Bid to standardise power adapters

The days when every piece of home communications equipment comes with its own special power adapter could be numbered.

The UN telecoms agency says it has taken a step towards establishing a universal standard for power adapters used by set-top television boxes, internet modems, and fixed-line telephones.

The Geneva-based International Telecommunication Union (ITU) said last night that a standard adapter would allow manufacturers to ship new devices without a separate power supply.