News

Broadband Forum and HomeGrid Forum Reach Collaboration Agreement Enabling Conformance and Interoperability of G.hn Products (1/7/2010)

HomeGrid Forum, the non-profit trade group promoting the United Nations’ International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU-T) G.hn (G.9960 & G.9961) standardization efforts, announced today the signing of an agreement with Broadband Forum, the consortium of approximately 200 leading telecommunications service providers, network equipment manufacturers, and software companies driving broadband wireline solutions around the world. As part of this agreement, the two organizations will collaborate to deliver to the market, later this year, a global compliance and interoperability testing program for products using G.hn technology – ITU-T’s unified wired home networking standard.  The Broadband Forum will support HomeGrid Forum's validation of G.hn products, their promotion of product conformance and interoperability, and help expedite the total time to market for HomeGrid Forum Certified products of all types.

“The Broadband Forum is the world’s leading broadband standards development organization,” said Matthew Theall, president of HomeGrid Forum. “Their support further validates the importance of G.hn and the interest in this technology throughout the industry.  We’re looking forward to working closely together on a range of projects as manufacturers bring the first G.hn silicon to market later this year, and introduce G.hn-based systems in early 2011.”

Through one global standard, G.hn will unify the home networking of content and devices over any wire -- coaxial cable, phone lines, and power lines. With it, service providers will be able to deploy new offerings, including IPTV, more cost effectively. Consumer electronics manufacturers will be able to provide powerful devices for connecting all types of entertainment, home automation, and security products throughout the house. Smart Grid devices such as smart electricity meters, heating and air conditioning systems, electrical appliances, electric vehicles, and lighting systems will also benefit from the reliability, security, and low-power consumption provided by the G.hn standard.

“The Broadband Forum has 15 years of interoperability experience, and our work spans from the core to the user. In our Connected Home Initiative, work has always supported various LAN technologies, and this collaboration is a natural outgrowth of our focus on supporting industry standards that allow for seamless networking of content throughout the home.” said Robin Mersh, COO of the Broadband Forum. “Our goal is to ensure online users have all they need to enjoy a rich multi-media experience."

The compliance and interoperability program will enable HomeGrid Forum to certify a wide variety of products indicated with the HomeGrid Certified logo. Through this program, manufacturers will have defined guidelines to design, test, and develop G.hn products for market introduction. The HomeGrid Certified program, with the support of the Broadband Forum, will help facilitate adoption of G.hn in the market.

www.broadband-forum.org
www.homegridforum.org