NEC Electronics Joins HomePlug Powerline Alliance

13th May 2009

ES Admin

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NEC Electronics today announced that it has joined the HomePlug Powerline Alliance, an industry organization comprised of leading technology, hardware, software, services and retail providers established to help standardize powerline communications technologies for the home area network. As a sponsor member of this industry-led initiative, NEC Electronics will help develop and establish HomePlug specifications to enable mainstream adoption of PLC technologies for use in smart energy applications, which will provide networking and communications technologies that enable intelligent energy consumption management. PLC technology also eliminates the high cost of installing network cables by allowing devices to communicate with one another after being plugged into standard electrical outlets.

Reliable and cost-effective communication technologies are key for designers looking to develop smart-energy products. Standardization will be key to achieving mainstream adoption, said Kazu Yamada, vice president, custom SoC solutions strategic business unit, NEC Electronics America, Inc. By joining the HomePlug Powerline Alliance, NEC Electronics reaffirms its commitment to provide standardized and cost-effective connectivity solutions for applications in energy management such as smart metering, home area networks, and building automation.

With its demonstrated leadership in the development of emerging standards for wired and wireless technologies, NEC Electronics brings a strong background in silicon design and implementation to the HomePlug Powerline Alliance, said Rob Ranck, president, HomePlug Powerline Alliance. As the alliance continues to grow and expand with programs such as the Smart Energy Initiative, we look forward to strong involvement with NEC Electronics to help bring the next generation of HomePlug standards to the market.
The HomePlug Alliance's family of standards embraces several focus areas: HomePlug 1.0, HomePlug AV and IEEE 1901 (in-home connectivity, including digital home and consumer electronics applications); HomePlug Access BPL (to-the-home, Broadband-over-Powerline applications); and HomePlug Command and Control (home control applications).