In order to integrate the latest improvements in speed and range of the High-Definition Power Line Communication (HD-PLC) technology -- a registered trademark of Panasonic Corporation in Japan and other countries, as promoted by the HD-PLC Alliance, an industry group established in September 2007 with the aim to expand the use of HD-PLC technology and to ensure communication compatibility -- the Alliance recently proposed the specifications of the next generation technology to the IEEE Standards Association.
Subsequently, per a statement, "to the great satisfaction of the Alliance members," the group has announced that the recently published standard, IEEE 1901-2020 - IEEE Standard for Broadband over Power Line Networks: Medium Access Control and Physical Layer Specifications, now includes the latest HD-PLC features that provide higher speed, longer range wired communications over existing metal wires (control cable, coaxial cable, power cable, etc.)
As contended by the HD-PLC Alliance, "Compared with wireless communication systems, HD-PLC enables more secure, stable and reliable communications. Furthermore, the use of existing cables allows a network infrastructure to cover not only indoors such as homes, buildings and factories but also outdoors extending several kilometers."
Mr. Yoshiyuki Miyabe, senior adviser of the HD-PLC Alliance and senior managing executive officer of Panasonic Corp, commented:
“Our company and HD-PLC Alliance have developed the HD-PLC technology cooperatively, which is now published as IEEE 1901-2020 standard. We anticipate this standardization will help make HD-PLC a breakthrough technology for the coming era of IoT. Making the most of this result for various products and business solutions for the future, we endeavor to further support innovation and advancement of the technology to provide new values to our customers.”
The HD-PLC Alliance says it will now devote its efforts to promote the technology through a certification program and logo. Further, the group says the technology's test environment is being updated to offer current third-generation communication compatibility services, as well as upcoming fourth generation interoperability certification services compliant with IEEE 1901-2020.
On March 18, 2021, a webinar on this technology will be held, organized by IEEE SA and HD-PLC Alliance.
Learn more at the HD-PLC Alliance homepage.
