Powerline home net camps mount urgent bid for unity
Rick Merritt
(10/15/2007 9:00 AM EDT)
Santa Clara Calif. -- Opposing camps in powerline home networking will face off at an IEEE meeting in Boston this week over the path toward a unified standard. It's unclear whether anything will come of the eleventh-hour calls for compromise in advance of the Boston event, but separately players are stretching their technology to compete with everything from 802.11 to ZigBee.
Companies as diverse as Cisco, Echostar, Philips and Intel expressed support for powerline at the annual HomePlug Alliance convention here last week. But they also called on all sides to embrace standards and lower costs in a highly competitive environment.
Indeed, the Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA), a rising star among cable TV service providers, will turn up the heat this week, when it announces a 1.1 version of its spec that delivers 175 Mbits/second at the media access control level and supports parameterized quality-of-service.
By contrast, the two leading powerline technologies claim data rates of 95 and 65 Mbits/s and lack the parameterized QoS some service providers require.
On a brighter note, the HomePlug group has ratified a spec for a 700-kbit/s control network that will challenge ZigBee for networking of lights, alarms and white goods. The competing Universal Powerline Association (UPA) is working on a similar spec, which could be announced before mid-2008.
Meanwhile, executives from HomePlug, the UPA and the Consumer Electronics Powerline Communication Alli- ance (CEPCA), a group of mainly Japanese conglomerates, were in discussions last week on whether they could hammer out a joint proposal in time for this week's Boston meeting of the IEEE 1901 committee, which aims to set an overarching global standard for powerline home nets.
The IEEE 1901 group is considering two competing proposals. One brings together separate technologies from HomePlug and Pana- sonic; the other is from the UPA and has some backing from CEPCA.
HomePlug backers say they could have enough members to force and win a vote on their proposal in Boston. The effort defines a protocol that ensures separate HomePlug and Panasonic networks will not interfere and will be able to share data, as long as vendors support both entities' separate physical-layer technologies.
Not surprisingly, Oleg Logvinov, chief strategy officer of HomePlug and chief executive of Arkados Inc., which makes HomePlug chips, expects to see the Boston meeting select the HomePlug proposal. HomePlug now has 75 members, including Cisco, Comcast, Intel, Motorola, Sharp and Texas Instruments.
"That [outcome] would be bad for everyone," countered Chano Gomez, vice president of technology for Design of Systems on Silicon S.A. (DS2; Valencia, Spain), currently the sole chip maker for the UPA approach.
A pitch for unified PHY
UPA members say the better solution would be to define one physical-layer technology on which all parties could agree--even if doing so would require all sides to revise their silicon. Both HomePlug and UPA members said they would be willing to rework their chips, but it's not clear the camps can reach consensus on a single proposal.
"Right now, e-mails are flying back and forth between senior people in each organization to try to move this process forward," Brian Donnelly, chairman of the UPA marketing group, said in an interview last week. "We want to have an agreement before going into the [Boston] meeting."
Donnelly is also vice president of marketing and business development at Corinex Communications Corp., which sells powerline systems based on chips from DS2. "If we have to force our primary silicon provider to make concessions, we will do that, and we have buy-in from DS2," he said.
"We need a standard going forward," said Martin Manniche, senior director of engineering at Linksys, a unit of Cisco Systems that makes Wi-Fi and powerline networking gear.
At the HomePlug event, Manniche called on chip makers to design more-integrated parts, in order to drive down costs of powerline modules to $50 per pair. He also called on the industry to adopt extensions defined by Cisco to the Universal Plug and Play Forum's QoS standards. Cisco's so-called Video Quality Experience spec lets systems restrict access to a network to ensure uninterrupted video delivery.
A separate UPnP effort for similar QoS capabilities "will mostly likely take another 12 to 18 months" to complete, Manniche said, "and the industry can't wait."
Whatever happens in Boston, the HomePlug approach commands a majority of the powerline market and is expected to continue to do so, said Joyce Putscher, principal analyst for home networking at market watcher In-Stat (Scottsdale, Ariz.).
"Having a standard is not always 100 percent critical, because you can also have a de facto standard," she said.
Donnelly said Corinex is selling systems using the UPA approach to more than 30 service providers and 40 utilities worldwide. It switched from HomePlug to DS2 silicon in 2005 because DS2 was the first to deliver chips that offered 95-Mbit/s throughput--data rates the HomePlug group is only beginning to approach this year.
Last week's conference was a coming-out party for the HomePlug AV standard, which delivers 65 Mbits/s at the MAC layer. The alliance announced it had thus far certified 40 products to the specification.
But the new spec is not backward compatible with HomePlug 1.0. Thus, users like Echostar, which has shipped 2 million satellite receivers using HomePlug 1.0, will not migrate to AV. Instead, Echostar will maintain HomePlug as a data network and adopt MoCA as a video delivery network, in part because of the latter's support for parameterized QoS.
Broadcom and Conexant are developing chips for the MoCA standard, as is Entropic Communications, which pioneered the technology.
Powerline backers are trying to catch up, at least in the throughput race. Both sides are researching techniques that could appear in products in 2009 or later.
The HomePlug proposal to the IEEE group includes a modified-physical-layer chip that would achieve about 40 percent greater throughput than the Home- Plug AV spec, said Logvinov. Higher spectral efficiency and better forward error correction are likely techniques the HomePlug group will use in next-generation approaches, he added.
