United Nations ITU-T Ratifies G.hn Standard for Wired Home Networking

GENEVA--(Marketwire - October 9, 2009) - HomeGrid Forum today announced that International Telecommunication Union (ITU-T) has successfully agreed upon the key components of the G.hn specification at its meeting held at the United Nations in Geneva. As a result of this agreement, ITU-T will publish an Approved G.hn Recommendation for the Physical Layer (PHY) and architecture portion of the standard. Also, Recommendation G.9972 achieved Consent, allowing coexistence between G.hn products and other wireline networking standards. In addition, the Data Link Layer (DLL) portion of the G.hn standard was deemed stable and is expected to reach Consent at the January 2010 ITU-T meeting. Through one worldwide standard, G.hn will unify the networking of content to devices over any wire -- coax cable, phone line, and power line.

This standard is now stable enough to allow silicon manufacturers to confidently move forward with their development programs and bring products to market. The outcome of this meeting marks another step in the steady adoption of G.hn and reaffirms the desire to unite a fragmented industry which currently uses a variety of incompatible technologies that typically address only single types of household wiring options -- coax, phone line, or power line.

"G.hn will empower service providers to deploy new offerings, including IPTV, more cost effectively; allow consumer electronics manufacturers to network all types of entertainment, home automation, and security products throughout the house; and greatly simplify consumers purchasing and installation processes," said Matthew Theall, president of HomeGrid Forum. "HomeGrid Forum and its member companies applaud the ITU-T for its success in developing a standard that will greatly simplify home networking, provide a platform for new services, and deliver the next-generation performance needed in the marketplace."

"BT fully supports the G.hn standard because it will enable us to enhance our customers' experiences and the services we offer -- services that connect people more effectively with content throughout their homes," said Bob Bissell, chief customer environment strategist at BT, and HomeGrid Forum board member. "We are very pleased with the rapid progress made by ITU-T on the G.hn standard, and look forward to working with network equipment manufacturers, HomeGrid Forum, and others in the industry to promote and bring this new standard-based technology to market."

"The G.hn Recommendation provides a unified, international specification for home networking via all types of wiring in homes," said Tom Starr, ITU-T WP1/15 chairman. "The specification facilitates simplified installation and operation for high-performance triple-play services."

In addition to G.hn, ITU-T gave Consent to the complementary G.9972 Recommendation for coexistence between G.hn-based products and other networking standards. Recommendation G.9972 specifies the process by which G.hn devices will coexist with power line devices that also adopt the G.9972 coexistence standard.

"G.hn is a technology that gives new use to cabling that most people already have in their homes. The array of applications that it has the potential to enable includes energy efficient smart appliances, home automation, and telemedicine devices is remarkable," said Malcolm Johnson, director, ITU's Telecommunication Standardization Bureau. "The sheer weight of industry support behind this innovation is testament to the extraordinary potential of this standard to transform home networking."

HomeGrid Forum is also developing a certification program for G.hn that will aid semiconductor and systems manufacturers to build and deliver standards-compliant products to market by using the HomeGrid-certified logo.

About ITU

ITU is the leading United Nations agency for information and communication technology issues, and the global focal point for governments and the private sector in developing networks and services. For more than 140 years, ITU has coordinated shared global use of the radio spectrum, promoted international cooperation in assigning satellite orbits, worked to improve telecommunication infrastructure in the developing world, and established the worldwide standards that assure seamless interconnection of a vast range of communications systems.

ITU also organizes worldwide and regional exhibitions and forums bringing together the most influential representatives of government and the telecommunications industry to exchange ideas, knowledge and technology for the benefit of the global community, and in particular the developing world.

From broadband Internet to latest-generation wireless technologies, from aeronautical and maritime navigation to radio astronomy and satellite-based meteorology, from phone and fax services to TV broadcasting and next-generation networks, ITU is committed to connecting the world.

About G.hn

The members of the ITU-T's G.hn Rapporteur Group are creating a specification for a single MAC/PHY technology which can run over coaxial cable, phone lines, or power lines. G.hn participants include service providers, consumer electronics and information technology manufacturers, and component and intellectual property providers from around the world.

About HomeGrid Forum

HomeGrid Forum is a global, non-profit trade group promoting the International Telecommunication Union's G.hn standardization efforts for next-generation home networking. HomeGrid Forum promotes adoption of G.hn through technical and marketing efforts, addresses certification and interoperability of G.hn-compliant products, and cooperates with complementary industry alliances. To learn more about becoming a HomeGrid member, please visit www.HomeGridForum.org/join.

Contact Information: CONTACT: Layla McHale McHale Communications for HomeGrid Forum 408.981.6394