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C5: Wireless Video Not On HGI Agenda
Home Gateway Initiative (HGI) Sees Little Demand From Operators
by Iain Morris
The Home Gateway Initiative (HGI) has no plans to consider the wireless gateway platforms being developed by the likes of Ruckus Wireless (see Can Ruckus Cause a Commotion?) when it begins work on Release 3 of its specifications in May.
HGI, which works to develop open standards for the residential gateways that support triple-play services, told Telecommunications® that it is weighing up these options but not about to act on any specific developments in the field.
“When a majority of operators are in favor of something we will send out that message to vendors,” says Paolo Pastorino, the CTO of the HGI (he is currently on sabbatical from his role as CTO at Telecom Italia). “At the moment, some say Ruckus and some argue for a competitor, so there is no critical mass, and we are not in the business of promoting one particular solution.”
Pastorino agrees the market would develop faster if organizations like Ruckus got behind the HGI instead of pushing ahead with their own solutions.
He also confirms that femtocells – the mini base stations that enhance 3G coverage in the home – will be on the ‘discussion list’ of Release 3, although he sounds dubious about their prospects for endorsement unless they see rapid take-off.
Some operators attending C5 do not see that happening until 2008. “Prices need to fall to the level of a domestic device – around €100 (US$133),” says Noel Foret, the director of service and network control architecture for France Telecom.
Thomson is one vendor at C5 that recently launched a femtocell product, but it has yet to name any customers (see Italtel CEO Eyes Mobile NGN Opportunities).
Pastorini also revealed that HGI is ‘likely’ to endorse the 802.11n standard being developed by the WiFi Alliance (see 3GSM: WiFi Handsets To Hit 100) when it is finally ratified.
The latest addition to the WiFi stable is intended to boost the bandwidth capability of the unlicensed spectrum to 300Mbps, up from around 54Mbps today. Pastorino is currently more concerned about the requirements for gateways as operators begin to deploy IMS, and he is working closely with standards bodies like ETSI and TISPAN to ‘identify the role’ of the HGI in this process.
HGI’s Release 2 specifications will be ratified in the fourth quarter of this year. Pastorino says they include technical requirements for improved architecture, remote management and a reduction in latency and jitter.
HGI was founded in December 2004 and today counts more than 70 operators and vendors worldwide as members.
More Information:
Can Ruckus Cause a Commotion?
Start-up Bets On ‘Smart Wi-Fi’ to Speed Up IPTV Rollout
Italtel CEO Eyes Mobile NGN Opportunities
Outlines Ambitious Expansion Plans
3GSM: WiFi Handsets To Hit 100
Battery Life Remains Crucial Challenge
C5: Siemens Bangs PBT Drum
Operator Interest Growing, Claims Vendor
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