International Powerline Communications 2006: Unleash the opportunities of a “Smart Grid”, IPTV and in-home networking for business optimisation

International Powerline Communications 2006

Unleash the opportunities of a “Smart Grid”, IPTV and in-home networking for business optimisation to impact your bottom-line

October 24 - 25, 2006 ·
Renaissance Penta Vienna Hotel,
Vienna, Austria

Who will I meet and who is speaking?
Confirmed speakers include:

Josef Heizinger
Managing Director
LINZ-STROM-GmbH & Member of the Board LINZ AG

Jose Maria Montero
Smart Home Project Manager
Telefonica
Charles Kuun
Managing Engineer, Operating Systems
Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality

Michael Quinn
Senior Project Manager, Asset Management & Engineering
TXU Electric Delivery


Angelantonio Gnazzo
Home Networking Lab Manager
Telecom Italia

Philippe Le Grand
Chief Project Architect, Information & Technologies
General Council of La Manche

Annemieke Pletsers
Project Leader of Home Networking Technology Project
Belgacom

Mark Bogers
TL Radio & Telecommunications Terminal
European Commission


Ajoy Rajani
Vice President
Reliance Energy

SDG&E Installs 350 'Smart' Electric Meters in Neighborhood Field Tests

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 28, 2006 – San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) is installing its first wave of “smart” electric meters in field tests that will continue for several months. The high-tech meters enable two-way communication between SDG&E and a customer’s home or business.

The new meters are expected to provide SDG&E customers with numerous benefits, including improved customer service, more real-time information on energy use, and faster identification of system outages during events like July’s heat wave. Customers should be able to make more informed energy decisions and have greater control over their energy use and costs as a result, according to Anne Shen Smith, senior vice president of customer services for SDG&E. Ultimately, the advanced meters should reduce the likelihood of electricity shortages.

“We are always looking for ways to apply state-of-the-art technologies to improve services to customers. The smart meters are the next major step. Once in place, they will also pave the way for other enhancements to our operations,” said Smith. “The tests are essential to help us determine which technology is the best at meeting our customers’ needs.”

As part of its field tests, SDG&E plans to install approximately 350 electric meters and 150 gas modules from different vendors in three test areas: Fallbrook, downtown San Diego and Rose Canyon. The tests are expected to highlight the viability of the technologies.

SDG&E is planning to replace all of 1.3 million of its electric meters, and also is proposing to tie its 825,000 gas meters into the system. If approved by state regulators, meter installation could begin in mid-2008 and be completed by 2010.

San Diego Gas & Electric is a full-service energy utility that currently serves 3.4 million consumers through 1.3 million electric meters and more than 825,000 natural gas meters. The utility’s service area spans 4,100 square miles and serves customers in more than 125 communities from Southern Orange County to the Mexican border. SDG&E is a regulated subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE). Sempra Energy, based in San Diego, is a Fortune 500 energy services holding company. To learn more, go to www.sdge.com.

=== Listen to
Previous interview with Eddie Van Herik on BPL trial !!!
San Diego Gas & Electric

AMBIENT ENTERS CALIFORNIA MARKET
SDG&E Selects Ambient to Assess BPL Technology

Boston, MA, July 21, 2005 - Ambient Corporation (OTCBB: ABTG), a leader in
Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) solutions, today announced the BPL Trial
Agreement it has entered into with San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E), a unit
of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), that will evaluate BPL-enabled consumer and utility
based applications.


Ambient will work with SDG&E staff to develop an understanding of the required
knowledge and skills to implement, design and install a fully operational BPL-enabled
Ambient network on the SDG&E grid. Ambient’s Network Management System (NMS)
will be licensed by SDG&E to monitor the BPL network. Ambient technology will be
purchased and installed by SDG&E to provide high-speed data services so that SDG&E
may evaluate several applications including BPL-enabled meter reading.


John J. Joyce, President and CEO of Ambient, stated, “We believe this is a significant
opportunity for Ambient to demonstrate how our solution may play a role in helping to
fulfill the Advanced Metering Initiative (AMI) set forth by California’s Energy Commission
(CEC) and Public Utility Commission (CPUC). California’s energy vision set forth by
these two commissions is unique as it focuses on customer-oriented or demand-side
solutions, seeking to establish a technology and pricing policy foundation that links
customer rates with the market price for energy. Our goal is to establish a BPL network
in the state where the Public Utility Commission has clearly expressed an interest in
evaluating BPL technologies for better serving the utility’s customers.”


