Free selects Intellon-based HomePlug AV powerline connectivity for triple-play services

January 24, 2008 – Intellon, a provider of HomePlug compatible integrated circuits (ICs), has announced that French broadband provider Free has selected Intellon’s HomePlug AV-compliant powerline communication ICs for use in all Freebox HD service packages in France, which offer voice, data and IPTV.

Free has embedded Intellon’s INT6300 ICs into dual-purpose power supplies that provide both power and powerline communications for the Freebox HD gateways and set-top boxes used, thus avoiding having to redesign the gateways or set-top boxes.

“In addition to providing our customers aggressive pricing for triple play services, we wanted to deliver a high quality video experience by adding the newest technology,” said Maxime Lombardini, CEO of Iliad, which Free is part of.  “Out tests revealed that the Intellon HomePlug AV solution was easy to install and reliably delivered high quality IPTV content.  As a result, we wanted to get those benefits into our customers’ hands as soon as possible.”

Rick Furtney, COO and President of Intellon Corporation, added: “We are delighted that Free chose Intellon’s HomePlug AV technology over the solutions they tested.  Our HomePlug AV-compliant INT6000 and INT6300 ICs support simple and secure connectivity for video, data and voice applications throughout the home, making life easier for service providers and customers.”

Free had 2,767,000 subscribers to its broadband services by the end of the third quarter of last year.