SMC Networks will soon have a new wireless gateway that the cable industry can use to distribute content throughout residential customers' homes.

The EZ Connect Wireless Residential Cable Modem Gateway, which will hit the shelves in March, incorporates a one-port wired Ethernet connection, switch/router, and 802.11g/b access point functionality.

The SMC gateway also has 4MB flash ROM, 32MB of SDRAM and Texas Instrument's TurboDOX technology for fast upstream data transmission - to 30 Mbps - and even faster downstream speeds - to 38 Mbps. Those speeds are enough for uncompressed HD video. The gateway also includes parental controls and firewall features.

The new SMC8014WG-SI gateway is DOCSIS 1.1/2.0 and CableHome 1.1-compliant. SMC has an embedded policy server with a similar product designation - the SMC8014WG-CHM - that has been certified by CableLabs, but the gateway apparently has not earned certification as of the most recent testing wave in December.