Lantiq introduced its "XWAY" HNX family of chips supporting the ITU-T G.hn global standard for next generation wired home networks. 
G.hn, which enables network connectivity across all common in-home wiring with data rates as high as 1 Gbps, is expected to become an integral feature in residential gateways, consumer electronics devices, personal computers and Internet-connected smart home devices. The new XWAY HNX devices can be connected using any combination of phone, power and cable wiring.
The new Lantiq devices incorporate four exclusive technologies designed to improve the broadband services model for service providers:
- Lantiq XWAY STREAM (LXS): provides "end-to-end carrier-grade QoS over Anything" (including G.hn, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, DSL and PON). It allows service providers to pick and choose which services and applications receive the highest priority inside both the access and home networks.
- Lantiq XWAY HARMONY (LXH): a spectrum management technology that maximizes performance of VDSL and G.hn networks operating side-by-side.
- Lantiq XWAY PROBE (LXP): real-time diagnostic information about subscribers' home networks that lets service providers optimize performance even in highly complex subscriber environments.
- Lantiq XWAY PATH FINDER (LXF): provides automatic path selection across the home network, using real-time link quality information to choose the optimal communication path (802.11n, wired Ethernet, G.hn, etc.) and dynamically avoid line noise that creates network bottlenecks.
Lantiq XWAY HNX chips can be used in standalone G.hn node applications or as part of multi-service platforms. The Lantiq XWAY HNX 156 and HNX 176 are G.hn Universal Digital Transceiver chips compliant with ITU G.9960, G.9961 and G.9972 and IEEE 802.3. The devices support all of the media types and the 25, 50 and 100 MHz band plans defined in the G.hn standard. Each chip architecture includes integrated RISC processor; Gigabit Ethernet PHY, RGMII and Ethernet switch; PCIe interface (master and slave); SPI; I2C; UART; on-board RAM; hardware accelerated MAC & PHY to ensure hostless, wirespeed performance; and support for home networking API and hardware abstraction layer functions for ODMs to build service provider-class products. HNX176 also supports external DRAM, which is needed to support such features as TR-069 service management.
Tom Starr, the Chairman of the ITU-T WP1/15 committee responsible for the G.hn standards, said: "I am pleased to hear that products based on the G.9960/9961 ITU-T Recommendations will be available from Lantiq and other vendors so quickly after the approval of these standards. This will accelerate the adoption of G.hn as the next generation standard for wired home networks. I appreciate Lantiq's extensive contributions to the work in ITU-T WP1/15."
"China Telecom has been an early proponent of international open specifications such as ITU-T G.hn, which enable rapid adoption of standards-based home networks with carrier-grade QoS. We are glad to see Lantiq bringing to market G.hn-compliant products to take advantage of this emerging opportunity," said a director at China Telecom.
"In Lantiq's vision for connectivity in the digital home, we see standards-based wire line and wireless technologies working as one single network to provide the best possible Quality of Service, reach and flexibility throughout a household," said Christian Wolff, CEO of Lantiq. "From day one we are delivering G.hn solutions that will integrate seamlessly in a hybrid network infrastructure. The XWAY HNX family also includes Lantiq-exclusive technologies for optimal QoS and overall in-home network performance.".http://www.lantiq.com http://www.lantiq.com/hnx
- In June 2010, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU-T) formally approved the G.hn standard for next-generation wired home networks. All three components of the new standard –- the Data Link Layer (G.9961), Physical Layer (G.9960) and coexistence protocol (G.9972) –- are now complete. The first products based on this standard are expected to reach the market later this year.
G.hn is expected to simplify the home networking market, which has until now been cluttered with many competing technologies and upgrade variations. A global standard, when implemented by service providers, could lead to better and cheaper home gateways and IPTV set-top boxes.
Consumer electronics manufacturers will be able to provide powerful devices for connecting all types of entertainment, home automation, and security products throughout the house. Smart Grid devices such as electricity meters, heating and air conditioning systems, electrical appliances, electrical vehicles, and lighting systems will also benefit from the reliability, security, and low-power consumption provided by the G.hn Recommendation.
"In an industry cluttered with a host of incompatible technologies, we congratulate the ITU-T for championing one standard that truly delivers anywire connectivity and next-generation performance," said Matt Theall, president of HomeGrid Forum and technology strategist at Intel Corporation. "G.hn is the only technology platform that supports every wire in the home. We believe that consumer electronics manufacturers, PC companies, and service providers--and every group that works within these markets--will benefit from the commercial availability of this technology as it rolls out later this year."
