4.7 Comparative

After individual tests performed to all technologies, this section pretends to summarize main conclusions obtained. The next figure shows a comparative of the main parameters evaluated.

*Data collect tests in scenarios mediums.

Inhome Technologies main parameters comparison

With the current analyzed technologies:

• Physical Rate. This is a parameter where all technologies are the same performance. While current PLC, MoCA, HPNA and POF technologies is able to reach 200 Mbps, WiFi limit is 54 Mbps with both 802.11a and 802.11g standards and 200Mbps with 802.11n standard. Next steps and standards will change PLC primacy since PLC will reach 400 Mbps with next generation chipsets while next WiFi standard, 802.11n, will achieve a physical bandwidth of 600 Mbps. This is shown in the next figure where next generation WiFi is over next generation PLC.
• Throughput. This parameter is based in scenarios standards with interferences on the spectrum radio electric, obstacles, electricity interrupters, etc.
• Distance. Wired technologies as PLC have larger range than wireless inhome technologies as WiFi. While range is not a problem for PLC in almost any scenario, it is more common to find coverage problems for WiFi. 802.11n is expected to improve distance and coverage by using MIMO and combining 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands.
• QoS. Ruckus Wireless and PLC offer more QoS options, including layer 4 while MoCA and HPNA QoS related features are limited to layer 3. POF doesn’t support QoS.
• Maximum number of devices. Ruckus Wireless and HPNA allow networks with up to 64 nodes while PLC and MoCA networks are limited to 32 nodes. However, in terms of TV distribution, this figure will never be reached since the throughput will limit the maximum number of STBs to be connected.
• Management. Management options are similar, and Ruckus, PLC, MoCA and HPNA support TR-069, which is the current best option for the operator to manage inhome devices. POF is unmanageable.
• Security. All technologies implement different security features since in all cases medium is shared. However, security is still an issue to be solved in WiFi technologies.

Roadmap for inhome technologies

References

The next figure shows a summary of main market references of different technologies. WiFi references come just from one provider, Ruckus Wireless and include operators in Europe and South America. PLC references come from both UPA and HomePlug associations and include operators in both South America and Europe. HPNA and MoCa, which have not been analyzed in this document are primarily used in North America (USA and Canada).

Market references for different technologies and vendors