Unified Ethernet Standard Unlocks New Opportunities for Industrial Digitalization

Four Major SDOs Complete Standardization of SPE and Ethernet-APL, Expanding Support for Non-Hazardous Environments and High-Power Devices

Unified Ethernet Standard Accelerates Digital Transformation in Process and Discrete Automation

A significant milestone has been reached for the unified Ethernet standard set to accelerate digital innovation in industrial automation. Ethernet-APL (Advanced Physical Layer) technology, jointly developed by major Standard Development Organizations (SDOs) including FieldComm Group, ODVA, OPC Foundation, and PI (PROFIBUS & PROFINET International), is already successfully operating in process automation applications.

Recently, these organizations, through their Joint Working Group, completed key extensions for the consistent standardization of Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) and enhancements to Ethernet-APL. Crucially, the new SPE specification (10BASE-T1L, PoDL) enables higher-powered devices and cost-effective deployment in discrete, non-hazardous factory environments such as automotive and packaging.

These advancements strengthen the foundation for reliable, vendor-independent communication and ensure seamless data availability from the field level upward—enabling smarter industrial automation and digital transformation.

Power Expansion via PoDL and Certification System Established

Following intensive technical coordination and internal reviews within the participating organizations, important specifications have been finalized. For SPE, this includes the expansion of the power concept, incorporating Power over Data Line (PoDL), appropriate power classes, and the definition of suitable connectors. In the Ethernet-APL domain, Power Class B, which supports devices up to 1.16 W, has been specified and incorporated into the second edition of IEC TS 63444.

Another significant milestone is the preparation of certification systems. Building on experience gained from the APL project, test cases and a test system have been developed to ensure a high standard of quality and physical layer interoperability. In parallel, joint marketing activities are already underway, including technical guidelines, user seminars, and demonstrators.

Harald Müller, Board Member of PI and Head of the Joint Working Group, stated: “Thanks to the dedicated collaboration of the SDOs, the standardization of Ethernet-APL and SPE has been successfully completed within the planned timeframe. This milestone establishes the foundation for vendor-independent communication based on SPE and Ethernet-APL, paving the way for the decisive and necessary digitalization of industrial sectors.”

Industry Expectations: Flexibility and Cost Reduction Benefits

The completion of this standardization is the result of close and successful collaboration among the participating SDOs, with broad consensus and combined expertise creating a common foundation essential for both users and manufacturers.

Ted Masters, President and CEO of FieldComm Group, explained: “The addition of single pair Ethernet support (SPE) to the Ethernet-APL specifications enables users to extend Ethernet into the field with the freedom to choose best-in-class instrumentation from any vendor, across IS and non-IS environments.” He added that this supports mixed protocol networks, including HART-IP, on a single physical layer, delivering IT-level speeds and enterprise integration, providing confidence that Ethernet-APL will become the new physical layer standard of the future.

Dr. Al Beydoun, President and Executive Director of ODVA, expressed his expectation that Ethernet-APL and SPE physical layers will provide users in factory and process automation with the benefits of simplified wiring, reduced cost, and longer cable runs.

Stefan Hoppe, President and Executive Director of the OPC Foundation, emphasized: “The alignment of Ethernet-APL and SPE provides a solid foundation for unified, vendor-independent Ethernet communication in industrial automation.” He noted that, together with OPC UA, these technologies enable consistent and interoperable information exchange across all system levels.

Further improvements, such as adding the bandwidth of 100Mbit/s for 2-wire Ethernet applications (100BASE-T1L) and integration into IEC IS 61158-100, are already in progress. The finalized specifications, supported by a robust and quality-assured conformance testing framework, pave the way for broad implementation by users and manufacturers.