[LINK] Developing PowerMAX specs

[stephen at melbpc.org.au]

UPA targets 400Mbps+ powerline technology

John Walko EE Times Europe (04/21/2008 12:26 PM EDT)
<http://www.eetimes.com/news/latest/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=207400931>

LONDON — The Universal Powerline Association is gathering industry 
consensus round an effort to develop the PowerMAX specification for 
powerline communications technology that will deliver 400Mbits/ second and 
beyond. 

The Association is inviting comms service providers, electricity 
utilities, semiconductor and related technology providers and network 
operators to participate in the development of a specification and 
subsequently standard for the access technology that is targeted at smart 
grids and home networks. 

As a first step, the group plans to develop a Market Requirements Document 
(MRD) to define the goals for the PowerMAX specification including 
bandwidth requirements and underlying technology parameters such as 
physical layer throughput. 

Any standard will need to support bandwidth for applications such as FTTH, 
Multi-Dwelling Unit Networking, broadband over powerline access 
applications and home networking applications including multi-channel HD-
IPTV delivery or multi-room PVR. 

The UPA says such applications are driving the need for increased 
bandwidth beyond what existing powerline technologies can achieve. 

The specification will also need to be completely backward compatible and 
interoperable with the UPA's current 200 Mbits/second technology and offer 
complete interoperability between access and home networking applications. 

According to Daniel Drolet, UPA Marketing Working Group Chairman, the MRD 
process is expected to be completed in 3 months, with ICs and products 
available in 2009. 

"We will invite technology providers to submit proposals once the MRD 
process is completed," Drolet said. 

Members of the UPA include DS-2, a significant developer and supplier of 
chips for powerline communications, Ambient Corporation, D-Link, Belfuse 
Inc., Buffalo Inc., Comtrend, Pirelli Broadband, Corinex Communications 
Corp., Toshiba Electronics Europe GmbH, Current Technologies 
International, Freedom Digital Networks, Sumitomo Electric, China Gridcom 
Company Ltd, Ilevo (Schneider Electric Powerline Communications), Itochu 
Corporation, Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute, Netgear, Planex, 
Power Monitors Inc., and Toyo Networks & System Integration Co.,Ltd. 
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Cheers people
Stephen Loosley
Victoria, Australia