ST joins HomePlug Powerline Alliance board of directors

PORTLAND, USA: The HomePlug Powerline Alliance, the world’s leading industry group for powerline network solutions, announced that STMicroelectronics has joined the alliance’s board of directors. STMicroelectronics, Europe’s leading semiconductor company, brings additional depth to the industry leading HomePlug ecosystem and further validates HomePlug technology as the defacto world standard for high-speed powerline networking.

“Powerline networking is rapidly moving into the mainstream as a backbone for the home network and the smart grid, and it is clear that HomePlug is a key reference technology for powerline networks,” said Carmelo Papa, Executive Vice President, General Manager Industrial and Multisegment Sector, STMicroelectronics.

“We have been deploying millions of powerline chips for smart metering and home automation applications for many years, and HomePlug has the only complete ecosystem of interoperable technology which can ensure a forward migration path to Gigabit-class service. The HomePlug ecosystem and the IEEE 1901 standard will definitely complement STMicroelectronics power line communication solutions to fully cover all narrowband and broadband application evolutions.”

“STMicroelectronics is one of the premier semiconductor vendors in the world, and having them join our Board strengthens our alliance and our technology ecosystem,” said Rob Ranck, president of the HomePlug Powerline Alliance. “Having the world’s fifth largest semiconductor company commit to HomePlug continues to validate the market and our technology.”

The HomePlug technology family includes HomePlug AV, the solution for home broadband applications that is baseline technology for the IEEE 1901 standard, ensuring backward interoperability with a large installed base.

The new HomePlug “Green PHY” (GP) specification is a low power, cost-optimized powerline networking specification that targets Smart Grid applications such as HVAC, smart meters, home appliances and plug-in electric hybrid vehicles. Products based on HomePlug GP will be fully interoperable with HomePlug AV products. The forthcoming next-generation HomePlug AV2 will deliver Gigabit-class performance while maintaining backwards interoperability.

HomePlug devices account for more than 80 percent of the world's broadband powerline communications market and over 45 million devices have shipped to date. The alliance works with key stakeholders to ensure all of its specifications are designed to meet the requirements of IPTV service providers, power utilities, equipment and appliance manufacturers, consumer electronics and other important stakeholders.

HomePlug operates the powerline networking industry's largest Compliance and Interoperability Certification Program to ensure true multi-vendor co-existence and interoperability. The program has certified more than 200 products and will also begin certifying IEEE 1901 products in 2010.