providers to deploy new offerings, including
IPTV, more cost effectively; allow consumer electronics manufacturers to
network all types of entertainment, home automation, and security products
throughout the house; and greatly simplify consumers purchasing and
installation processes," said Matthew Theall, president of HomeGrid Forum.
"HomeGrid Forum and its member companies applaud the ITU-T for its success
in developing a standard that will greatly simplify home networking,
provide a platform for new services, and deliver the next-generation
performance needed in the marketplace."
"BT fully supports the G.hn standard because it will enable us to enhance
our customers' experiences and the services we offer -- services that
connect people more effectively with content throughout their homes," said
Bob Bissell, chief customer environment strategist at BT, and HomeGrid
Forum board member. "We are very pleased with the rapid progress made by
ITU-T on the G.hn standard, and look forward to working with network
equipment manufacturers, HomeGrid Forum, and others in the industry to
promote and bring this new standard-based technology to market."
"The G.hn Recommendation provides a unified, international specification
for home networking via all types of wiring in homes," said Tom Starr,
ITU-T WP1/15 chairman. "The specification facilitates simplified
installation and operation for high-performance triple-play services."
In addition to G.hn, ITU-T gave Consent to the complementary G.9972
Recommendation for coexistence between G.hn-based products and other
networking standards. Recommendation G.9972 specifies the process by which
G.hn devices will coexist with power line devices that also adopt the
G.9972 coexistence standard.
"G.hn is a technology that gives new use to cabling that most people
already have in their homes. The array of applications that it has the
potential to enable includes energy efficient smart appliances, home
automation, and telemedicine devices is remarkable," said Malcolm Johnson,
director, ITU's Telecommunication Standardization Bureau. "The sheer weight
of industry support behind this innovation is testament to the
extraordinary potential of this standard to transform home networking."
HomeGrid Forum is also developing a certification program for G.hn that
will aid semiconductor and systems manufacturers to build and deliver
standards-compliant products to market by using the HomeGrid-certified
logo.
About ITU
ITU is the leading United Nations agency for information and communication
technology issues, and the global focal point for governments and the
private sector in developing networks and services. For more than 140
years, ITU has coordinated shared global use of the radio spectrum,
promoted international cooperation in assigning satellite orbits, worked to
improve telecommunication infrastructure in the developing world, and
established the worldwide standards that assure seamless interconnection of
a vast range of communications systems.
ITU also organizes worldwide and regional exhibitions and forums bringing
together the most influential representatives of government and the
telecommunications industry to exchange ideas, knowledge and technology for
the benefit of the global community, and in particular the developing
world.
From broadband Internet to latest-generation wireless technologies, from
aeronautical and maritime navigation to radio astronomy and satellite-based
meteorology, from phone and fax services to TV broadcasting and
next-generation networks, ITU is committed to connecting the world.
About G.hn
The members of the ITU-T's G.hn Rapporteur Group are creating a
specification for a single MAC/PHY technology which can run over coaxial
cable, phone lines, or power lines. G.hn participants include service
providers, consumer electronics and information technology manufacturers,
and component and intellectual property providers from around the world.
About HomeGrid Forum
HomeGrid Forum is a global, non-profit trade group promoting the
International Telecommunication Union's G.hn standardization efforts for
next-generation home networking. HomeGrid Forum promotes adoption of G.hn
through technical and marketing efforts, addresses certification and
interoperability of G.hn-compliant products, and cooperates with
complementary industry alliances. To learn more about becoming a HomeGrid
member, please visit www.HomeGridForum.org/join.