At the 2010 International CES, the HomePlug® Powerline Alliance, the world's leading industry group for powerline network solutions, announced expected finalization of the HomePlug "Green PHY" (HomePlug GP) specification in the first quarter of 2010. HomePlug GP is a low power, cost-optimized powerline networking specification targeting Smart Grid applications such as HVAC, smart meters, home appliances and plug-in electric hybrid vehicles. HomePlug GP is developed as a profile of the IEEE 1901 powerline communications standard and will be included in HomePlug's well-established Compliance and Interoperability Certification Logo program.
Intellon Corporation (now Atheros Communications, Inc.) was recently selected for award negotiation by the U.S. Department of Energy for a $4.9 million matching grant for its HomePlug GP development. The HomePlug Powerline Alliance has also worked with the ZigBee Alliance to develop the ZigBee/HomePlug Smart Energy Profile, a common application layer enabling interoperability between applications which may run in ZigBee wireless and HomePlug powerline devices.
HomePlug devices account for 75 percent of the world's broadband powerline communications market, and over 40 million devices have shipped to date. The program has certified more than 190 products and will also begin certifying IEEE 1901 products in 2010.
For the full press release, click here.
