On the New Developments in ITU-T G.hn Standard: Use Cases, Requirements, and Solutions

ITU-T G.hn technology is a well-known standard in the field of home networking transmissions. For a long time, it has been used a high-quality link for video services (e.g., IPTV) and as a connectivity extender (cable replacement). However, the flexibility of the technology allows to use it in new heterogeneous approaches for home networking and in new contexts of application. These new uses of the technology are driving evolutions of the standard. This paper draws the general picture of the status of ITU-T G.hn technology and the future trends that are expected in the home distribution and that may impact the role of G.hn technology in the home networking. Different use cases, requirements and optimizations are discussed. This paper presents some of the technical challenges that the industry will face in the coming years. These technical challenges should be addressed by the relevant standardization groups with the help of academia.