by ADAM GIFFORD
Consumer electronics giant Panasonic has committed itself to bringing broadband networking into the home using existing power lines.
The technology was unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this month, with two giant plasma screens linked up using a power extension lead.
Dr Paul Liao, the chief technology
officer for Panasonic North America, said consumers wanted technology which was simple to install and easy to use. Few homes were wired for ethernet, and networking was rarely simple and easy.
"Every room in your home has already been wired for electrical power. So why not create a network by simply using the wiring that's already there?" Liao said.
Data networking on power wires has been theoretically possible for more than two decades, but efforts to make it practical took off in 2000 with the establishment of the HomePlug Powerline Alliance to create open standards for home powerline networking products.
HomePlug adapters are already available to turn home wiring into data networks with speeds up to 14Mbps, but have so far been the domain of a few techno-savvy early adopters.
In December, the HomePlug Alliance approved Panasonic's HD-PLC (high definition-ready power line communication) as a baseline technology for home entertainment networks.
The technology operates at speeds up to 170Mbps (megabits per second), more than fast enough to carry multiple HDTV data streams, interactive game sessions, internet and other content.
Akitoshi Aritaka, the director of Panasonic's broadband communications development centre, said HD-PLC was more secure than wireless networking and not subject to interference from other signals.
Earlier generations of powerline technology had interference issues.
He said PLC adapters, which plug into power points, should be available by the end of the year, if not sooner, depending on the issuing of specifications by HomePlug.
The adapter contains a local area network connector and the chipset which converts broadband data signals into signals which can travel over the lines.
Aritaka said the price would be cheaper than 802.11 wireless. Every consumer electronics product would become mobile and every power plug would become an information outlet.
Panasonic products will come with an HD-PLC modem. Panasonic will also sell the chipsets and other technology to other manufacturers.
* Adam Gifford attended CES as a guest of Panasonic.
Home plug
