Press Release
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Layla McHale
McHale Communications
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layla@mchalecomm.com
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HOMEGRID FORUM ADDS NEW MEMBERS, BEST BUY JOINS BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Consumer Electronics Retailer to Help Drive G.hn Technology, Contributors Set the Stage for Broad Implementation and Adoption of United Nations' ITU-T G.hn Standard
“The addition of a major consumer electronics retailer to HomeGrid Forum’s board, teamed with our increasing membership, underscores the importance of G.hn as the next-generation global standard for the wired home,” said Matthew Theall, president of HomeGrid Forum. “Interest and investment in the G.hn standard has accelerated since the ITU’s successful Consent in December. We look forward to working closely with our members from around the world on the growth and broad acceptance of the G.hn standard.”
“One of the greatest challenges facing consumers today is the many incompatible technologies that exist for wired networking in the home," said Travis Misterek, senior technical manager for connected digital solutions at Best Buy, and HomeGrid Forum board member. "Best Buy supports the global adoption of the ITU-T’s G.hn next-generation technology as the single wired standard for connecting devices together over coax, powerlines, and phonelines in the home.”
The new HomeGrid Forum members join a growing list of industry-leading organizations. Global leaders in the service provider, computing, and consumer electronics industries also support the adoption of G.hn through their participation in the ITU-T. For a complete list of HomeGrid Forum members, visit www.homegridforum.org.
Global Companies Driving Adoption and Ensuring Interoperability of G.hn Products
Working together, HomeGrid Forum members from around the world are actively promoting and developing compliance and interoperability test programs for the G.hn standard. These programs will simplify the development, purchase, installation, and use of HomeGrid Forum-Certified products through
the entire ecosystem of silicon providers, services providers, consumer electronics companies, PC companies, retailers, and consumers.
Two of the new member companies -- Laboratoire des Applications Numeriques and University of New Hampshire InterOperability Laboratory -- are established and highly respected leaders in the field of standards compliance and interoperability testing for broadband networking technologies. They are poised to ensure the deployment of high quality G.hn products through rigorous test programs based on the HomeGrid Compliance & Interoperability Program. Products that pass these tests will receive the HomeGrid-Certified logo, an assurance that G.hn-based products from any vendor will deliver the performance and interoperability necessary to connect computing, communications, and entertainment products in the digital home.
About ITU
ITU is the leading United Nations agency for information and communication technology issues, and the global focal point for governments and the private sector in developing networks and services. For more than 140 years, ITU has coordinated shared global use of the radio spectrum, promoted international cooperation in assigning satellite orbits, worked to improve telecommunication infrastructure in the developing world, and established the worldwide standards that assure seamless interconnection of a vast range of communications systems. ITU also organizes worldwide and regional exhibitions and forums bringing together the most influential representatives of government and the telecommunications industry to exchange ideas, knowledge and technology for the benefit of the global community, and in particular the developing world. From broadband Internet to latest-generation wireless technologies, from aeronautical and maritime navigation to radio astronomy and satellite-based meteorology, from phone and fax services to TV broadcasting and next-generation networks, ITU is committed to connecting the world.
About G.hn
The members of the ITU-T’s G.hn Rapporteur Group are creating a specification for a single MAC/PHY technology which can run over coaxial cable, phone lines, or power lines. G.hn participants include service providers, consumer electronics and information technology manufacturers, and component and intellectual property providers from around the world.
About HomeGrid Forum
HomeGrid Forum is a global, non-profit trade group promoting the International Telecommunication Union’s G.hn standardization efforts for next-generation home networking. HomeGrid Forum promotes adoption of G.hn through technical and marketing efforts, addresses certification and interoperability of G.hn-compliant products, and cooperates with complementary industry alliances. To learn more about becoming a HomeGrid member, please visit http://www.HomeGridForum.org/join.