Comtrend announces 800,000 powerline adaptors shipped for IPTV applications in 2007

January 30, 2008 – Comtrend has announced that it shipped over 800,000 powerline adaptors for IPTV applications during 2007, following a strong increase in IPTV subscribers worldwide, and has called for interoperability as a key requirement for future powerline communications standards.

“The market for powerline-based IPTV distribution will keep growing as current deployments add subscribers and more operators launch IPTV services,” said Harold Fitch, Comtrend’s General Manager for Europe and South America.  “Comtrend feels that the current strong growth rates powerline-based solutions are experiencing could increase even further if powerline technology is standardised.  [However] if a standard does not guarantee interoperability it will fail to gain market traction and risk becoming irrelevant.”

Comtrend is soon to release a new version of its CT-902 Powerline Ethernet Adaptor that will enable a TR-069-compliant powerline adaptor.  This will allow IPTV operators to remotely manage every node installed in the network, perform firmware upgrades and access logged data, among other features.

“Our service provider customers want to manage every node in the home network without modifying the home gateway or broadband router in any way,” added Mr. Fitch.  “Every change made to a gateway or router could delay the deployment by several months, especially if the equipment has to be re-certified.”