HomePNA targets MDUs with Fast Ethernet over Coax

The HomePNA Alliance has added more spice to the always-lively competition between home networking technologies, announcing a Fast Ethernet over Coax (Fast EoC) specification targeted at multi-dwelling unit buildings.

Fast EoC is capable of up to 320 Mb/s in regular mode, but in an enhanced mode can double that bandwidth, and deliver more than 300 Mb/s user data throughput, supporting up to 126 endpoints, HomePNA said. The specification has a technology profile and market target suited to cable TV companies, a type of service provider that has been more likely to use the Multimedia over Coax Alliance technology for its home networking needs.

Michael Weissman, president of HomePNA, said previous technologies—he did not specify MoCA or any other technology--targeted at MDUs have had the problem of “declining bandwidth as you add users to the network. Between the first user and the last user added to the network, Fast EoC loses less bandwidth than other systems. The big challenge with MDUs is you’ve got a point-to-multi-point network, and how do you allow multiple devices on the network without spending a lot of bandwidth doing status checks.”

The U.S. MDU broadband market was once the exclusive domain of the cable TV providers, though with loosened regulations in recent years, more telcos have eyed MDUs for expansion. However, Weissman said the greater opportunity for a technology like Fast EoC may exist overseas in Asia and in BRIC countries.

Weissman also is vice president of corporate marketing at chipmaker Sigma Designs, which along with about 10 other companies is already incorporating the Fast EoC spec into chips.