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Cover StoryBy Paula BernierIn-Home ConnectivityWireless, G.hn Solutions Address Residential NetworkingPeople have become accustomed to the connectedlifestyle and, therefore, expect to be able to tapinto the network from any corner of their homesand with good performance. With that in mind, manyequipment suppliers are working on new solutions toextend Wi-Fi into the corners of our homes that currentlyhave no or spotty coverage, and industry groupsare trying to advance technology that leverages in-homewiring to expand connectivity further.For example, Netgear Inc. introduced the Universal WiFiRange Extender, which increases the coverage of an existinghome network and plugs directly into an electrical outlet.G.hn is backedby variouscompaniesincluding Intel,Lantiq, Marvell,Sigma Designs,Texas Instrumentsand others.Netgear also unveiled a wide varietyof other gear, includingvarious routers.The mobile broadbandrouter, orMBR1000, is anew wirelessrouter with4G mobilebroadbandsupport.Verizonwas highlightingthe productat CES,and BellCanada is alreadyusing itin commercialdeployments.The N600 DualBand WirelessGigabit Router– Premium Edition,meanwhile, adds to thecompany’s previous product in thiscategory by bringing new features such as clear channelselector; ReadyShare printer and quick start; and steadystream HD, which starts streaming videos faster with lessbuffering delay and maximizes bandwidth. Along withthis new product, the company introduced the NetgearGenie, a home network dashboard application throughwhich consumers can connect to, control and monitortheir home networks. (For more on home automation andmonitoring solutions, see story on page 32.)Netgear’s N600 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit ADSL modemrouter, meanwhile, brings together the functionality of multipledevices in a single box. It allows Internet access via ADSLor a gigabit Ethernet port, has a four-port gigabit switch,ReadyShare storage access with two USB ports, a DLNA mediaserver, and more.And the N750 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router, whichoffers connectivity of up to 450mbps, is designed forHD video streaming, simultaneous downloads and highqualityonline gaming. The dual band technology meansinterference isn’t a problem and helps ensure high speedsand good range.The company also introduced a variety of other products inthe wireless accessory arena, Powerline AV solutions; a homemedia storage product; and a digital media player.Elsewhere on the home networking front, the HomeGridForum is promoting an ITU home networking standard calledG.hn that uses existing in-home wiring to carry traffic atgigabit speeds.G.hn is backed by various companies including Intel, Lantiq,Marvell, Sigma Designs, Texas Instruments and others.HomeGrid Forum President Matthew Theall tells INTER-NET TELEPHONY that Lantiq and Sigma Designs expect toship G.hn compliant silicon this quarter, meaning that by thesecond half of this year service providers will be able to deployG.hn-based solutions.While there are plenty of home networking technologies,including MoCA (which Verizon is currently using for itsFiOS deployments) and HomePlug, out there, Theall saystelcos typically go with the ITU standard, and in this casethat’s G.hn. AT&T, BT, China Telecom and internationaloperator Telefonica already have pledged to deploy G.hn,he adds.“The G.hn standard is going to affect any consumer device,product or service that connects with the home using eithercoaxial, phone or power cables,” Theall says. “It’s going to beexciting, it’s going to be lifestyle changing for people across theworld and it’s all happening now.” ITGoTo:GoTo:40 INTERNET TELEPHONY ® February 2011 Table of Contents • Ad IndexSubscribe FREE online at www.itmag.com