The UPA's proposal uses its existing physical-layer technology, but the al- liance's road map will embrace data rates in "multiples of the 200 Mbytes/s we offer today [at the physical layer]," said Donnelly.
Gomez said DS2 is studying three ways to provide that boost. It could increase spectral efficiency beyond today's 6.6 bits/s per Hz. It could employ spectrum in the 30 to 80 MHz not used by today's products. Or it could dynamically shift power levels to accommodate multiple nets on a link, a technique pioneered in wireless networks.
Powerline backers may have more success expanding at the low end by attacking areas served by control networks such as ZigBee.
Startup Yitran (Beer-Sheva, Israel) is showing a controller, smaller than a postage stamp, that will sample early in 2008 using the HomePlug Command and Control spec the company helped define. The Yitran module taps a new, 180-nm MAC/PHY device that will sell for about $2.50, plus external components costing another 50 cents.
The module is said to enable a 7-kbit/s control network in the 100- to 400-MHz powerline band. The startup has licensed its technology to Renesas, which is expected to have its own chips late next year. Other chip makers now can license the HomePlug control spec at no charge up front. Royalties are about 5 cents per device in high volumes.
Yitran hopes to get the module embedded in white goods, lights, security systems and other household de- vices. It has a design win with a utility in Spain that could drive sales of as many as 20 million units, said Avner Matmor, the company's chief executive.
Control-net protocol
The HomePlug group expects to finish work by the end of the year on a standard protocol for the control net. In the meantime, Yitran is using the Simple Control Protocol defined by Microsoft, an early investor in the startup.
The UPA started working on a similar spec in September but will not divulge details until sometime in 2008. Members Cypress, DS2 and Toshiba are among the likely candidates to make chips for the spec. Cypress and Toshiba are already said to be working on broadband powerline chips using the DS2 technology.
Despite the heady competition, the market for all home networks is growing, said Michael Greeson, principal analyst at The Diffusion Group (Plano, Texas). The market watcher estimates as many as 185 million homes will have in-house networks by 2011, with an average of six devices on each net.
"Increasingly, consumer vendors see network connectivity as a way to differentiate their products," said Greeson, who added that connectivity will hit mainstream products by 2010.
"The biggest competitor is Wi-Fi," he said, "but it is inadequate for video and can be a nightmare to set up, and that's driving product returns."
A representative from Philips said the company is about to roll out an integrated Internet Protocol TV set using 802.11n chips from Atheros. Philips is also investigating powerline for products including speakers, DVD recorders and set-top boxes.
But powerline will probably not be used in Philips TVs at least until 2010, the spokesman said.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Friday, October 12, 2007
Arkados and MainNet Team to Bridge Smart Power Grids with Consumer Electronics, Enabling ''Green Entertainment''
Thursday October 11, 12:08 pm ET
Significant industry milestone employs the visionary usage of broadband powerline communications technology by combining Smart-Grid applications with consumer electronic devices in the home.
PISCATAWAY, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Arkados (OTC BB: AKDS - News), known as "the HomePlug® Applications Company," and MainNet Communications, Ltd., a leader in the broadband over powerline (BPL) communications market, have entered into a strategic collaboration to create commercial hardware and software solutions for Smart-Grid applications. The two companies plan to jointly develop applications to improve the reliability and efficiency of electrical grids, connect consumer electronic devices over power lines, enable energy-saving initiatives, and deliver Broadband content to homes and offices.
The details of the collaboration include a financial arrangement that gives MainNet incentives to purchase 600,000 Arkados 200 Mb/s chipsets (HomePlug AV) over the next three years. Subject to the terms of the agreement and the completion of certain milestones, MainNet is expected to pre-pay up to $500k for the delivery of Arkados solutions in calendar year 2008.
Combining MainNet's unique layer 2 system with Arkados' core technology, the planed applications will offer easy and seamless access to Internet-based services for the consumer over the existing electrical grid, while also acting as a window into energy savings by offering Command and Control energy applications. These applications help to save operational costs through energy conservation, and could contribute to a greener environment.
This collaboration represents an evolutionary step in an approach that provides utility companies with Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) solutions, and consumers with access to broadband communication services. Thus, it meets with the US national policy to support the modernization of the electricity transmission and distribution system to incorporate digital information and control technology, and to share real-time pricing information with electricity customers to achieve Advanced Smart-Grid and continual environmental improvement in the production and distribution of electricity (Smart-Grid Facilitation Act of 2007).
"MainNet found in Arkados a strong technology partner with the same vision of what powerline communications technology can achieve," said Joe Marsilii, CEO of MainNet. "Using Arkados' HomePlug chips with our BPL smart repetition mechanism, utility companies will get a future proof, easy to install, cost effective and secured Smart-Grid system. Concurrently, this scenario enables easy ways for consumers to access on-demand broadband services, which will help to further realize the vision of the connected home."
"Arkados is very impressed with the rich collection of functions that MainNet's Smart-Grid systems enable," said Oleg Logvinov, president and CEO of Arkados. "Not only do they have an extraordinary portfolio of solutions that detect, measure, and report on energy use, but they have added the additional valuable component of interaction with the consumer. Their solutions enable consumer to be actively involved in energy saving, while using that same broadband communication channel for traffic updates, weather reports, stock quotes, and entertainment options. By bridging connected devices with connected services, Arkados and MainNet are moving toward implementing the vision that our companies share."