About Ambient Corporation
Ambient Corporation (OTC BB: ABTG) is a development stage company engaged in the design,
development and marketing of equipment and technologies that utilize existing electrical power
medium voltage and low voltage distribution lines as a medium for the delivery of broadband and
other communication services. The use of an electric power distribution system as a high-speed
communication medium is commonly referred to as "power line communications" or "broadband
over power lines." Visit Ambient at www.ambientcorp.com.

Powering Up BPL

By The Associated Press
(Broadcasting & Cable) _ Broadband over power lines (BPL) may only be in a few thousand homes as a commercial concern, but there are over 50 tests and a big deployment of 2 million people planned for next year in Texas.

That's according to Brett Kilbourne, associate counsel for the United Telecom Council, which represents utility companies looking to get into the broadband-supply business in competition to cable and telcos.

In an interview for C-SPAN's The Communicators series, scheduled for airing over the weekend, he pointed out that the FCC had given utilities a "tremendous green light" for the service, and that investors like Google and Goldman Sachs were putting hundreds of millions of dollars into the technology, which delivers broadband to electrical outlets at a speed and price he said would be competitive.

Kilbourne said that the service would be ideal for rural areas currently not reached by cable, one of the reasons the FCC is so high on BPL. Although he conceded that economics would drive the deployment of the service, he said that the use of BPL for "smartgrid" monitoring of power lines would mitigate against cherry because becuase the technology would be employed in many system wide systemwide to better monitor loads and more efficiently--and cost-effectively--provide power.

While the federal government may have gone to bat for BPL, Kilbourne says the next battle is at the state regulatory level. He pointed to Texas and California as states who had revised their regs to make it easier to deploy BPL, suggesting it was no coincidence that there were big rollouts planned in both states.

Asked why as a captive ratepayer, utility customers would want the companies to get into the broadband business rather than upgrade the grid, he said BPL would improve the grid by allowing companies to more accurately and nimbly monitor usage. He also said that the utility revenues would not be used to cross-subsidize the commercial venture in broadband, which he said most power companies would do through a third party.

Kilbourne said he though that telcos and cable had not been fighting the FCC's promotion of BPL because they figured the addition of a little competition could be a good thing for their own regulatory fortunes: Telcos like us to a certain extent. They want to see a little more competition if it will justify the FCC further deregulating their services."

Similarly, the cable industry has not opposed loosening franchise regs for telcos so long as they are extended similar benefits.

Duke Energy to demo BPL system at Broadband over Powerline 2006 Conference !!!

CNET News.com: FCC pushes for BROADBAND over POWER LINES Technology !!!
=======================

Broadband Power Line 2006
September 17-20, 2006
Omni Charlotte
Charlotte, NC

Special Address – Investors’ Perspective
For a broader view, we’ve invited a leading Wall Street BPL analyst to discuss what Wall Street and shareholders expect when it comes to BPL and utilities..

Judy Warrick
Senior Advisor, Morgan Stanley **INVITED
=======================

Sept. 18, 2006

8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Broadband Power Line 2006
Demo Hall Open

See it live! This is a chance to see what all the BPL vendors on the floor have to offer. Sprinkled throughout the day will be 10 minute presentations by each of the vendors on the floor highlighting their products and services – what they have available now and what they have plans to include. What better way to prepare for Tuesday’s educational program than to see where the industry is headed based on what the industries vendors have available?

12:30-1:30 p.m. Networking Lunch in the Demo Hall
2:00-5:00 p.m. BPL Site Visit – Duke Power

Duke is one of the largest and oldest BPL deployments in the country. Their deployment includes several vendors’ equipment as part of the demonstration. They are deploying BPL for a variety of commercial and utility applications, and have a team of personnel devoted to implementing BPL throughout the company’s operations. This site visit truly will offer a different take on BPL than any other tour you might have taken before.


UPLC Broadband Power Line 2006

read: Previous articles:

DUKE ENERGY selects AMBIENT/DS2 G2 200Mbps BPL gears in N. Carolina !!!

DS2 BROADBAND over POWER LINES: new 200 Mbps Technology !!!

UPLC Broadband Power Line 2006 -- Ambient Corp. is the Platinum Premier Event Sponsor !!!!!!!!!

