Home networking bodies merge as industry consolidates around G.hn

The HomeGrid Forum and the HomePNA Alliance have merged under the HomeGrid Forum name to create a larger, stronger organisation that is better positioned to promote the evolution of home wireline networks to the ITU-T G.hn standard.

The G.hn specification defines networking over power lines, phone lines and coaxial cables with data rates up to 1 Gbps.

The HomeGrid Forum said that G.hn products are now beginning to ship and that the merged body would guide those planning new networks based on the standard.

It said that it would continue to support the installed base of over 40 million certified HomePNA devices.

The new HomeGrid Forum will have over 70 members, including 28 service providers.

“HomePNA is a mature, field proven technology, and continues to be selected by large service providers worldwide for IPTV deployments,” said HomePNA president Eran Gureshnik. “Service providers over four continents have achieved great results with HomePNA-based products and we have gained considerable experience in deploying home networks. However, the obvious future direction for all wireline home networking is to migrate to G.hn. Therefore, it made sense for us to merge the HomePNA Alliance with the HomeGrid Forum at this time, providing a clear, strong vision to existing and new customers.”