Broadband powerline communications technology enables an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) for improved Smart-Grid applications, including demand response and demand-side management for more efficient use of energy resources, detecting power outages, tampering and theft, load balancing, and the integration of "smart" appliances and consumer devices. All are designed to achieve intelligent grid and maximized revenues for utility companies worldwide.
Significant industry milestone employs the visionary usage of broadband powerline communications technology by combining Smart-Grid applications with consumer electronic devices in the home.
PISCATAWAY, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Arkados (OTC BB: AKDS - News), known as "the HomePlug® Applications Company," and MainNet Communications, Ltd., a leader in the broadband over powerline (BPL) communications market, have entered into a strategic collaboration to create commercial hardware and software solutions for Smart-Grid applications. The two companies plan to jointly develop applications to improve the reliability and efficiency of electrical grids, connect consumer electronic devices over power lines, enable energy-saving initiatives, and deliver Broadband content to homes and offices.
The details of the collaboration include a financial arrangement that gives MainNet incentives to purchase 600,000 Arkados 200 Mb/s chipsets (HomePlug AV) over the next three years. Subject to the terms of the agreement and the completion of certain milestones, MainNet is expected to pre-pay up to $500k for the delivery of Arkados solutions in calendar year 2008.
Combining MainNet's unique layer 2 system with Arkados' core technology, the planed applications will offer easy and seamless access to Internet-based services for the consumer over the existing electrical grid, while also acting as a window into energy savings by offering Command and Control energy applications. These applications help to save operational costs through energy conservation, and could contribute to a greener environment.
This collaboration represents an evolutionary step in an approach that provides utility companies with Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) solutions, and consumers with access to broadband communication services. Thus, it meets with the US national policy to support the modernization of the electricity transmission and distribution system to incorporate digital information and control technology, and to share real-time pricing information with electricity customers to achieve Advanced Smart-Grid and continual environmental improvement in the production and distribution of electricity (Smart-Grid Facilitation Act of 2007).
"MainNet found in Arkados a strong technology partner with the same vision of what powerline communications technology can achieve," said Joe Marsilii, CEO of MainNet. "Using Arkados' HomePlug chips with our BPL smart repetition mechanism, utility companies will get a future proof, easy to install, cost effective and secured Smart-Grid system. Concurrently, this scenario enables easy ways for consumers to access on-demand broadband services, which will help to further realize the vision of the connected home."
"Arkados is very impressed with the rich collection of functions that MainNet's Smart-Grid systems enable," said Oleg Logvinov, president and CEO of Arkados. "Not only do they have an extraordinary portfolio of solutions that detect, measure, and report on energy use, but they have added the additional valuable component of interaction with the consumer. Their solutions enable consumer to be actively involved in energy saving, while using that same broadband communication channel for traffic updates, weather reports, stock quotes, and entertainment options. By bridging connected devices with connected services, Arkados and MainNet are moving toward implementing the vision that our companies share."
Broadband powerline communications technology enables an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) for improved Smart-Grid applications, including demand response and demand-side management for more efficient use of energy resources, detecting power outages, tampering and theft, load balancing, and the integration of "smart" appliances and consumer devices. All are designed to achieve intelligent grid and maximized revenues for utility companies worldwide.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
FCC gives approval to IBEC's broadband electric service
FCC gives approval to IBEC's broadband electric service
Thursday, October 11, 2007By GINA HANNAHTimes Business Writer gina.hannah@htimes.com
Rural areas in the U.S.,international marketswill soon reap benefits
Huntsville-based International Broadband Electric Communications Inc., said Wednesday it will begin deploying broadband Internet service to rural areas within the next month.
The move comes after IBEC's BPL (broadband over power line) Regenerator Unit and Customer Service Unit both gained certification from the Federal Communications Commission.
IBEC will initially begin installing the devices for three rural electric cooperatives in Alabama, Indiana and Virginia, providing broadband service for some 105,000 customers, the company said in a news release.
In Alabama, IBEC will install its BPL products for Cullman Electric Cooperative.
IBEC received a $19.2 million loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Utility Service to make the technology available to underserved areas.
Historically, rural communities have had their Internet service limited to dial-up, which can be much slower than broadband. IBEC plans to take its products to rural areas around the country, as well as international markets where phone lines are unreliable or unavailable.
"IBEC's focus since its inception has been to provide BPL services to rural electric utilities and the underserved residents of rural America - those citizens who are often neglected but who have the same need for broadband services as those living in urban and suburban America," said Scott E. Lee, IBEC's CEO. "IBEC's BPL equipment, coupled with the USDA funding, will allow IBEC to begin building the broadband networks necessary to serve rural America and close the digital divide."
In 2005, the Federal Communications Commission approved the use of power lines for delivering broadband services. With BPL service, customers can plug a modem into a wall power outlet to gain access to broadband services.
Thursday, October 11, 2007By GINA HANNAHTimes Business Writer gina.hannah@htimes.com
Rural areas in the U.S.,international marketswill soon reap benefits
Huntsville-based International Broadband Electric Communications Inc., said Wednesday it will begin deploying broadband Internet service to rural areas within the next month.
