Universal Powerline Association announces designs incorporating dual mode silicon supporting UPA and just completed G.hn Wire line Networking Standard availability Q3 of 2010

2nd March, 2010 – London, UK - The Universal Powerline Association (UPA), an International not-for-profit trade association is delighted with the completion of the next phase in the United Nation’s International Telecommunication Union (ITU-T)’s G.Hn standard. The consent of the Data Link Layer (DLL) and coexistence protocol effectively completes the standard, clearing the way for silicon vendors to bring chips to market based upon this next generation wired networking standard. UPA members, DS2, have already demonstrated interoperability between UPA technology-based home networking equipment and their prototypes using the ITU-T G.Hn standard at CES 2010, this ensures compatibility with the large installed base of UPA systems.

The ITU-T G.Hn standard defines very high speed home networking over power, coax and phone lines and in operation it facilitates exchanging data at throughput that far exceeds today’s home network technologies over any medium. Daniel Drolet, Chair of the UPA Board commented, “At a time when other organizations are working to finalize technologies that are over 5 years old. The ITU-T G.Hn group has proved that it can quickly produce a robust standard with just one MAC and PHY that will meet the increasing bandwidth requirements of today’s and tomorrow’s digital home. We are keen to promote this technology and are eagerly awaiting its commercial introduction later this year.”

Jeff Lin, Manager of AcBel Polytech Inc. commented, “Our carrier-class UPA-based products provide an excellent home networking solution for many commercial IPTV deployments today. Our customers will be delighted to know that through their investment in UPA technology they will be able to take full advantage of the emerging G.hn standard.”

Jorge Blasco, UPA Member and President of DS2 confirmed, “Our G.hn chips will provide backwards interoperability with today’s installed base of UPA devices.” At this year’s CES the company demonstrated the ease of interoperability between existing UPA equipment and their ITU-T G.Hn prototypes. Mr. Blasco also commented, “To invest in 2010 in legacy technologies that cannot demonstrate a clear path for converting to G.hn seems an unwise decision.” UPA compatible silicon based upon the ITU-T G.Hn Standard is expected in Q3 2010.

About the Universal Powerline Association:
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. 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, Buffalo Inc., Comtrend, D-Link, DS2, Freedom Digital Networks, Power Monitors Incorporated, The State Grid Corporation of China, PCN Technology, Toshiba Electronics Europe GmbH, and Toyo Networks & System Integration Co.Ltd

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

UPA Media Contact:
Donald Pollock UPA
Permanent Secretary Phone: + 44 178 047 0003
donald.pollock@upaplc.org

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