Home networking technology HomePNA got a shot in the arm this week as SBC Laboratories Inc. joined the HomePNA Alliance’s board of directors and several important vendors came into the alliance’s fold.
Among the new members are video equipment giant Scientific-Atlanta, consumer electronics giant Samsung Electronics, Analog Devices, ITOCHU Corp., Optical Solutions Inc., Readylinks and Sendtek.
Richard Nesin, president of the HomePNA Alliance, and vice president of marketing at vendor CopperGate, says the addition of these companies is an indicator that HomePNA – which runs over phone lines and coax within the home -- is very well-positioned to be the home-networking technology of choice for the future. “A lot of the telcos are watching SBC very closely” given its leadership position in IPTV, he says.
HomePNA wins over Wi-Fi, HomePlug and other powerline-based options, MoCA and other home networking options because it’s the most reliable, the only one that addresses guaranteed QoS and it’s affordable, according to Nesin. He says Wi-Fi lacks reliability, HomePlug has interference problems with home appliances like hair driers and MoCA equipment is expensive because it works in higher spectrums. According to Nesin, the little HPNA bridges that need to attach 1:1 to each device in the home cost about $7 a piece.