Wi-SUN Alliance Completes Home Area Network Standard

The Wi-SUN Alliance has completed its ECHONET HAN (home area network) profile specification. This follows the completion of the Wi-SUN Alliance Communications Profile for ECHONET Lite connection between Smart Meter and HEMS controller, adopted by TEPCO for its B Route Wireless. ECHONET Lite, "Energy Conservation & Homecare Network", has been specified by the ECHONET consortium and selected by METI for use in the HAN, to enable efficient energy usage in people's homes. The completion of this latest specification is considered a major step forward in the move for standardization and interoperability as required by the Smart Utility, Smart City and Smart Home infrastructures.

Wi-Sun Alliance Chair, Phil Beecher states, "Our work in standards and certification at the Smart Utility level had direct impact on Smart City and Smart Home networks." He adds, "The Home Area Network of ECHONET will allow standardization and interoperability from the utility to the home." Indeed, the future will allow connectivity, interoperability and energy management of home HVAC units and appliances (cookers, refrigerators, thermostats, etc.). He also stated, "Wi-SUN is now working on an ECHONET HAN Communications Profile certification program, which we expect to announce in the very near future."

"The new Wi-SUN HAN ECHONET Profile is the most powerful, interoperable, and reliable low power wireless standard for Home Area Networks (HAN) that adopt ECHONET Lite based application," said Dr. Hiroshi Harada, Wi-SUN Alliance board co-chair and chair of the ECHONET WG. "Especially the Wi-SUN ECHONET 'HAN' Profile newly supports a multihop (relay) function and a group key operation function and it will be implemented to HEMS and home appliances and provide a complete solution for Home Area Networks."

Wi-SUN technology is an essential part of Smart Utility Networks around the world. The smart grid promises a dramatic transformation of the world's electricity infrastructure. Smart grid deployment has been taking place at a rapid pace for the electric utility industry. Over 300 million smart meters have been deployed worldwide, with more than 50 million in North America.

Wi-SUN Alliance members include international companies helping to build Smart Utility Network infrastructure on five continents. The growth of Smart Grid markets in Australia, Europe, North and South America and the Asian region is driving the need for verification and certification of standards.