Ambient Corp. BROADBAND over POWER LINES new 200 Mbps Technology gear based on DS2 CHIPSETS !!!

Power lines carry Broadband data

Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) is something the electricity industry will be hearing much more of before long. It uses national grid networks to carry data, communications and to access the internet. It is sometimes known as Power Line Communications (PLC) although that title generally refers to the data used by utilities to control the grid itself.

BPL works because standard ac electricity is transmitted at a frequency of 50 or 60Hz and the PLC control system operates below 500kHz. This leaves almost the entire frequency range of the line free for communications traffic, so BPL communications are modulated up to radio frequencies.

The system brings the internet into homes and businesses along with their mains electricity. A BPL modem plugs into the mains socket for both signal and power connection. Alternatively, a wireless link can be used between the modem and an extractor box mounted on the nearest electricity pole.

But wireless is known to be an insecure technology and can allow hackers with the right equipment to view data and possibly piggyback their own data on the bandwidth the customer is paying for. So encryption must used to prevent the interception of sensitive data by unauthorised personnel.

BPL is an ideal way to bring broadband access into areas where telephone companies only offer low speed services but systems face considerable technical problems.
Signals suffer a relatively high attenuation rate due to discontinuities such as taps, transformers and other devices connected to the system. There is also relatively high background noise on power lines.

But a signal that is strong enough to overcome these hurdles is also strong enough to radiate and interfere with existing radio users from amateur enthusiasts to the emergency services. And the height and long length of power lines makes them an excellent antenna.

One answer is to reduce the strength of the communication signal, and then to use repeaters to boost the signal when it threatens to get lost in the electrical noise. Alternatively, fibre optic cable can be wrapped round the high voltage cables, where noise and radiation are at their worst, and signals transferred onto low voltage cable for local distribution. But that all costs money and is it difficult to avoid people using the system for free when everyone has access to the infrastructure.

To inject signals into the network, utilities use special coupling capacitors connected to the ac conductors or a form of current transformer to induce signals onto the conductors. Where power transformers heavily attenuate signals, boosters are used to push the signal through. Alternatively, relay units carry signals round the transformer.

Standard decision

Now the concept has been proven, the key task is to agree a global transmission standard so any piece of equipment will work with any other. OPERA, Open PLC European Research Alliance, is the EU’s main research organisation for the standardisation and use of PLC in Europe. It has been funded by the EU with 20 million. In the US, a popular standard is HomePlug, which offers 14Mbps data transfer rates. The Universal Powerline Association (UPA), an international association working to promote global standards and regulations in the market has just completed the first version of its Digital Home Standard high-speed powerline networking specification.

The IEEE is developing a standard, IEEE P1901, for BPL that will offer speeds over 100Mbps.

Jim Mollenkopf, Co-chair of the IEEE P1901 Working Group, says there are notable BPL deployments in Hong Kong, where Powercom operates a commercial BPL network and reports over 40 000 customers; in Cincinnati, where Current Communications and Cinergy operate a commercial network that passes a reported 50,000 homes; Spanish utilities Ibredrola and Endesa both offer commercial BPL services; and, in the largest BPL deployment announced to date, Current Communications will be deploying a BPL network covering two million homes supplied by Texan utility TXU Electric Delivery. Additionally, there are deployments in Mexico, Brazil, Austria, Australia, Sweden, France, Malaysia and South Africa.

In Tasmania, Aurora Energy Pty, has launched a trial to test the commercial viability of BPL. Bryan Holter, Business Analyst with the company, says it is working with Mitsubishi and is using its 200Mbit BPL equipment. The Mitsubishi BPL modems have both a RJ-11 telephone jack for direct VOIP services and an RJ-45 jack for broadband internet access.

The areas served by BPL consist of a mixture of underground and overhead distribution, with the aerial assets consisting of a mixture of aerial bundled cable and four wire overhead.

BPL services are being offered to customers throughout the low voltage (240V) distribution system, while the medium voltage (11 000V) distribution system is being used to provide backhaul to regional substations where signals are passed to an existing network fibre optic backbone.

Aurora is also working with the Australian Communications and Media Authority and representatives of various emergency services groups to deal with the potential of BPL interference. Holter says there have been no significant interference problems to date and this is not expected to be an issue for future BPL expansion. At the moment Aurora is providing both Voice over Internet (VOIP) and internet services but it is currently investigating the potential of offering a limited video-over-internet service as well.

