A passenger control unit (PCU) network is provided for a passenger aircraft having passenger seats in a plurality of zones, each zone having at least one column of seats, and each column having at least one row of seats. The PCU network includes a direct current (DC) power distribution system, and a plurality of wired PCUs, one PCU associated with each passenger seat and coupled to the DC power distribution system. Each PCU has a processor and system memory and a standard data and power interface, the processor being programmed for differential peer-to-peer communication with adjacently interconnected PCUs throughout the PCU network and with an external system of the aircraft. A PCU of one seat of each row is serially coupled to all PCUs in the respective row, and designated as a row master PCU; a PCU of one seat of each column is serially coupled to all row master PCUs in the respective column, and designated as a column master PCU; a PCU of one seat of each zone is serially coupled to all column master PCUs in the respective zone, and designated as a zone master PCU; and one zone master PCU is designated as a PCU system master and connected to an external system. Two-conductor data wires couple all PCUs within the PCU network.