While the DLNA continues to push its device interconnectivity standards, another new networking standard has just been born. Dubbed 'G.hn', it has a lofty aim – to develop a single MAC/PHY standard to cover data transmissions over coaxial cable, powerline and telephone wiring.

Waving the flag for G.hn is a new outfit called the HomeGrid Forum, an SIG featuring the likes of Infineon Technologies, Intel, Panasonic and Texas Instruments.

"Products based on G.hn technology will dramatically transform the digital home," claims the HomeGrid Forum. "With increasingly intelligent devices – and the ability to connect these products using any wire, anywhere in the home – people will be free from the hassles typically associated with installing and using consumer electronics."

Next-generation networking

The HomeGrid Forum is calling G.hn "next-generation home networking", promising 20 times the throughput of (current) wireless technologies and three times the throughput of wired technologies.

Specifically, G.hn will support 400Mbit/s data rates over coaxial cable and 200Mbit/s over powerline, transforming the existing wiring in any house into a fast and secure home network. The HomeGrid Forum hopes to have a final specification nailed down in 2009 and so compatible products could make an appearance by 2010.

G.hn itself is being developed by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). Malcolm Johnson, Director of ITU's Telecommunication Standardisation Bureau, believes that there's a clear need for a unified approach to digital home networking.

"With G.hn, every wire in every home around the world can become part of a home entertainment network," Johnson says. "This will enable seamless communication between computers, HDTVs and telephones over existing wires. I expect that this exciting new technology will also foster innovations such as energy efficient smart appliances, home automation and telemedicine devices."

Desperately seeking systems

The lack of a reliable and easy-to-use 'system' is the biggest problem facing the digital home market. People crave simplicity.

"Imagine doing no more than plugging your DVR into a coax jack to be able to instantly watch it on any TV in your home," suggests the HomeGrid Forum. "Plug your PC into any outlet and have high-speed access to the internet via the power lines. Dock your iPod and immediately listen to music outdoors with no special wiring required. These experiences and many more will become much easier with G.hn and HomeGrid Certified products."

This is a vision that consumers can buy into. Home networking, multi-room and entry-level automation become much more attractive if the technology works with little or no fiddling. Home networking needs to appeal to more than just geeks and early adopters.

"A single, unified technology for multimedia networks over power lines, coaxial cable and phone lines has the potential to enable a simple, easy-to-use means of networking devices in the home," says Parks Associates Analyst Kurt Scherf. "We believe ITU's work is an important step towards eliminating fragmentation in the industry and in achieving the vision of a networked home."