Eight silicon vendors to support ITU's G.hn standard

BEAVERTON, USA: Silicon vendors around the world continue to align in support of the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU-T) G.hn and G.hnem technologies for wired home networking and energy management.

Kawasaki Microelectronics America, Inc. and TangoTec are the newest members of HomeGrid Forum, joining leading semiconductor suppliers DS2, Ikanos, Intel, Lantiq, Sigma Designs, and Texas Instruments as backers of the recently approved standard.

“Silicon providers are lining up in support of G.hn because they see the advantage and opportunity made available through one truly global standard technology for multimedia networking in the home,” said Matt Theall, president of HomeGrid Forum and technology strategist at Intel.

“These silicon companies are working to deliver next-generation technology that will enable their customers to better service their markets with future-generation products that are efficient, simpler to deploy, and works over all three wires—coax, phone, and power lines.”

Unlike existing and often proprietary wired networking technologies, G.hn is a worldwide, globally supported, technology standard that works across all physical media and supports a range of applications, including high-end multimedia networking implementations. G.hn is backed by service providers, CE manufacturers, PC companies, and utility companies.

“A single standard for wired home entertainment networks is critical for service providers, consumer electronics manufacturers, content providers, and consumers to take advantage of new technologies, business opportunities, and content consumption models. G.hn addresses this need,” said Michael Palma, senior research analyst at IDC, a technology industry analysis firm.

“Aligning around one single standard for the wired home will enable consumers to easily access content from multiple sources throughout the home while reducing the cost to deliver content to the consumer. Working with silicon vendors, HomeGrid Forum will help make this possible and open the market door for new consumer electronic devices that can take advantage of the union of content and connectivity.”