HomePlug favors new IEEE powerline draft standard

By incorporating both approaches into the draft standard, the IEEE P1901 Working Group avoided a prolonged squabble over which one to choose that could have delayed powerline adoption, Ranck said. HomePlug AV has about 70% of the current powerline connections, he said, while Panasonic is the largest of the other players.

Ranck said he would expect to see powerline products conforming to the new standard by mid to late 2010.

“This has taken a pretty long time, but it’s critical -- gives customers a real assurance that powerline is going to be a standard marketplace,” Ranck said. “We are working with many utility companies, and utility companies really need stability in their technologies. One of the things they have been attracted to about Homeplug is because we are moving forward. This means a lot to the utility companies.”