HGI boosts top-level Asian representation by appointing NEC and NTT to the board
10 April 2012 Telecom Italia’s Luca Giacomello has been voted in as the new Chairman of the Home Gateway Initiative (HGI) during the organisation’s first meeting of 2012. The new board has confirmed that the development of a Smart Home ecosystem is a key target for HGI.
NTT and NEC have also joined the board in a move that is boosting the top-level involvement of HGI’s Asian service provider and vendor members.
Mr Giacomello commented: “HGI is now moving with increasing momentum towards the specification of a service-enabling architecture that wraps together the OSGi framework for software applications, service APIs for the home, and the inclusion of cloud-located service logic.
“Our test event, held for the fourth time this year, is increasingly being used as a reference by service providers and manufacturers. The board feels that it is the right time for the next phase of strategic initiatives towards the development of a Smart Home ecosystem. The inclusion of the new board members reflects the increasing role of Asian companies within this ecosystem.”
HGI is the world’s leading organisation for setting service provider requirements for the digital home. Last month it hosted its second open summit in Taiwan where it has a growing membership.
Mr Giacomello has replaced Hans Werner Bitzer of Deutsche Telekom who held the position of Chairman for two years and has remained on the board as Vice Chairman.
“When my term began in late 2009, the board produced a set of strategic goals with the top priorities being the establishment of an annual HGI test event, and specifying an OSGi-based software execution environment as an enabler for services in the connected home. We have successfully achieved these goals, and are now looking to the future. I will remain a part of the board and wish Luca the best of luck in his new post,” said Mr Bitzer.
Mr Giacomello already leads the convergence and Home Energy Management activities of HGI.
For additional information about HGI visit
www.homegatewayinitiative.org.
