Broadband over powerline equipment provider Ilevo and software developer Netbricks today announced a partnership to provide enhanced VoIP for broadband over powerline communications products based on DS2 chipsets.

The companies have already created VoIP products for the Broadband Power Line access platform that are fully compliant with the VoIP SIP standard.

Eric Morel, chief executive at Ilevo, said: "We are always extremely positive about the creation of this type of powerline communications ecosystem. It has helped us to build a SIP-based VoIP solution in record time."

Earlier this week, the Open Powerline Communications European Research Alliance announced the approval of what it claims is the first open global specification for powerline communications access.

The Alliance has chosen technology from Spanish chipmaker DS2 as the baseline for the specification.

The Alliance claims that the specification will accelerate mass rollout of high-speed, low-cost, broadband access, voice and audiovisual services, as well as utility applications for control and management operations.

The specification has the support of the Universal Powerline Association, a group that includes a number of broadband over power line equipment suppliers. The Open PLC European Research Alliance is backed by the EU.