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This release outlines how the Joint Working Group’s updates to Single Pair Ethernet and Ethernet-APL are designed to Help support interoperable, vendor-independent connectivity across industrial automation systems.
The Joint Working Group formed by ODVA, FieldComm Group, OPC Foundation, and PI (PROFIBUS & PROFINET International) completed critical extensions for the consistent standardization of Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) and enhancements to Ethernet-APL. The work aligns physical-layer specifications to help improve interoperability and data availability from the field to the enterprise.
The updates also help to standardize SPE for broader industrial applicability and extend Ethernet-APL capabilities for higher-power devices.
Key technical outcomes include:
Expansion of the SPE power concept, including Power over Data Line (PoDL).
Definition of applicable power classes and suitable connectors for SPE.
Formalization of Ethernet-APL Power Class B, supporting devices up to 1.16 W.
Incorporation of these changes into the second edition of IEC TS 63444.
Initial industrial deployments of Ethernet-APL are already operating in process automation, and the newly finalized SPE specifications extend coverage into discrete, non-hazardous factory environments, such as automotive and packaging. Together, the standards establish a common physical layer for mixed protocols and help to simplify integration across heterogeneous systems.
Alongside specification work, certification systems have been prepared. Test cases and a test framework have been developed to validate conformance and physical-layer interoperability across implementations. Technical guidance and enablement materials are being prepared to support adoption.
Further enhancements are in progress, including adding support for 100 megabit per second operation for two-wire Ethernet (100BASE-T1L) and integration into the IEC cycle, including IEC IS 61158-100. These steps will help to advance a more uniform, quality-assured path toward broader implementation.
This effort reflects a shared commitment to open, vendor-independent connectivity and coordinated standardization across automation ecosystems, supporting more reliable communication and scalable digitalization across industrial sectors.
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