The move comes after IBEC's BPL (broadband over power line) Regenerator Unit and Customer Service Unit both gained certification from the Federal Communications Commission.
IBEC will initially begin installing the devices for three rural electric cooperatives in Alabama, Indiana and Virginia, providing broadband service for some 105,000 customers, the company said in a news release.
In Alabama, IBEC will install its BPL products for Cullman Electric Cooperative.
IBEC received a $19.2 million loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Utility Service to make the technology available to underserved areas.
Historically, rural communities have had their Internet service limited to dial-up, which can be much slower than broadband. IBEC plans to take its products to rural areas around the country, as well as international markets where phone lines are unreliable or unavailable.
"IBEC's focus since its inception has been to provide BPL services to rural electric utilities and the underserved residents of rural America - those citizens who are often neglected but who have the same need for broadband services as those living in urban and suburban America," said Scott E. Lee, IBEC's CEO. "IBEC's BPL equipment, coupled with the USDA funding, will allow IBEC to begin building the broadband networks necessary to serve rural America and close the digital divide."
In 2005, the Federal Communications Commission approved the use of power lines for delivering broadband services. With BPL service, customers can plug a modem into a wall power outlet to gain access to broadband services.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Asoka's New 200 Mbps Powerline Network Solutions Power up the Digital Home
Three new additions to the PlugLink(R) Powerline network solutions family offer simple, secure, and reliable connectivity for IPTV and High-Definition video streaming
By PR Newswire
SANTA CLARA, Calif., Oct. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Asoka USA, a leading Powerline Network Solutions provider, today debuted the latest additions to its popular PlugLink Powerline network solutions family -- the Pluglink AV 9164 Digital Power Center (PL9164-4SW), the PlugLink AV 9560 Wireless Adapter (PL9560-WAP) and the PlugLink AV 9660 Ethernet Adapter (PL9660-ETH). All three are designed for HomePlug(R) AV standards compliance, boasting connection speeds of up to 200 Mbps over existing home electrical wiring. Asoka is showcasing all three products this week at the 2007 HomePlug Technology Conference in Santa Clara, California.
The PlugLink AV 9164 Digital Power Center (PL9164-4SW) features 6-AC sockets with comprehensive surge protection, advanced AC powerline noise filtering for better picture and sound, and a HomePlug 200 Mbps 4-port Ethernet switch for overall digital home entertainment network connectivity. The PlugLink AV 9164 Digital Power Center (PL9164-4SW) is the ideal solution for growing digital entertainment needs, providing a simple, secure and reliable network solution while offering world-class performance and protection for your AV components.
The PlugLink AV 9560 Wireless Adapter (PL9560-WAP) is an integrated HomePlug AV 200 Mbps Ethernet Adapter with an 802.11b/g access point. The PlugLink AV 9560 Wireless Adapter (PL9560-WAP) is the ideal wireless network extender for your home or office. It provides instant extended wireless coverage without complicated Ethernet wires or unreliable and complicated wireless repeaters.
The PlugLink AV 9660 Ethernet Adapter (PL9660-ETH) is a HomePlug AV 200 Mbps Ethernet bridge that makes it quicker and easier than ever to set up a home network or small business network. Featuring advanced push-button encryption technology for immediate security and a LED performance indicator, the PlugLink AV 9660 Ethernet Adapter (PL9660-ETH) provides a flexible High Definition (HD) multimedia-ready network solution for the digital home.
"Our new PlugLink 200 Mbps AV suite offers our Carriers and customers a pervasive and reliable network backbone for services such as Broadband, VoIP, IPTV and Home Monitoring," said Dano Ybarra, CEO of Asoka. "Asoka is dedicated to delivering the ultimate experience in digital home entertainment through innovative and unique designs as demonstrated in our PlugLink AV 9164 Digital Power Center, advanced push-button encryption, and LED performance indicator."
"Asoka's latest HomePlug AV portfolio represents the continued momentum of the HomePlug Powerline Alliance," added Matthew Theall from Intel Corporation, who also serves as the President of the HomePlug Powerline Alliance. "Innovative integrated HomePlug designs like these from Asoka truly help proliferate the value of this technology."
Pricing and Availability
The PlugLink AV 9660 Ethernet Adapter (PL9660-ETH) is immediately available and the Suggested Retail Price is $99.99 for one adapter. The PlugLink AV 9560 Wireless Adapter (PL9560-WAP) and the PlugLink AV 9164 Digital Power Center (PL9164-4SW) are scheduled to ship in 1Q 2008. The Suggested Retail Price is $119.99 and $139.99 respectively. These products will be available through Asoka's network of resellers, Service Providers and Asoka's own online store, http://www.asokausa.com.
By PR Newswire
SANTA CLARA, Calif., Oct. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Asoka USA, a leading Powerline Network Solutions provider, today debuted the latest additions to its popular PlugLink Powerline network solutions family -- the Pluglink AV 9164 Digital Power Center (PL9164-4SW), the PlugLink AV 9560 Wireless Adapter (PL9560-WAP) and the PlugLink AV 9660 Ethernet Adapter (PL9660-ETH). All three are designed for HomePlug(R) AV standards compliance, boasting connection speeds of up to 200 Mbps over existing home electrical wiring. Asoka is showcasing all three products this week at the 2007 HomePlug Technology Conference in Santa Clara, California.
