IEEE P1901 powerline networking standard passes key hurdle
You may not realize it, but powerline networking is growing up before your very eyes. It's latest milestone comes courtesy of the IEEE P1901 Working Group, which largely relies on HomePlug AV as its baseline technology, and has now seen its initial sponsor ballot pass with a whopping 80% support. That, according to the HomePlug Powerline Alliance, offers clear evidence that there is "overwhelming industry support" for the standard, and that final ratification of the standard could come as soon as the third quarter of this year. In fact, the draft standard is already so far along that companies can purchase it from the IEEE store, and get to work on products that will comply with P1901.
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HomePlug Powerline Technology Joins the Global Family of IEEE Standards
IEEE 1901 Sponsor Ballot approval signifies broad industry support
PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The HomePlug® Powerline Alliance congratulates the IEEE P1901 Working Group on passage of the initial sponsor ballot, paving the way for a global standard for powerline (PLC) networking. The ballot passed with over 80 percent of affirmative votes, which demonstrates the overwhelming industry support behind 1901. Final ratification of the standard is expected in the third quarter of 2010. The advancement of powerline technology to an internationally recognized IEEE standard will provide manufacturers and end-users with the assurance of product interoperability, driving broader adoption of PLC for home networking.
"The broad market acceptance of networking technologies such as Ethernet, Wi-Fi® and Bluetooth® is in great part due to the IEEE worldwide standards that help define product interoperability and performance thresholds for them," said Rob Ranck, president of the HomePlug Powerline Alliance. "Having this IEEE powerline networking standard provides a stable foundation that will help the industry to accelerate mainstream adoption for broadband networking and emerging Smart Grid applications."
HomePlug AV was used as baseline technology for the IEEE 1901 powerline networking standard. As such, products compliant to 1901 will be interoperable with millions of HomePlug AV products in the market today. The HomePlug Powerline Alliance will serve as the certification body for IEEE 1901 devices in a similar way as the Wi-Fi Alliance™ certifies IEEE 802.11 wireless networking devices.
Due to the maturity of the draft standard, the IEEE is already offering the specification for purchase through its online store, enabling members to now develop Smart Grid applications as well as next-generation broadband solutions that comply with P1901. The HomePlug Alliance is also finalizing the new HomePlug "Green PHY" (GP) specification as a certification profile of IEEE 1901, which will provide a low-power Smart Energy/Smart Grid standard. HomePlug GP will enable the industry's only powerline solutions to meet the IP networking requirements of utility companies and appliance manufacturers.
Please visit www.HomePlug.org for more information on the HomePlug Powerline Alliance. Additional details on the IEEE 1901 standard are available at http://grouper.ieee.org/groups/1901/.
About the HomePlug® Powerline Alliance
Founded in 2000, the HomePlug Powerline Alliance, Inc. is an industry-led initiative with more than 70 member companies that creates specifications and certification logo programs for using the powerlines for reliable home networking and Smart Grid applications. The Alliance accelerates worldwide adoption for HomePlug technology by collaborating with international standards organizations such as the IEEE and through market development and user education programs. Sponsor members include Atheros Communications (ATHR); Cisco (CSCO); Comcast (CMCSK); Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK); GE Energy, an affiliate of General Electric Co. (NYSE:GE); Gigle Networks; Motorola, Inc. (MOT); Renesas Electronics Corporation (TSE:6723); and SPiDCOM Technologies. Contributor members include Arkados (OTCBB:AKDS) and Corporate Systems Engineering.
