UPA Invites Participation on PowerMAX, the new 400+Mbps Powerline Technology Development

UPA Invites Participation on PowerMAX, the new 400+Mbps Powerline Technology Development


UPA Developing Next-Gen Backwards Compatible Powerline Technology for Access, Smart Grid, In-Building and In-Home Markets
April 21, 2008 London - The Universal Powerline Association, a leading industry consortium providing a forum for the development of interoperable and open specifications for Powerline communications - is inviting service providers, electricity utilities, technology providers, network operators and other industry professionals to participate in the development of PowerMAX, the next generation specification for Powerline communications technology which will deliver 400Mbps and beyond.

The first step in this process is the development of a Market Requirements Document (MRD) to define the goals for the PowerMAX specification including bandwidth requirements and underlying technology parameters such as physical layer throughput. Next generation Powerline communications products must support bandwidth hungry applications including FTTH, Multi-Dwelling Unit Networking, Broadband over Powerline Access applications and home networking applications including multi-channel HD-IPTV delivery or multi-room PVR. These new applications are driving the need for increased bandwidth beyond what today´s Powerline technologies can achieve.

"UPA customers are demanding more and more bandwidth to deliver faster bandwidths to and within the home to compete and compliment FTTH and other Access technologies. Large MDU's also need much more bandwidth as consumers and businesses alike are sharing the electrical infrastructure and the corresponding bandwidth. Consumers are also migrating to HD and multi-room HD PVR, again requiring more speed. The PowerMAX specification will reach speeds of 400Mbps and beyond to support our customers' current and future demands, all with complete interoperability with our 200Mbps technology and complete interoperability between Access and In Home applications," said Brian Donnelly, Chairman of the UPA.

"The question we need to ask is not what is the size of the market today, but how can we serve our customers needs moving forward. We are beginning with the Market Requirements Document to ensure that customer needs are served by the future specification," said Frank Chuang of Comtrend Communications, Board Member of the UPA.

Daniel Drolet, UPA Marketing Working Group Chairman commented that, "the MRD process is expected to be completed in 3 months, with integrated circuits and products available in 2009. We will invite technology providers to submit proposals once the MRD process is completed."

PowerMAX, the 3rd generation Powerline communications technology MRD development process is open to all interested parties. Companies interested in receiving information regarding the Universal Powerline Association and contributing to the PowerMAX MRD development process are invited to contact the Donald Pollock, UPA Secretariat, donald.pollock@upaplc.org +44 1780 470003

About the Universal Powerline Association
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 plug tested and 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, Arteche, Belfuse Inc., Buffalo Inc., Comtrend, Corinex Communications Corp., Current Technologies International, D-Link, DS2, Freedom Digital Networks, China Gridcom Company Ltd, Ilevo (Schneider Electric Powerline Communications), Itochu Corporation, Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute, Logitec Corporation, Moscow City Electricity Grid, Netgear, PCN Technology, Pirelli Broadband, Planex, Power Monitors Inc., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Toshiba Electronics Europe GmbH, Toyo Networks & System Integration Co.,Ltd and Watteco.

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