The HD-PLC Alliance was formed on September 25, 2007 with the purposes of promoting the widespread use of HD-PLC and promoting a communication environment with safe and simple interconnectivity among compliant products. Members are companies selling HD-PLC products and include Matsushita Electric Industrial (founding company), Panasonic Communications, I-O Data Device, and Buffalo. Since its founding, the alliance has been inviting companies in Japan and overseas to join, focusing on companies developing HD-PLC-compliant products and services as well as those interested in HD-PLC. Fifteen companies within and outside Japan have joined, and thirteen more are scheduled to join this April.
The HD-PLC testing house was built in February 2008 and is the only house in Japan that enables tests of HD-PLC products in an environment almost the same as actual households. This HD-PLC testing house is open not only to companies participating in the HD-PLC Alliance, but those developing HD-PLC products or planning services. There are many advantages for such companies, since they can perform tests in an ideal environment without having to build their own testing facility. There is already a rush of inquiries and applications for the use of the house from various companies. The establishment of this HD-PLC testing house will mark the beginning of a new expansion in the circle of companies participating in the alliance.
Since HD-PLC Alliance was founded, it has presented HD-PLC products and technologies at such exhibitions as CEATEC JAPAN 2007, which introduces the latest technologies leading the digital society, and CES 2008, the world's largest home appliance exhibition, held in Las Vegas, U.S.A. Much attention was received at CES 2008, where 34 companies displayed 64 products. In addition to the PLC adaptors already known from the past, products and services from various fields demonstrated new ideas for using HD-PLC, and were very popular among attendees.
One of the activities capturing the attention of the world as an application of HD-PLC is the promotion of converting incandescent lighting to LEDs in Taiwan. This is one of the projects launched by the Taiwanese government to reduce CO2 emissions. Changing the city lights to LEDs will cut energy consumption in half. Further energy savings will be achieved by controlling the lights via HD-PLC. Another aim is to improve crime prevention by installing security cameras on these lights for transmission and control of monitored image data using HD-PLC.
This ecological concept is an important factor in HD-PLC. Since it is designed to create information networks using power lines in the existing social infrastructure, it does not require new equipment or wiring. In addition to the conventional re-use of existing power lines for power supply, HD-PLC also uses the lines for data transfers. The technology enables high-speed information communication regardless of the location-in the city, in a mountain village, or on an isolated island-as long as there are power lines. A single power cable enables networking of information devices and home appliances such as PCs and telephones. HD-PLC also minimizes the load on the environment in terms by minimizing the number of wires.
Any user anywhere can easily connect to an information network via a power outlet, using the existing social infrastructure-power lines that are installed much like a web. Home appliances and information devices that are connected to a home network can be controlled easily remotely. As an example, users can already reserve video recordings remotely using mobile phones. In the future, users will be able to turn on the air conditioner or fill the bathtub before reaching the house. HD-PLC will make life more enjoyable and convenient while minimizing the environmental load.
The HD-PLC Alliance adopted the "green ubiquitous" concept from the beginning. Power lines are normally installed in homes and in office buildings. By connecting to these power lines for use as information networks, it is possible to easily create a waste-free, ubiquitous environment that allows users to connect to a network whenever and wherever. This is the reason for promoting a "green ubiquitous" network as a fundamental concept in the technology.
Companies within and outside of Japan have responded to the call for "green ubiquitous" networking and have started to develop products and services using HD-PLC. Such companies are not limited to the home appliance/electronic and information device industries. HD-PLC is spreading farther afield to include healthcare, security, household appliances, and construction. The HD-PLC Alliance is implementing activities for the widespread use of HD-PLC on a global scale. More and more companies with new ideas and concepts for using HD-PLC, and new businesses exploiting the technology are expected to join this effort from all over the world.
Without a doubt, the HD-PLC testing house introduced here will serve as the springboard for this growth.
Release of products will vary depending on the country.
4-1-62 Minoshima, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka Japan 812-8531
Tel: +81-(0)92-477-1671
E-mail: hd-plc_alliance@ml.pcc.mei.co.jp
URL: http://www.hd-plc.org/english724/Default.aspx
