The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has approved the G3-PLC protocol from Maxim Integrated Products (News - Alert) as a new low-frequency, OFDM-based narrowband powerline communications (NB-PLC) standard, the company has announced.

To provide the first fully compliant G3-PLC chipset solution, last year, Maxim introduced the MAX2992, a PLC modem that pairs with the MAX2991 analog front-end (AFE). Today, several manufacturers offer ITU-compatible G3-PLC solutions based on this chipset, and one such solution is already being deployed in France, the company stated in a press release.

“One of the goals for the G3-PLC Alliance is to support standardization around the G3-PLC specification as an open international standard,” said Jean Vigneron, Secretary-General for the G3-PLC Alliance. “ITU is the first standards organization that has fully adopted it. We have this international standard today thanks to the dedication of many experienced experts in the field of communications and advanced metering infrastructure for the past several years.”

Utility companies can now plan their deployments utilizing G3-PLC to achieve cost-effective smart grid systems with confidence, with the approval of G3-PLC as an international standard and with available solutions from multiple sources.

Maxim developed the G3-PLC specification to promote open-endedness and interoperability among smart grid implementations, in partnership with Electricite Reseau Distribution France (ERDF) and Sagemcom. Also, to allow new Internet-based energy management systems, the G3-PLC is the only NB-PLC standard that supports the IPv6 internet protocol.

In other news, Maxim Integrated Products recently introduced the MAX98314, the industry's first mono, 3.2W, Class D amplifier with integrated input coupling capacitors.

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