The combined MoCA-HomePlug technology will also provide a path to future specifications, MoCA 2.0 and HPAV2, that should allow physical-layer speeds above 1G bps, the companies said.

The HomeGrid Forum's board includes Panasonic, and chip makers Infineon and CopperGate. This year it has added two prominent companies to its board: carrier BT and U.S. consumer electronics retailer Best Buy. Texas Instruments has left the organization, possibly because of recent changes in that company's overall direction, though TI said in a statement that it supports the HomeGrid initiative even though it can't participate at this time.

The HomeGrid Forum couldn't immediately be reached for comment.