The HomePlug Powerline Alliance's Technical Working Group (TWG) has made what it describes as "major advancements" to the HomePlug AV2 specification.

The main enhancements include: Multiple-Inputs Multiple-Outputs (MIMO), giving a "significant" increase in link throughput and range; increased Medium Access Control (MAC) efficiencies, lowering overhead and expanding throughput; increased operating spectrum, expanding operations into an additional spectrum; and extended coverage via repeating and routing technology.

The HomePlug AV2 specification is expected to deliver a fivefold increase in performance over current HomePlug AV solutions at the application layer, offering "significant" improvements in whole home coverage.  The AV2 specification will be fully interoperable with current HomePlug and future HomePlug Green PHY and IEEE 1901 products.

The HomePlug Powerline Alliance expects to finalise the specification in the first quarter of 2011.