Marvell Joins HomeGrid Forum to Endorse G.hn Standard

To accelerate the delivery of home networking solutions based on International Telecommunication Union's (ITU-T) G.hn standard, global semiconductor supplier Marvell Semiconductor, Inc., has joined HomeGrid Forum and has been appointed to the organization's board of directors.

Marvell will join BT, Intel (News - Alert), Lantiq, Sigma Designs, Telefonica, Texas Instruments and others on the board. Marvell's addition to the board reinforces the growing importance and broadening adoption of G.hn as the next-generation global standard for wired home networking.

"With the connected always-on lifestyle, consumers anticipate the growth of intelligent, connected devices in the home, and seamless connectivity for all these devices is key," said Gani Jusuf, vice president of Product Development, Communications and Consumer Business Group of Marvell (News - Alert) Semiconductor, in a statement. "Marvell delivers a comprehensive total solution platform for connected mobile experiences. G.hn technology complements Marvell's existing total connectivity solutions already being deployed in the home and access markets, including WiFi, Ethernet and cellular. We believe, moving forward, the G.hn standard will be the key for powerline, as well as coax and phoneline, communications.”

The G.hn standard defines a unified technology foundation for the wired home network, the smart grid, and access networks that addresses issues of service providers, their suppliers, electronics manufacturers and consumers alike. Through one worldwide standard, G.hn unifies the networking of content and devices over any wire-coax cable, phone and power lines, said Marvell. G.hn enables service providers to deploy new offerings, including IPTV (News - Alert), more cost effectively and securely; allows electronics manufacturers to provide powerful devices for connecting all types of entertainment, home automation and security products throughout the house; and greatly simplifies consumer purchasing and installation processes, according to Marvell.

For the smart grid and access networks, G.hn provides a robust solution for the needs of utilities and service providers looking to deploy systems with extended life spans. Combining G.hn with G.hnem energy management capabilities, the market has a single family of technologies for cost-effectively linking the smallest energy-saving device up to the largest system to the grid and within extended networks in and outside the home, asserted Marvell.In another statement, commented Michael J. Palma, senior research analyst for Consumer Semiconductors and Electronics Manufacturing Services at IDC (News - Alert), "As a networking leader, Marvell's recent acquisition of DS2 places them in a very strong position to deliver G.hn products. As part of the HomeGrid board, Marvell will help accelerate the delivery of G.hn solutions to customers in the systems and telecom space that are becoming increasingly interested in deploying G.hn-based platforms," noted Palma.

Likewise, said Matt Theall, president of HomeGrid Forum, "Marvell's strong endorsement of the G.hn family of technologies and HomeGrid Forum is the latest indicator of the strong momentum G.hn has been building for the last 24 months. Marvell joins HomeGrid Forum at the right moment, as more and more companies are transitioning away from today's proprietary wired networking technologies to G.hn technology, which is accepted globally as the leading technology for wired home networks and the smart grid," added Theall.

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