Universal Powerline Association (UPA) Standards Leading the Delivery of Global Interoperable Powerline Products and Services

  • UPA's "Complete Suite" of Powerline Solutions for In-Home, In-Building and Access provide Global Markets with reliable end-to-end connectivity

May 23, 2007 - San Jose, California, - The Universal Powerline Association (UPA) (www.upaplc.org), a leading international body that develops and implements specifications and compliance testing for interoperable Powerline communication, today announces the most complete suite of UPA qualified products for the emerging and growing global market of high-speed 200Mbps Powerline networking. "The use of UPA qualified products by leading IPTV operators, Utilities, networking companies, system integrators, Audio/Video retailers/installers and retailers around the world coupled with the large range of interoperable UPA products now available to the consumer signify the beginning of critical mass for Powerline communications," said Eric Morel, Chairman of UPA.

UPA certified products have been deployed by Telecom Operators since 2005 and UPA technology is the only 200Mbps Powerline technology being deployed in volume by Telecom companies today. UPA technology offers Operators the ability to deliver high bandwidth services, such as IPTV, via a flawless, consumer-installed Powerline network. Morel assessed that "UPA compliant products are now in use in almost all commercial rollouts of IPTV over Powerlines by incumbent operators."

The UPA recently displayed its wide range of 200Mbps commercially available products at the CONNECTIONS 2007 Digital Living conference in Santa Clara, California. The display included 15 interoperable high-speed Powerline products from 10 different manufacturers; by far the largest high speed, interoperable, and Plugtested powerline product range available today. Driving the demand for the latest 200Mbps UPA products is video connectivity in the home, including a high bandwidth "video network" offering guaranteed quality of service and the ability to share multimedia content throughout the home. Products based on UPA technology deliver a solid video network that supports the streaming of multiple channels of High Definition content between multiple devices in the home. UPA technology connects televisions, PCs, game consoles, media servers, TV Set-Top-Boxes, Digital Video Recorders, and all other IP-enabled devices.

"The UPA Plugtested seal is a guarantee of compliance and interoperability between products. All UPA Plugtested products meet the demanding requirements for all the new In-Home applications such as IPTV, Multi-Room Video streaming, and Real-Time Online Gaming. When the consumers see the UPA Plugtested logo, they can be sure the products are guaranteed to work", said Peter Sobotka, Chairman, UPA Digital Home Standard group.

UPA member companies have seen significant growth of their customers and marketplace over the last year. Additionally, the UPA has added a new board member and additional silicon sources. Members attribute their growth in big part to the UPA and its continued endorsement of global open and interoperable standards and to the fact that the UPA is the only organization that has developed 200Mbps specifications for In-Home, In-Building, Access, and Coexistence.

UPA technology is the only Powerline technology being deployed today for 200Mbps connectivity in multi dwelling units, offices, schools, hospitals, and over medium and low voltage Powerlines owned by Utilities. Lower speed Powerline technologies have been on the market for many years offering point-to-point data communication but this is the first major launch of high-speed Powerline networking products ready for immediate adoption in global markets.

About the UPA
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 plugtested 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, BPL Global, Buffalo, Comtrend, Corinex Communications Corp., Current Technologies International, Cypress Semiconductor, D-Link, DS2, Duke Energy, Ilevo (Schneider Electric Powerline Communications), Itochu Corporation, Logitec Corporation, Netgear, PCN Technology, Pirelli Broadband, Sumitomo Electric Industries, Toshiba Electronics Europe GmbH, TOYO Network Systems and Watteco.

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

North America
Brian Donnelly
UPA Marketing Working Group Chairman
Phone: +1 604 692-0520
brian.donnelly@upaplc.org

Europe and ROW
Donald Pollock                   
UPA Permanent Secretary
Phone:  + 44 1780 470003              
donald.pollock@upaplc.org 

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