HomePNA announced the release of HomePNA 3.1, a home networking specification that increases data rates over existing home wiring to 320 Megabits per second. Building on the industry-leading HomePNA 3.0 specification, it enables service providers to simultaneously distribute triple-play IPTV, voice and Internet data services as well as other networked entertainment data in the home at even higher speeds while keeping costs low. The specification is available to alliance members only.

"With up to 320 Mbps data rates, HomePNA home networks can accommodate the future bandwidth requirements of service providers as they enhance their offerings with additional features and capabilities," said Tom Starr, chairperson of the HomePNA technical committee.

HomePNA 3.1 operates over coax cable as well as phone wires and also provides multi-spectrum operation, adding VDSL coexistence to the ADSL, POTS and broadcast TV channel spectrum coexistence provided by the HomePNA 3.0 specification. Multi-spectrum operation also allows multiple HomePNA networks to coexist on the same wiring.

HomePNA facilitates interoperability and convergence of all networked IP data in the home by creating open, interoperable standards and best practices for a universal home networking market. Telephone service providers collaborate with residential gateway, set-top box, bridge, consumer electronics (CE) equipment, and ONT manufacturers, as well as their component providers, to meet consumer demand for bundled multimedia home networking.

Leveraging existing home wires, service providers can reduce installation, operational expenses and even end-user costs. HomePNA providers do not have the labor costs of new-wire networks, can remotely monitor and update home networks and potentially push new services to the home remotely. Consumer costs drop when services are bundled and installation costs minimized.

"Telecommunications companies are no longer implementing home networking technologies based only on meeting today's bandwidth requirements, but are clamoring for technologies which will give them headroom for the future. Home networking bandwidth requirements will steadily increase as operators deliver multi-stream high-definition content, upgrade last-mile access network technologies, and provision future IP-based services," Greg Fawson, president of S2 Data Corporation, said. "The HomePNA 3.1 320 Mbps solution offers vital investment protection by allowing telcos to deploy triple-play offerings today with ample capacity to implement new and compelling services in the future over the existing home network."

HomePNA 3.1 enhances the HomePNA 3 specification, which was standardized by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in May 2005. The ITU, which operates under the auspices of the United Nations, is one of the world's premier standards organizations. The standardization provides access to the technology, security and stability to service providers and manufacturers who deploy HomePNA-enabled products and services to the market.