nVoy Certification to Usher Hybrid Home Networking into the Mainstream
Hybrid home networking will move from specification to reality with the introduction of a new nVoy certification and marketing program for HomePlug, MoCA, Wi-Fi and Ethernet products implementing the IEEE 1905.1 hybrid networking standard. By providing a common communication protocol, nVoy Certified products will enable consumers and service providers to leverage the strengths of the wired and wireless networking technologies prevalent in many homes today. Products with nVoy Certification, the first of which are expected later this year, will support and foster enhanced connectivity between HomePlug, Wi-Fi, MoCA and Ethernet networking technologies, with numerous benefits to both service providers and consumers.
Service providers are continually looking for new ways to meet the exponential growth in demand for networking speeds to accommodate high-bandwidth applications such as IPTV, Video-on-Demand, multi-room DVR, and device-to-device media shifting. Using nVoy networking capabilities, service providers can add new network intelligence to improve existing deployments and enable new whole-home products and services. Features of nVoy Certified products will include advanced diagnostics supported locally or remotely with TR-069, topology discovery, simplified security setup, link metrics and automatic configuration of Wi-Fi access points. It also enables enhanced power management by optimizing network power usage across different technologies.
Consumers will benefit from the consistent authentication procedures provided by nVoy Certified products to enable very simple self-installation of hybrid home networks for wired and wireless devices. Based on 1905.1 technology, nVoy Certification will validate these features for new devices while maintaining backward compatibility with widely deployed HomePlug, Wi-Fi, MoCA and Ethernet devices already in consumers’ homes. In addition to improved consumer satisfaction, retailers can enjoy reduced product returns and minimized support calls.
“A large and diverse set of companies contributed to the development of the 1905.1 specification throughout the process,” said Purva Rajkotia, chairman of the IEEE 1905.1 Working Group. “Establishing the certification program for the standard that unifies the world’s most prevalent wired and wireless networking technologies will bring benefits to carriers who wish to deploy more capable and reliable home network equipment and to end-users who continue to demand richer content on more devices.”
“HomePlug technology is a natural fit for hybrid home networks,” said Rob Ranck, President, HomePlug Alliance. “HomePlug Alliance is happy to support development of the nVoy program and brand to speed adoption and market recognition of interoperable hybrid products.”
“This specification will accelerate the adoption of home networking worldwide and make integration of technologies, devices and services much easier for operators, equipment manufacturers and consumers. We see nVoy certification as a win-win-win,” said Charles Cerino, President of MoCA.
"We are pleased to see progress toward a certification for product interoperability in hybrid home networks," said Wi-Fi Alliance CEO and president Edgar Figueroa. "The Wi-Fi industry has a relentless focus on the user experience and interoperability, and nVoy certification will continue to move home networking forward toward those goals."
Development of the nVoy testing and certification program is nearing completion, and the first interoperability event is expected in the third quarter of 2013. The first nVoy Certified products are expected by year-end 2013. More information on the nVoy program can be found at www.nvoy.org.