Universal Powerline Association Member Companies to Ship 4 Million 200Mbps Powerline Chips In 2007

Tuesday February 20, 4:00 am ET
UPA Products Dominate Market For 200Mbps HD Quality Home Networking and BPL Access Applications


LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Universal Powerline Association (UPA) today announced the shipment of one million UPA compliant 200Mbps Powerline communications chips during 2006 and forecast sales of 4 million by end 2007. These chips provide connectivity solutions for Access Broadband over Powerline (BPL) applications and in-home simultaneous distribution of high definition (HD) video, audio and data over existing Powerlines.

Eric Morel, UPA President stated, "2006 was the year of the trail blazers in the high-speed Powerline communications market. Companies with 200 Mbps Powerline product using UPA technology have made huge financial investments in product development and certification to be ready to serve the market today with mature and stable interoperable products." Mr. Morel continued, "The 2006 chip volumes confirm that the age of UPA Powerline product has arrived. UPA members have sold proportionately more 200 Mbps chips over the last nine months than other vendors of Powerline chips that deliver Ethernet-like speeds have reportedly sold over the last six years."

The UPA forecasts that chip sales will reach four million during 2007 to support increased demand for 200 Mbps Powerline products in both the Home Networking and BPL Access markets and to support new product launches from UPA members. Today, these chips power a wide range of commercially available interoperable Powerline products. Twelve of these products have already been through the UPA certification process and carry the "UPA Plugtested" label.

As a result of increased adoption of UPA technology for high-speed Powerline applications during 2006, top tier companies serving the retail and operator markets are now opting to use UPA technology in their products. The UPA now includes three semiconductor companies. Having multiple silicon providers in the association is critical to the proliferation of the UPA's Powerline technology.

"The growing performance capabilities and reliability of Powerline communications in tandem with the worldwide ubiquity of electric outlets is now making the promise of Powerline networking a true reality," said Kurt Scherf, vice president and principal analyst with Parks Associates. "As an important supplier of Powerline networking solutions, the growth shown in UPA chipset shipments reflects a very strong outlook for Powerline-based Home Networking solutions."

About the UPA

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 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, BPL Global, Comtrend, Corinex Communications Corp., Current Technologies International, Cypress Semiconductor, D-Link, DS2, Duke Energy, Ilevo (Schneider Electric Powerline Communications), Itochu Corporation, Logitec Corporation, Netgear, Open Solutions, PCN Technology, Pirelli Broadband, Sumitomo Electric Industries, Toshiba Electronics Europe GmbH, TOYO Network Systems and Watteco.

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