STMicroelectronics First to Announce Certified Chipset for G3-PLC Hybrid Powerline and Wireless Communication

Turn-key solution based on field-proven ST8500 programmable multi-protocol SoC and ultra-low-power sub-GHz S2-LP RF transceiver

June 18, 2021: STMicroelectronics’ ST8500 and S2-LP chipset has become the first to be certified according to the G3-PLC Hybrid communication standard that defines seamless connectivity over powerline and wireless media.

The G3-PLC Hybrid specification allows smart-grid, smart-city, industrial, and IoT equipment to select the best available wireless or powerline channel at any time, automatically and dynamically, according to network conditions. This enables superior coverage, reliability, and scalability, while also allowing cost-efficient system operation and enabling new use cases.

One of the world’s first Hybrid-ready solutions, ST demonstrated its ST8500 Hybrid chipset at a G3-PLC Alliance interoperability plugfest in 2020. The chipset is now the first to complete the latest G3-PLC certification scheme, published in March 2021, which incorporates the Hybrid profile tests.

The certified chipset combines the ST8500 programmable multi-protocol powerline communication system-on-chip (SoC) and STLD1 line driver with the Company’s S2-LP ultra-low-power sub-GHz radio transceiver. The SoC’s programmability enables a software-defined implementation capable of supporting a broad portfolio of powerline protocol stacks, in worldwide frequency bands such as CENELEC and FCC.

The ST8500 powerline communication SoC platform is widely used in smart-metering smart industrial and infrastructure applications. The new ST Hybrid turn-key solution has already been chosen by key stakeholders in the smart-grid market. Moreover, ST’s hardware and firmware solution has been selected to power the official G3-PLC Alliance RF certification-testing equipment.

The ST8500 SoC is packaged as a 7mm x 7mm x 1mm QFN56. The STLD1 and S2-LP are each packaged as 4mm x 4mm x 1mm QFN24. All devices are in full production. Please contact your local ST sales office for pricing information and sample requests.