Remember the HomeGrid Forum, the alliance supporting G.hn technology deployments and famed for its aversion to public appearances? Well, HomeGrid showed its face at last week’s Broadband World Forum, announcing a surprise merger with KT-backed GiGA Wire Alliance in a fusion of G.hn-based groups pegged to create a new force in broadband access. This is a deal all about taking G.hn technology above and beyond the MDU to achieve the smart city dream, and the newly merged alliance entity (new name pending) already faces plenty of hurdles. HomeGrid has enjoyed virtually unrivaled control of the powerline network market since rival technology alliance HomePlug capitulated a year ago, shipping millions of devices over the last couple of years. Now, a combined…