The need for high-speed multimedia networking links in the home is driving growth for both MoCA (Multimedia over Coax Alliance) and HomePlug silicon, according to ABI Research.
Increased demand for both no-new-wires media networking technologies across both service provider and consumer-installable home networks will result in the combined value of MoCA and HomePlug IC shipments reaching $100 million in 2006 and growing to $464 million by 2011.
MoCA has had some key design wins and IPTV roll-outs in 2006, said Michael Wolf, principal analyst of digital home and multimedia for ABI Research. The integration MoCA silicon in set-top box and gateway products from companies such as Motorola, ActionTec and 2Wire show MoCA’s strength.
HomePlug is gaining traction in the Asia IPTV space, and there is renewed interest in consumer-installable home networking gear in North America, he added
While ABI Research expects Wi-Fi to continue as the dominant home networking physical layer technology, it is not currently generating much interest from service providers for in-home pay-TV distribution, particularly in North America. Vendors such as Ruckus Wireless have had some success in Europe, but overall, service providers are waiting for the completion of the 802.11n standard as well as more extensive field testing to prove whether the technology is ready for the high-reliability networks needed for video distribution.
For more information, visit www.abiresearch.com.
