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The Home Gateway Initiative or HGI (News - Alert) has reportedly signed a liaison agreement with the Broadband Forum, for the development of standards and specifications for broadband networks worldwide.

As reported, this agreement further enhances the existing cooperation between HGI and the Broadband Forum (News - Alert). It is said to allow each organization to provide input, and to release copyright on work-in-progress specifications to the partner organization as working documents are drafted.

Both the groups believe that this formal collaboration will help in accelerating and positioning key specification work within the industry that can eventually contribute to the improvement in the capabilities of customers’ broadband networks.

“The customer's network is now undoubtedly a vital part of all service providers’ networks, and one in which standardisation is becoming increasingly important,” said Robin Mersh, chief operating officer at the Broadband Forum, in a release.

“This agreement gives greater breadth to the expertise of both the Broadband Forum and the HGI, which, in turn expedites critical work and ensures more advanced specifications and standards; ultimately the result is increased service provider deployment of CPE and improved QoS for the end-user,” added Mersh.

Founded in 2004 by nine telecom operators, the HGI is currently working with members from across the globe, representing the entire spectrum of players in the broadband home area. It claims to be setting requirements for Home Gateways, infrastructure devices, and the home network. The Broadband Forum works with a mission to develop the full potential of broadband. With the recent union with the IP/MPLS Forum (News - Alert), the Broadband Forum is said to be now the central body for next generation IP network specifications.

Together, the two groups represent over 200 companies, and over 30 service providers.

With this agreement, the groups have agreed to cooperate in addressing quality of service (QoS), software modularity, IPv6, energy efficiency and testing. Eventually, both groups will be meeting regularly to discuss projects and priorities for industry standards in these and other areas.

“While informal cooperation has happened for some time, the strong formal collaboration between HGI and Broadband Forum that is now taking place is tremendously important for the industry,” said Duncan Bees, chief technical officer, HGI. “Both organisations bring a unique focus on a set of related problems, and are stronger by working together. By jointly identifying goals, sharing work in progress, and avoiding duplication of efforts, our member companies receive better value for their investments of resources in our respective efforts. The industry has important issues to solve, and this agreement helps significantly.”