IEEE 1901 Standard Expected to Unify Industry
The HomePlug Powerline Alliance has enhanced the HomePlug AV certification program to include products based on the IEEE 1901 powerline global standard that was approved September 30, 2010. Finalization of the IEEE 1901 is expected to unify and stabilize the industry, just as IEEE 802.11 (wireless LAN) and IEEE 802.3 (Ethernet) did. IEEE 1901 incorporates the HomePlug AV Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical (PHY) layers as a baseline. HomePlug member companies can now submit products for IEEE 1901 certification testing, which is being conducted in France at the Laboratoire des Applications Numériques (LAN).
Jean-Philippe Faure, chair of the IEEE 1901 working group says the 1901 standard is designed to accommodate “a wide range of major applications for powerline communications (PLC), including in-home broadband networks for data, audio and video distribution, Smart Energy and Smart Grid, and plug-in electrical vehicles. IEEE is pleased to see the new standard supported by a HomePlug certification program for compliance and interoperability.”
HomePlug Powerline Alliance President, Rob Ranck observes that “HomePlug has a mature and well-developed testing plan for HomePlug AV. We believe that developing a compliance and interoperability plan to certify our members’ products to a ratified, global powerline standard from the IEEE not only maintains continuity with the large base of HomePlug AV products but will also increase the momentum of HomePlug-based product deployments. Furthermore, this assures retail and service providers that the baseline technology is stable and also encourages the development of new products and services necessary to meet the rapidly growing needs of the connected home. In summary, IEEE 1901 is yet more validation of the market proven HomePlug AV.”
According to its specs, IEEE 1901 is fully interoperable with the “HomePlug AV broadband specification, the new HomePlug “Green PHY” (GP) specification for Smart Energy/Smart Grid applications, and the forthcoming HomePlug AV2 broadband specification due for completion in Q1 2011.”
Details on the IEEE 1901 standard are available at http://grouper.ieee.org/groups/1901
Jean-Philippe Faure, chair of the IEEE 1901 working group says the 1901 standard is designed to accommodate “a wide range of major applications for powerline communications (PLC), including in-home broadband networks for data, audio and video distribution, Smart Energy and Smart Grid, and plug-in electrical vehicles. IEEE is pleased to see the new standard supported by a HomePlug certification program for compliance and interoperability.”
HomePlug Powerline Alliance President, Rob Ranck observes that “HomePlug has a mature and well-developed testing plan for HomePlug AV. We believe that developing a compliance and interoperability plan to certify our members’ products to a ratified, global powerline standard from the IEEE not only maintains continuity with the large base of HomePlug AV products but will also increase the momentum of HomePlug-based product deployments. Furthermore, this assures retail and service providers that the baseline technology is stable and also encourages the development of new products and services necessary to meet the rapidly growing needs of the connected home. In summary, IEEE 1901 is yet more validation of the market proven HomePlug AV.”
According to its specs, IEEE 1901 is fully interoperable with the “HomePlug AV broadband specification, the new HomePlug “Green PHY” (GP) specification for Smart Energy/Smart Grid applications, and the forthcoming HomePlug AV2 broadband specification due for completion in Q1 2011.”
Details on the IEEE 1901 standard are available at http://grouper.ieee.org/groups/1901
Specifications will be available from the IEEE stores for purchase by mid-January.
Founded in 2000, the HomePlug Powerline Alliance, Inc. is comprised of 70 member companies that creates specifications and certification logo programs for home networking and Smart Grid applications that use powerlines. The HomePlug Powerline Alliance powerline compliance and interoperability certification program has certified over 215 HomePlug products. For more information on the HomePlug Powerline Alliance, visit www.HomePlug.org
