Can My Home Network Really Handle the Next Generation of Services From AT&T?
Source: alanweinkrantz.typepad.com
Whenever I read about new and emerging technologies such as Ultra High Definition, I really get excited about the next step up in HD.
Sure, I know it may be a couple of years out before brands like Sony or Samsung have them sitting at my local Bjorn’s or Best Buy, but it let’s me plan my upgrade path for new TV’s in the family room, and, budget allowing, other bedrooms.
With all the wonders of having all this great high quality video in my home, common sense begs the question: how will I be able to ship Ultra HD from room to room, especially in the network I am gradually building out in my home.
By the end of this year, AT&T is supposed to be delivering on its vision for what they call Whole Home DVR – giving me the ability to have content on a single DVR device and then view the content in other rooms over my existing wiring scheme.
That’s all fine and good, what about the needed bandwidth to handle this UHTV load? In the next generation of home networking standards, G.hn – which AT&T is supporting - will solve this– and other issues. G.hn will deliver a true gigabit home network – all over existing wires like coax, phone lines – even electrical wires.
There’s also a company called CopperGate (a client I have done PR work for) whose HomePNA chips go in every set top box and residential gateway that AT&T (and other service providers) delivers to your home. They’ve already announced they will have G.hn chips out as early as next year.
Aside from Ultra HD, I know that AT&T is trying to further distinguish it U-verse service from the cable and satellite providers by offer new service offerings in my home. G.hn appears to be the default standard by which service providers like AT&T will shift to in the years to come
