Rival groups merge to form a unified Single Pair Ethernet Association
14 September 2026 
Two industry groups that spent years arguing for opposing approaches to Single-Pair Ethernet (SPE), have decided to merge to form a new body – called the Single Pair Ethernet Association (SPE Association) – that will represent more than 130 manufacturing and technology companies around the world. They say the merger launches “a revolutionary era in industrial automation”.
For more than five years, the two previous groups – the Single Pair Ethernet System Alliance and SPE Industrial Partner Network – disagreed over the specifications for a technology designed to transmit industrial data over a single twisted pair of wires, for industrial communications, automation and IIoT applications.
But a year ago, the groups announced that they had decided to join forces to work together on a single technology that would saving space and costs for both cables and connectors, and simplify industrial automation installations. They said they would coordinate their activities to accelerate the uptake of SPE.
Now, they are merging their organisations in “a bold decision, approved unanimously by the leadership of both networks”. They plan to consolidate their expertise, activities and memberships under the SPE Association identity, to build momentum and accelerate the development, standardisation and global market adoption and implementation of SPE.
Single Pair Ethernet streamlines Ethernet connections by transmitting data at high speed over long distances through a single twisted pair of wires, instead of the traditional two or four pairs. It can be used in a variety of industrial applications, especially where reducing weight, space or cost is desirable.
The new SPE Association aims to boost global visibility of the advantages of SPE-enabled industrial automation and to support an industry, user and research forum, allowing a close alignment of technical content, marketing activities and international initiatives. Existing members of the two earlier groups have been integrated into the new association, ensuring that their knowledge and experience will contribute to its work.
The new group has made its debut at the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) in Chicago this week. The association will also be promoting itself at the IAS (Industry Automation Show) in China in October, and the SPS (Smart Productions Solutions) exhibition in Germany in November.
“IMTS provides the ideal setting to showcase groundbreaking and game-changing Single Pair Ethernet as a foundational technology that is destined to shape the future of industrial networking,” says Nick Sandoval, president of the SPE Association’s North American marketing council. “This exciting merger to create Single Pair Ethernet Association marks the beginning of a new chapter in strong industry collaboration. Working together as one entity with an agile and global approach and a collective voice, we can help manufacturers unlock simpler architectures for greater interoperability and a more connected future.”
Single Pair Ethernet Association: LinkedIn