The PlugLink AV 9164 Digital Power Center (PL9164-4SW) features 6-AC sockets with comprehensive surge protection, advanced AC powerline noise filtering for better picture and sound, and a HomePlug 200 Mbps 4-port Ethernet switch for overall digital home entertainment network connectivity. The PlugLink AV 9164 Digital Power Center (PL9164-4SW) is the ideal solution for growing digital entertainment needs, providing a simple, secure and reliable network solution while offering world-class performance and protection for your AV components.
The PlugLink AV 9560 Wireless Adapter (PL9560-WAP) is an integrated HomePlug AV 200 Mbps Ethernet Adapter with an 802.11b/g access point. The PlugLink AV 9560 Wireless Adapter (PL9560-WAP) is the ideal wireless network extender for your home or office. It provides instant extended wireless coverage without complicated Ethernet wires or unreliable and complicated wireless repeaters.
The PlugLink AV 9660 Ethernet Adapter (PL9660-ETH) is a HomePlug AV 200 Mbps Ethernet bridge that makes it quicker and easier than ever to set up a home network or small business network. Featuring advanced push-button encryption technology for immediate security and a LED performance indicator, the PlugLink AV 9660 Ethernet Adapter (PL9660-ETH) provides a flexible High Definition (HD) multimedia-ready network solution for the digital home.
"Our new PlugLink 200 Mbps AV suite offers our Carriers and customers a pervasive and reliable network backbone for services such as Broadband, VoIP, IPTV and Home Monitoring," said Dano Ybarra, CEO of Asoka. "Asoka is dedicated to delivering the ultimate experience in digital home entertainment through innovative and unique designs as demonstrated in our PlugLink AV 9164 Digital Power Center, advanced push-button encryption, and LED performance indicator."
"Asoka's latest HomePlug AV portfolio represents the continued momentum of the HomePlug Powerline Alliance," added Matthew Theall from Intel Corporation, who also serves as the President of the HomePlug Powerline Alliance. "Innovative integrated HomePlug designs like these from Asoka truly help proliferate the value of this technology."
Pricing and Availability
The PlugLink AV 9660 Ethernet Adapter (PL9660-ETH) is immediately available and the Suggested Retail Price is $99.99 for one adapter. The PlugLink AV 9560 Wireless Adapter (PL9560-WAP) and the PlugLink AV 9164 Digital Power Center (PL9164-4SW) are scheduled to ship in 1Q 2008. The Suggested Retail Price is $119.99 and $139.99 respectively. These products will be available through Asoka's network of resellers, Service Providers and Asoka's own online store, http://www.asokausa.com.
DS2 analyses the future of 'Digital Home Networking' for telecoms IPTV services
Broadband World Forum Europe, Berlin 2007
DMN Newswire--2007-10-9--DS2, the leading technology innovator and a global provider of high-speed semiconductor solutions for Powerline Communications applications, will hold a discussion panel at Broadband World Forum Europe 2007, giving new insight into powerline technology as the future of multimedia home networking and networked entertainment applications. Victor Dominguez, DS2's Business Development Director, will chair the panel, which will focus on the rapidly growing consumer demand for 'The Digital Home', a home where electronic devices communicate and interact, which is emerging as the key driver for new services in the telecommunications sector. The panel will look at the requirements of home network-based services beyond triple play and the demands that this places on today's enabling technologies, such as unterminated coax, wireless or powerline, to deliver real-time interactive and secure multimedia and broadband applications.
The panel - which will include industry thought leaders from Microsoft, Portugal Telecom and British Telecom (BT Retail), as well as technology providers Comtrend Communications and Pirelli Broadband Solutions - will offer opinions and experiences of multimedia home networking applications. Forum topics will include consumer benefits, current applications for home networking in IPTV and triple play services, as well as the latest home networking trends plus performance, coverage and Quality of Service requirements.
Harold Fitch, Comtrend's General Manager, Europe and South America, and a supplier of high-speed Powerline Communications technology for commercial IPTV services such as British Telecom's self-install BT Vision package, and Telefónica, will also be among the panel of speakers fielding questions and discussing next generation networking. Mr Fitch stated: "We use DS2's UPA Plugtested powerline technology because of its speed, reliability and all-round performance. Setting up a powerline network is so easy. Configuration is automatic, the network itself is secure and delivers whole home connectivity, plus it supports multimedia networking applications delivering prime-time viewing quality, which is why operators, such as BT, are opting to include our high speed Powerline products in their IPTV roll-outs. As the underlying technology becomes fully integrated into currently popular applications, the scope for innovation and new consumer products will grow significantly."
"We believe that a completely interoperable digital home network is the future," commented Victor Dominguez, Business Development Director at DS2. "The powerline market is growing at a rate of 100 per cent p.a. because of a spiralling consumer demand for a 'Digital Home', which offers state-of-the-art applications such as online gaming, audio distribution and HD video streaming, without complex or expensive installation. Powerline technology enables integration into current applications and ensures the best possible end-user experience."
The Panel, entitled track E2 - Beyond Triple Play: Home Network-Based Services, is open to Broadband World Forum Europe, Berlin 2007 attendees at the Estrel Convention Centre at 2:00pm on Wednesday 10th October.
