The HomePNA alliance announced that it is developing significant enhancements to the HomePNA 3.0 specification setting a new benchmark for multimedia home networking. The HomePNA 3.1 specification, which builds upon HomePNA 3.0 technology standardized by the ITU in May 2005, is intended to provide the highest speed option for in-home distribution of new triple-play services such as IPTV. 

HomePNA 3.1 will retain the significant features that make HomePNA 3.0 uniquely suited to the needs of service providers for the distribution of real time data such as HDTV, including guaranteed quality of service (QoS), low cost, robust performance, and the ability to operate simultaneously over both phonelines and coax cables. The highly efficient protocol will enable user throughput close to the data rate while additional enhancements will enable HomePNA 3.1 to also support multi-band operation for even higher network throughput. 

“As new high speed services such as TelcoTV get deployed, competitive pressures keep driving up the requirements for home networking speeds,” said Mark Kirstein, Vice President of Multimedia Content and Services for iSuppli. “Technologies such as Fiber to the Home and VDSL2 can increase access speeds to 100 Mbps and enable Telcos to offer new revenue-bearing services to home owners. Home networking speeds must increase as well.” 

Work on the new specification is expected to be completed summer 2006.