HomePNA Builds Momentum With 28 New Members, Faster Home Networking Speeds, Specification Adoption.

Scientific Atlanta, Conexant and Sunrise Telecom Join the Board, Plugfest and Certification Compliance Event Set for Early 2007

SAN RAMON, Calif. -- HomePNA announced today that its alliance membership has swelled by 28 members this year, demonstrating growing industry investment in high-speed multimedia home networking using existing home wiring. The new members include leading semiconductor, set-top box, residential gateway, ONT, component and telco test equipment suppliers. Companies and industry standards groups are adopting and implementing the home networking specification, which supports triple-play voice, video and broadband data services at data rates of 320 Megabits per second over coax and phone wires, with the capacity to deliver next-generation IPTV and other networked entertainment data and VoIP services.

"Joining the alliance was a strategic decision," said Dave Holly, senior vice president of JDSU's Field Test Communications Test and Measurement division. "We now have access to members-only specifications, cooperation and development with like-minded companies and a hands-on contribution to the technology we are convinced will be a major force in multimedia home networking."

Scientific Atlanta, Conexant and Sunrise Telecom are new promoter members and board directors who provide both technical and strategic leadership for the alliance. New members JDSU, Analog Devices and Janifast Corp. joined as participant members who contribute to committee work while influencing technology development. HomePNA also added 22 new adopter members who will implement the technology with their member-only access to the HomePNA specifications and certification process.

Strong membership gains in 2006 were underscored by technical achievements and specification adoption:

* HomePNA released HomePNA 3.1, a home networking specification that increases data rates over existing home wiring to 320 Megabits per second. Building on the industry-leading HomePNA 3.0 specification, it enables service providers to simultaneously distribute triple-play IPTV, voice and Internet data services as well as other networked entertainment data in the home at even higher speeds while keeping costs low.

* HomePNA released the HomePNA 3.1 certification specification to members.

* HomePNA is working with the DSL Forum (DSLF), the global consortium driving broadband specifications for the global market, on including HomePNA 3.1 technology, soon to be an ITU standard, in its BroadbandHome[TM] specifications.

* AT&T Inc. selected HomePNA 3 technology for in-home distribution of AT&T U-verse[TM] services including AT&T U-verse TV, AT&T Yahoo! High Speed Internet, U-verse Enabled and, in the future, consumer voice-over-IP services. The technology has been integrated into IP set-top boxes and residential gateways supplied by member companies Motorola, Scientific Atlanta and 2Wire.

Also, HomePNA published a white paper this fall, "No New Wires - Hitting a Winning Triple-Play Home Networking Solution," which examines how HomePNA technology enables an easy-to-use, seamless home network. The white paper is available for download at http://www.homepna.org/about_tech/publications.asp.

"This year's tremendous growth provides impetus to our plans for next year, as we continue our efforts to promote adoption of the technology in new products and reach out to other standards bodies to incorporate the HomePNA specification into their standards," said Rich Nesin, president of HomePNA and vice president of marketing at Coppergate Communications. "HomePNA anticipates 2007 will be another winning year for the technology and the alliance."

More standardization and technical work is slated for HomePNA in 2007 to support its membership, including:

* HomePNA members will complete standardization of HomePNA 3.1 under the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), one of the world's foremost standards bodies. The new standard will update the existing HomePNA 3.0 standard, G.9954, released by the ITU in May 2005.

* The compliance program will be launched in the first quarter of 2007 with a members' plugfest and certification event to assure interoperability between certified HomePNA products and compliance to the HomePNA 3.1 specification.

HomePNA facilitates interoperability and convergence of all networked IP data in the home by creating open, interoperable standards and best practices for a universal home networking market. Service providers collaborate with residential gateway, set-top box, bridge, consumer electronics (CE) equipment and ONT manufacturers and component providers to meet consumer demand for bundled multimedia home networking.

Leveraging existing home wires, service providers can reduce installation, operational expenses and even end-user costs. HomePNA providers do not have the labor costs of new-wire networks, can remotely monitor and update home networks and potentially push new services to the home remotely. Consumer costs drop when services are bundled and installation costs minimized.

About HomePNA

HomePNA is an incorporated, non-profit association of industry-leading companies working together to promote adoption of networking industry standards using existing home wiring. Members of HomePNA develop industry standards over both phone line and coaxial cables with the intent to rapidly bring to market a range of interoperable data and audio/video home networking solutions.

Founded in June 1998, HomePNA members represent cutting-edge international companies that span the networking, telecommunications, hardware, software and consumer electronics industries. For more information on HomePNA, visit www.homepna.org.