About DS2
DS2 is the world's leading supplier of the 200 Mbps technology that enables home networking and broadband access over power line, coaxial cable, and telephone wire. DS2 pioneered the industry with the introduction of its 200 Mbps chipsets, creating the fastest and highest performance solution for simultaneous data, digital audio and high-definition video transmission. Two pre-eminent industry groups, the Universal Powerline Association (UPA) and the European Union consortium OPERA (Open PLC European Research Alliance) have adopted DS2 technology in support of multi-vendor standard certified product. For more information, please visit www.ds2.es
DMN Newswire--2007-10-9--DS2, the leading technology innovator and a global provider of high-speed semiconductor solutions for Powerline Communications applications, will hold a discussion panel at Broadband World Forum Europe 2007, giving new insight into powerline technology as the future of multimedia home networking and networked entertainment applications. Victor Dominguez, DS2's Business Development Director, will chair the panel, which will focus on the rapidly growing consumer demand for 'The Digital Home', a home where electronic devices communicate and interact, which is emerging as the key driver for new services in the telecommunications sector. The panel will look at the requirements of home network-based services beyond triple play and the demands that this places on today's enabling technologies, such as unterminated coax, wireless or powerline, to deliver real-time interactive and secure multimedia and broadband applications.
The panel - which will include industry thought leaders from Microsoft, Portugal Telecom and British Telecom (BT Retail), as well as technology providers Comtrend Communications and Pirelli Broadband Solutions - will offer opinions and experiences of multimedia home networking applications. Forum topics will include consumer benefits, current applications for home networking in IPTV and triple play services, as well as the latest home networking trends plus performance, coverage and Quality of Service requirements.
Harold Fitch, Comtrend's General Manager, Europe and South America, and a supplier of high-speed Powerline Communications technology for commercial IPTV services such as British Telecom's self-install BT Vision package, and Telefónica, will also be among the panel of speakers fielding questions and discussing next generation networking. Mr Fitch stated: "We use DS2's UPA Plugtested powerline technology because of its speed, reliability and all-round performance. Setting up a powerline network is so easy. Configuration is automatic, the network itself is secure and delivers whole home connectivity, plus it supports multimedia networking applications delivering prime-time viewing quality, which is why operators, such as BT, are opting to include our high speed Powerline products in their IPTV roll-outs. As the underlying technology becomes fully integrated into currently popular applications, the scope for innovation and new consumer products will grow significantly."
"We believe that a completely interoperable digital home network is the future," commented Victor Dominguez, Business Development Director at DS2. "The powerline market is growing at a rate of 100 per cent p.a. because of a spiralling consumer demand for a 'Digital Home', which offers state-of-the-art applications such as online gaming, audio distribution and HD video streaming, without complex or expensive installation. Powerline technology enables integration into current applications and ensures the best possible end-user experience."
The Panel, entitled track E2 - Beyond Triple Play: Home Network-Based Services, is open to Broadband World Forum Europe, Berlin 2007 attendees at the Estrel Convention Centre at 2:00pm on Wednesday 10th October.
About DS2
DS2 is the world's leading supplier of the 200 Mbps technology that enables home networking and broadband access over power line, coaxial cable, and telephone wire. DS2 pioneered the industry with the introduction of its 200 Mbps chipsets, creating the fastest and highest performance solution for simultaneous data, digital audio and high-definition video transmission. Two pre-eminent industry groups, the Universal Powerline Association (UPA) and the European Union consortium OPERA (Open PLC European Research Alliance) have adopted DS2 technology in support of multi-vendor standard certified product. For more information, please visit www.ds2.es
Leading New York City Developer Selects MSTI Holdings To Provide ''Quadruple Play'' Services For New Residential Building
By BusinessWire
HAWTHORNE, N.J., BUSINESS WIRE -- MSTI Holdings, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: MSHI), a carrier class communications technology company that specializes in providing "quadruple play" services consisting of video, voice, Internet and Wi-Fi to multi-tenant unit and multi-dwelling unit residential, hospitality and commercial properties, announced today that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Microwave Satellite Technologies, Inc. ("MST") (NuVisions(TM)) has entered into an agreement with a leading New York City real estate conglomerate to provide quadruple play services to 396 residential units. The building, located in New York City, is a new luxury rental building located in New York's Financial District. MST will also provide its new IPTV service to customers at that location.
"We are pleased that one of the largest real estate management companies in New York City has selected NuVisions(TM) for this project," said Frank Matarazzo, CEO and founder of MST. "Our ability to cost-effectively deliver a suite of communication services represents a powerful advantage for both building owners and tenants. As a result of the unique value proposition we offer, building owners in the tri-State area and in our other target markets are increasingly selecting NuVisions to meet their communications and entertainment requirements."
HAWTHORNE, N.J., BUSINESS WIRE -- MSTI Holdings, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: MSHI), a carrier class communications technology company that specializes in providing "quadruple play" services consisting of video, voice, Internet and Wi-Fi to multi-tenant unit and multi-dwelling unit residential, hospitality and commercial properties, announced today that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Microwave Satellite Technologies, Inc. ("MST") (NuVisions(TM)) has entered into an agreement with a leading New York City real estate conglomerate to provide quadruple play services to 396 residential units. The building, located in New York City, is a new luxury rental building located in New York's Financial District. MST will also provide its new IPTV service to customers at that location.