To date customer interest in BPL and take-up of the BPL services offered have been excellent, and the company is currently preparing a business case which would see a large scale expansion of the BPL network across Tasmania. As part of the commercial trial it is also investigating a variety of network monitoring, control and metering applications using BPL.

BPL hardware

On the hardware side, Amperion offers a wide range of BPL equipment including antennae. Its Griffin unit is the overhead BPL product that has been deployed on four different continents. It enables communications over the medium voltage utility network and delivers the signal to customers via standard WiFi.

The Griffin 1500 MV product line is the newest addition to the Amperion Connect BPL solution. This innovative product offers an array of new connectivity options with either one or two 802.11 radio systems and an optional amplifier and fibre port.

Shipped in a rugged NEMA 3R enclosure, the Griffin 1500 MV is designed to mount on utility poles and to connect to overhead power lines via an insulated inductive coupler.
The insulated couplers have been tested to meet and exceed exacting utility safety standards and are available with either 15KV or 25KV ratings.

Its radio link can be used either for backhaul to the internet or as a high speed Wireless Access Point (WAP) providing connectivity to customers.

With an optional second radio, it can perform both functions simultaneously while generating, receiving or repeating the BPL signal. It is also able to support speeds of up to 24Mbps, which helps remove potential bottlenecks and provides network operators with higher speed of service options.

In a combined project, Plexeon Logistics, Amperion and Broadband Energy Networks have announced a package that offers utilities a comprehensive way to deploy a BPL infrastructure.

The basic package includes BPL network elements, project management, engineering, training, RF and performance testing, a set of enabled utility applications, network monitoring, analyses, and final pilot reports.

A supplemental package enables a utility to explore applications and services enabled by BPL, including utility applications, building automation, and public safety and security.

Open system

Plus, Power Line Ultimate System, is an open flexible system, designed to provide a wide range of telecommunication services over power line grids. Current applications include internet access, telephone communications and automatic meter reading.
Further applications, such as home automation, may also be implemented over the same infrastructure.

The system uses an advanced modem technology to achieve high data rates over noisy low voltage power lines. It also incorporates routing capabilities and sophisticated algorithms to optimise the use of the bandwidth provided by the PLC modem and offers a standard data rate of 2.5Mb/s at user level.

Other equipment includes the NtPlus home network termination unit that provides communication services from any electrical wall socket and the RpPlus repeater for long distance transmission.

Broadband data transmission

Power PLUS Communications AG is a German company active in BPL around Europe since 2001. It covers over 300 000 households with nearly 30 000 subscribers. The most significant rollouts are in Mannheim and Linz with others in Dresden and Hamelin.

Since last year, many small cities such as Hatzenbuehl and Hassfurt that have no broadband access have adopted BPL.

Its second generation PLUS-System enables broadband data transmission on low (230/400V) and medium voltage (1 to 24kV) networks. Based on TCP/IP-Protocol, it offers a wide, future-proof platform for internet access, telephony and video transmission as well as for process control and security applications.

CenterPoint Energy and IBM are working together to explore BPL technology. CenterPoint Energy has opened a BPL technology centre at one of its facilities in Houston to examine uses of BPL technology for consumers as well as utility companies. This includes a pilot program to demonstrate the capabilities of BPL in the home to Houston-area consumers.

With so much impetus behind it, BPL is set to become a standard way of life before very long.

Growing interest in wall-socket Net access

David Lazarus
Friday, August 18, 2006


With much fanfare, AT&T and PG&E announced in the summer of 2004 that they were teaming up to test technology for broadband Internet access over ordinary power lines -- plug into a wall socket and you're online.

Michael Powell, then-chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, even showed up at the Menlo Park lab where the companies were promising connection speeds as fast as cable and DSL hookups. "I think this is critical technology," he said. "This is something we want to see happen."

Then, just a few months later, AT&T quietly shut down the tests, saying broadband over power lines (BPL) technology didn't mesh with the company's newfound emphasis on business customers.

So where are we now? With high-speed Internet access rapidly becoming a choice between only two providers -- phone and cable companies -- is there any hope that competition can be increased via utility-sponsored BPL service to people's homes?

Possibly.

And one company that's invested millions of dollars in making this happen is none other than Mountain View's Google, which is exploring ways to transmit huge quantities of data to users without paying additional fees to network operators like AT&T and Comcast. More on that in a moment.

