ST releases G3-PLC Hybrid Powerline and Wireless Converged Communications certified chipset

     STMicroelectronics' ST8500 and S2-LP chipsets are the first to be certified to both G3-PLC Hybrid powerline and wireless media convergence communications standards. The G3-PLC converged communications specification allows smart grid, smart city, industrial, and iot devices to automatically and dynamically select the best available wireless or power line connection at any time, depending on network conditions, enabling greater network coverage, connection reliability, and system scalability, while improving system operational cost-effectiveness and supporting new application scenarios.

     The new certified chipset integrates the ST8500 programmable multi-protocol Powerline Communication System Chip (SoC), the STLD1 line driver, and ST's S2-LP ultra-low-power sub-GHz RF transceiver. The programmable performance of the SoC chip is sufficient to support various powerline communication protocol stack implementations in global frequency bands such as CENELEC and FCC.

     The ST8500 power line communication SoC platform is widely used in smart meters, smart industry and infrastructure. The new ST Hybrid total solution has already been selected by major players in the smart grid market. In addition, the G3-PLC Alliance's official RF certification test equipment has also chosen ST's hardware and firmware solutions.