"We are pleased that one of the largest real estate management companies in New York City has selected NuVisions(TM) for this project," said Frank Matarazzo, CEO and founder of MST. "Our ability to cost-effectively deliver a suite of communication services represents a powerful advantage for both building owners and tenants. As a result of the unique value proposition we offer, building owners in the tri-State area and in our other target markets are increasingly selecting NuVisions to meet their communications and entertainment requirements."
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
HomePlug® Powerline Alliance Announces Intent to Certify IEEE 1901 Products Based on Its Recent Merged Proposal
October 09, 2007 07:57 AM Eastern Daylight Time
HomePlug Adds New Session at Upcoming Annual Conference to Provide Insight on Latest IEEE P1901 Developments
HomePlug Powerline Technology Conference
SAN RAMON, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The HomePlug® Powerline Alliance today announced it has added a new session to the upcoming HomePlug Powerline Technology Conference which will focus on recent developments in the IEEE P1901 Work Group and its intent to certify IEEE 1901 products. This certification will be based on the HomePlug Alliance’s recently merged proposal to ensure compliance with the IEEE specification and will be designed to be interoperable with other products in the market. The HomePlug Powerline Technology Conference will be held on October 10 and 11 at the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara in Santa Clara, California. Registration is open now, and details on the session and conference can be found at http://2007conference.homeplug.org.
The conference will also share the success of the HomePlug-developed Compliance and Interoperability (C&I) program, its history to date, and how the program will be expanded to certify IEEE 1901-based products. The C&I program has already certified many of the over 10 million HomePlug products in the powerline communications market, and the program has recently been expanded with compliance processes geared toward silicon manufacturers.
“The HomePlug Powerline Alliance is truly excited about our involvement in the IEEE’s Broadband over Powerline efforts. From the beginning, the HomePlug Alliance has always been committed to a single interoperable standard for this breakthrough technology, and HomePlug’s member companies have been deeply involved in the IEEE work groups,” said Oleg Logvinov, president and CEO of Arkados, Inc., who serves as chief strategy officer of the HomePlug Powerline Alliance.
“The HomePlug Alliance has had great success with our strict Compliance and Interoperability program, and HomePlug certification assures consumers that products are interoperable with another. Extending our comprehensive program to include IEEE 1901 standard products is a logical step for the entire industry,” said Craig Cedros from Intel Corporation, who serves as chair of the Compliance and Interoperability Work Group.
Founded in 2000, the HomePlug Alliance remains the only compliance, interoperability and standards organization in the powerline technology industry. The merged proposal submitted by HomePlug and Panasonic to the IEEE P1901 Work Group offers the efficiency of a single MAC and the flexibility to support both the HD-PLC and HomePlug AV PHYs. As a result, future products based on the merged proposal will be designed to be interoperable with existing powerline products.
The IEEE P1901 Work Group is expected to approve a proposal later this year. For more information on the HomePlug Powerline Alliance and the Annual HomePlug Powerline Technology Conference, please visit www.homeplug.org.
HomePlug Adds New Session at Upcoming Annual Conference to Provide Insight on Latest IEEE P1901 Developments
HomePlug Powerline Technology Conference
SAN RAMON, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The HomePlug® Powerline Alliance today announced it has added a new session to the upcoming HomePlug Powerline Technology Conference which will focus on recent developments in the IEEE P1901 Work Group and its intent to certify IEEE 1901 products. This certification will be based on the HomePlug Alliance’s recently merged proposal to ensure compliance with the IEEE specification and will be designed to be interoperable with other products in the market. The HomePlug Powerline Technology Conference will be held on October 10 and 11 at the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara in Santa Clara, California. Registration is open now, and details on the session and conference can be found at http://2007conference.homeplug.org.
The conference will also share the success of the HomePlug-developed Compliance and Interoperability (C&I) program, its history to date, and how the program will be expanded to certify IEEE 1901-based products. The C&I program has already certified many of the over 10 million HomePlug products in the powerline communications market, and the program has recently been expanded with compliance processes geared toward silicon manufacturers.
“The HomePlug Powerline Alliance is truly excited about our involvement in the IEEE’s Broadband over Powerline efforts. From the beginning, the HomePlug Alliance has always been committed to a single interoperable standard for this breakthrough technology, and HomePlug’s member companies have been deeply involved in the IEEE work groups,” said Oleg Logvinov, president and CEO of Arkados, Inc., who serves as chief strategy officer of the HomePlug Powerline Alliance.
“The HomePlug Alliance has had great success with our strict Compliance and Interoperability program, and HomePlug certification assures consumers that products are interoperable with another. Extending our comprehensive program to include IEEE 1901 standard products is a logical step for the entire industry,” said Craig Cedros from Intel Corporation, who serves as chair of the Compliance and Interoperability Work Group.
Founded in 2000, the HomePlug Alliance remains the only compliance, interoperability and standards organization in the powerline technology industry. The merged proposal submitted by HomePlug and Panasonic to the IEEE P1901 Work Group offers the efficiency of a single MAC and the flexibility to support both the HD-PLC and HomePlug AV PHYs. As a result, future products based on the merged proposal will be designed to be interoperable with existing powerline products.
The IEEE P1901 Work Group is expected to approve a proposal later this year. For more information on the HomePlug Powerline Alliance and the Annual HomePlug Powerline Technology Conference, please visit www.homeplug.org.
