•——Wireless LAN-related products are one of the most important products in your company. Won't your own products compete with one another?

Hosono: HD-PLC does not compete with wireless LAN, and I think that they will have different markets. The advantage of wireless LAN is to be able to move freely without dropping the connection to the network. In other words, there is no need to use wireless LAN in electronics such as television and set top boxes since there is little need to move them. HD-PLC is more suited than wireless LAN for these kinds of immobile electronic equipment since it allows data communication at high speed.

Another advantage of PLC is its stability. With wireless LAN, it might be disconnected suddenly for some reason. Since HD-PLC is based on technology that uses cables, the possibility of it being affected by change in electromagnetic waves inside of a house is much less when compared with wireless communication systems. This is why there is a bigger possibility to keep using it without running into problems.

“Not Connected” not an option

•——Your company offers a unique service, a program called ‘AAA’ which guarantees money back if an equipment cannot connect. This sounds as if even HD-PLC may have problems connecting.

Hosono: I don't mean to mislead you, but "not connected" is technically impossible when it comes to HD-PLC. We have rarely had to pay back money with HD-PLC products.

For new technology like HD-PLC to spread, it is important to first remove any uneasiness users may have. This is why offer a program like ‘AAA’ because we think it is important for our customers to be comfortable.

•——And this is why your company has joined the HD-PLC Alliance - to promote HD-PLC in the market?

Hosono: HD-PLC has a possibility to be used not only in PCs and in digital home appliances, but also in electronic systems of automotives and aircrafts and in power monitoring applications. With such possibilities, a single company like us cannot contribute enough. I thought that an organization like HD-PLC Alliance which promotes HD-PLC was necessary when our company first started planning the development of HD-PLC products; this is why we joined the Alliance at the same time it was established.

When building a society where everything connects to the network with a unique system called HD-PLC, there may be a need for various experiments and to come up with new standards in the future. As a member of the HD-PLC Alliance, we want to actively be involved with more challenging activities.