DECT Home Networking

Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) has become the de-facto standard for residential and business cordless phone communications worldwide. Available in over 100 countries, DECT is the dominant and most appropriate technology for voice services and real-time guaranteed data services up to 1Mbps. The standard's strengths include low cost, combined voice and data services within a single unit, long standby and talk battery life, extended range for full home coverage, and a dedicated spectrum.

Most DECT products marketed until now include cordless phones either with PSTN-connected and base units or IP-connected home gateways providing phone services, and cordless audio/video monitors for baby and home monitoring. DECT, however, is also well suited for supporting a broader range of products and applications. One such evolving domain is residential wireless networking for home automation and control, which includes security, control systems and monitoring capabilities.

 

DECT is ideally positioned in home networking's “sweet spot,” offering a mature technology and  large installed base (over 600 million households) at an extremely low cost. A best-of-class technology marked by low power, long range, moderate bit-rates, and value-added complementary voice capabilities, DECT represents the next evolution in home networking.

Value-added home-automation, monitoring and control services extend the reach of wired and mobile operators in the home, enabling them to offer equipment and services that yield new revenue sources, while enriching the consumer's digital life.

Personal automation, however, does not stop at the home. Utilization of DECT technology is a natural way to enhance the control and monitoring of residential buildings, commercial ofces and industrial factories. For example, DECT enables building and hotel supervisors to gather information,
as well as monitor and control the structures over which they are responsible, while enabling factory floor supervisors to monitor and control motors and assembly lines. As with home automation, combining local area networks with landline (e.g. PSTN, IP) and mobile networks enables remote controlling and monitoring of automated devices.

 

These same cordless technologies can also be utilized for healthcare applications such as automatic blood pressure monitors, medical pendants belonging to medical distress systems, and two-way audio communications. Based on DSP Group's^® chipsets, these solutions have been approved by the FCC recently.