HomeGrid Forum G.hn Certification Program Open for Business

BEAVERTON, OR--(Marketwire - Jun 7, 2012) -

News highlights:

• HomeGrid Forum Certification program officially launched at Computex in Taiwan
• Silicon vendors can register immediately for C&I testing and certification
• Certification is the keystone of top quality products and widespread deployment
• Follows successful completion of a comprehensive series of plugfests

The availability of faster, more reliable home networks over any wire (powerline, coax and phone lines) was given a major global boost this week as the HomeGrid Forum launched its Certification Program during Computex in Taipei, Taiwan. Silicon vendors can now register with HomeGrid Forum's official G.hn Test & Certification lab, TRaC Global, to schedule the rigorous Compliance & Interoperability testing required to achieve HomeGrid Certification.

At least six silicon companies are expected to submit their products for testing this year. Certified silicon is a prerequisite for system certification. Silicon certification enables PC and appliance manufacturers, service provider OEMs, and consumer electronics companies who have developed G.hn systems to have them tested for interoperability, performance, and EMI according to the HomeGrid Certification requirements. A full set of Certification documents are now available to all HomeGrid members.

The announcement follows successful completion of a series of six plugfests which began in May 2011. The latest event was hosted by the Institute for Information Industry (III) in Taipei last month, where final validation of HomeGrid compliance test plans occurred.

Senior research analyst Charles Hall of Rider Research, a keen independent observer of the home networking market, said: "This is the step we have been waiting for with G.hn. HomeGrid Forum has taken a very thorough and proactive approach and is underpinning the development of G.hn with a highly credible Certification Program. The world's telecom operators, HomeGrid Forum's target market, are probably the most conservative of any industry when it comes to deploying new technology. They want it tested, certified and re-tested under every possible condition that is likely to be found in the home. The cost of deployment on the scale that they operate on is too high to make mistakes. That's why they'll be happy to see that the HomeGrid technology, already an ITU standard and with at least four competing chipmakers, has embarked on the certification process."

"We are delighted to be taking this step and that so many silicon companies are already lining up for certification, demonstrating the depth and breadth of interest in this exciting technology," commented Matt Theall, President of the HomeGrid Forum. "HomeGrid Forum Certified silicon will give the boost the industry needs to move to widespread adoption."

Video interviews with HomeGrid Forum President Matt Theall and Vice-President John Egan talking about the Certification program can be viewed here.

About HomeGrid Forum
HomeGrid Forum is a global, non-profit trade group promoting the International Telecommunication Union's G.hn and G.hnem standardization efforts for next-generation home networking and smart grid Applications. HomeGrid Forum promotes adoption of G.hn and G.hnem through technical and marketing efforts, addresses certification and interoperability of G.hn and G.hnem-compliant products, and cooperates with complementary industry alliances. For more information on HomeGrid Forum, please visit www.homegridforum.org or follow us on http://twitter.com/homegrid_forum.