Thursday, October 04, 2007
FP&L to invest $2.4 billion on 'smart grid,' solar and outreach
FP&L to invest $2.4 billion on 'smart grid,' solar and outreach
October 2007
Florida Power & Light plans to invest up to $500 million to create a "smart network" -- what we often call "smart grid" -- to give customers enhanced energy management . . . http://www.bpltoday.com/
October 2007
Florida Power & Light plans to invest up to $500 million to create a "smart network" -- what we often call "smart grid" -- to give customers enhanced energy management . . . http://www.bpltoday.com/
BPL Solutions Provider Asoka Gets $7 Million in Venture Capital, Appoints New CEO
$7M Jolt for Broadband-Over-Power-Line Firm
04 October 2007, 12:18
by Ken Schachter
Broadband over power line equipment maker Asoka USA has hired a new chief executive and reeled in $7 million in venture capital from Venrock Associates and Storm Ventures, the company said Thursday.
Dano Ybarra succeeded founder T.K. Chan as chief executive of the 6-year-old company which until now had been bootstrapped.
Mr. Ybarra has worked in executive, operations and marketing roles at Netopia, FlowPoint, Efficient Netwoks, Siemens and Adobe.
Broadband over power line, or BPL, has been touted for years as a potential rival to Internet services delivered by cable and telecom companies, but U.S. electric companies have yet to roll out the offering to a mass market.
In May, the HomePlug Powerline Alliance, an industry group, said more than nine million power line communications devices had been shipped by members worldwide. With BPL, Internet service is delivered via standard electrical lines into homes and businesses.
Google, Goldman Sachs, Duke Energy, General Electric and others have lavished more than $130 million in venture capital on leading U.S. BPL provider Current Group, but that company’s footprint remains limited to the Dallas/Forth Worth and Cincinnati markets.
Asoka, with headquarters in Foster City, California, and research and development facilities in Shenzhen, China, offers equipment for home networking as well as gear that allows hotels and multi-tenant residential and commercial properties to make electrical outlets do double duty as Internet connections.
"Mr. Ybarra has demonstrated the ability to build teams capable of growing young companies into world leaders," Tae Hea Nahm of Storm Ventures said in a statement.
04 October 2007, 12:18
by Ken Schachter
Broadband over power line equipment maker Asoka USA has hired a new chief executive and reeled in $7 million in venture capital from Venrock Associates and Storm Ventures, the company said Thursday.
Dano Ybarra succeeded founder T.K. Chan as chief executive of the 6-year-old company which until now had been bootstrapped.
Mr. Ybarra has worked in executive, operations and marketing roles at Netopia, FlowPoint, Efficient Netwoks, Siemens and Adobe.
Broadband over power line, or BPL, has been touted for years as a potential rival to Internet services delivered by cable and telecom companies, but U.S. electric companies have yet to roll out the offering to a mass market.
In May, the HomePlug Powerline Alliance, an industry group, said more than nine million power line communications devices had been shipped by members worldwide. With BPL, Internet service is delivered via standard electrical lines into homes and businesses.
Google, Goldman Sachs, Duke Energy, General Electric and others have lavished more than $130 million in venture capital on leading U.S. BPL provider Current Group, but that company’s footprint remains limited to the Dallas/Forth Worth and Cincinnati markets.
Asoka, with headquarters in Foster City, California, and research and development facilities in Shenzhen, China, offers equipment for home networking as well as gear that allows hotels and multi-tenant residential and commercial properties to make electrical outlets do double duty as Internet connections.
"Mr. Ybarra has demonstrated the ability to build teams capable of growing young companies into world leaders," Tae Hea Nahm of Storm Ventures said in a statement.
Groups team for Powerline audio project
Groups team for Powerline audio project
John Walko
EE Times Europe
10/02/2007 4:44 PM
LONDON — Broadband over Powerline networking chip specialist SiConnect (Swindon, England) has teamed with Taiwanese group ST&T Corporation to develop powerline communication based audio equipment.
ST&T (Tainin, Taiwan) will use SiConnect's single-chip audio powerline transceiver in the development project.
The chip uses the compnay's patented POEM technology which brings low cost, high fidelity throughput, native uncompressed audio streaming, coexistence with other powerline applications, mesh networking and global EMC compliance.
SiConnect CEO, Chris Wade, commented: "ST&T's knowledge of the powerline market is second-to-none and we look forward to helping them address new opportunities for interconnecting consumer electronics in the home. We are both committed to the rapid deployment of powerline applications in the home and our jointly developed audio powerline products will set new price-performance benchmarks for the sector."
John Walko
EE Times Europe
10/02/2007 4:44 PM
LONDON — Broadband over Powerline networking chip specialist SiConnect (Swindon, England) has teamed with Taiwanese group ST&T Corporation to develop powerline communication based audio equipment.
ST&T (Tainin, Taiwan) will use SiConnect's single-chip audio powerline transceiver in the development project.
The chip uses the compnay's patented POEM technology which brings low cost, high fidelity throughput, native uncompressed audio streaming, coexistence with other powerline applications, mesh networking and global EMC compliance.
SiConnect CEO, Chris Wade, commented: "ST&T's knowledge of the powerline market is second-to-none and we look forward to helping them address new opportunities for interconnecting consumer electronics in the home. We are both committed to the rapid deployment of powerline applications in the home and our jointly developed audio powerline products will set new price-performance benchmarks for the sector."
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