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. says it's still interested in committing its electricity grid to the creation of a Northern California BPL network that would rival the data systems of phone and cable companies.

"Our approach to this is that we're in the gas and electricity business," said Jon Tremayne, a PG&E spokesman. "But if some other company wanted to lease our wires, we're ready to discuss that."

For several months in 2004, it appeared AT&T was that company. Tremayne said the initial tests to a few dozen Menlo Park homes demonstrated that BPL could provide a viable alternative to cable and DSL.

Then AT&T walked away and the tests came to an abrupt halt.

"It certainly showed promise," acknowledged Gordon Diamond, an AT&T spokesman. "It worked. We're just focusing on other areas right now."

He said there were two major developments that soured AT&T on BPL. The first was a decision by federal regulators to allow local phone companies to charge higher rates for long-distance providers to access their networks.

This prompted AT&T -- at the time still a long-distance company -- to abandon the consumer market.

Shortly afterward, AT&T announced that it was being acquired by SBC for $16 billion, and BPL instantly became a redundancy. The newly merged AT&T had its own data network; it didn't need to piggy-back on PG&E's wires.

Competition

Diamond said pre-merger AT&T always saw BPL as a way to circumvent the likes of SBC and gain access to customers' homes without using SBC's system. "We don't have that issue any more," he said.

That's good for AT&T but not necessarily for consumers, who typically make do with a duopoly in the broadband market -- phone companies and cable companies. Most economists say competition is limited in any marketplace with fewer than three active players.

"Magic things happen when you have three competitors -- three forms of technology, better choice, better innovation and better prices for consumers," Powell, the former FCC chairman, said at the time of the AT&T-PG&E tests.

He said he wanted broadband service "to be from multiple providers with multiple pipes, with innovation occurring and consumers having a whole lot of choices."

The California Public Utilities Commission adopted regulatory guidelines earlier this year that it hopes will encourage BPL development statewide.

"BPL has the potential to bring broadband Internet services to communities who do not have broadband service available today from the telephone companies or cable companies," said PUC President Michael Peevey.

PG&E is similarly optimistic -- as long as someone else's money is on the line.

"We're not looking at making any investment in BPL as a technology," said Tremayne, the utility spokesman. "We have no plans to brand any sort of Internet service.

"But if there's another company that's interested in this," he added, "we'll certainly talk to them."

This is where things get potentially interesting.

A leading provider of BPL service is a Maryland company, Current Communications. It's cooperating with TXU, a Dallas power utility, to provide BPL service to 2 million customers.

Last year, Current received about $100 million in cash from investment bank Goldman Sachs, media giant Hearst Corp. (which happens to publish this newspaper) and, yes, Google.

Another $130 million was raised in May from other investors, including General Electric and Internet service provider Earthlink.

Google said at the time of its investment that it was keen to support alternative broadband technologies. That interest has since taken on new importance as Congress moves closer to passing legislation that would allow network operators like AT&T and Comcast to charge higher fees to heavy users like online video services.

Google interested

Google has made no secret of its interest in video and in making google.com a clearinghouse for everything from YouTube-style silliness to full-length movies. Last week, Google replaced the front-page link to its Froogle shopping service with a link to Google's video service -- a move that sent shockwaves through the tech community.

Speculation about Google's long-term intentions range from the company gunning for online video-rental powerhouse Netflix to Google becoming the, well, Google of all online video offerings.

Whatever else, the company's growing focus on video will require plenty of bandwidth.

Jon Murchinson, a Google spokesman, reiterated this week only that "our interest in BPL is to encourage alternate forms of Internet access."

Bill Berkman, chairman of Current Communications, was reluctant to discuss how BPL fits into Google's long-term plans. But he said Google's leaders wouldn't have invested in Current unless they believed BPL has a future.

"The Google guys get it," Berkman said. "They're ready to take a long-term view."

He acknowledged having spoken with PG&E about a possible BPL partnership. "I've talked to them and they've been receptive," Berkman said.

He also said he's "had conversations with Google about PG&E."

Beyond that, Berkman is playing his cards close to the vest. He said only that his goal is to eventually provide BPL service to as many as 20 million households nationwide, and that he hopes to announce partnerships with additional utilities in coming months.

Will one of those deals involve PG&E? If Google is playing a prominent role in future BPL activities, then it's possible. When Google decided to dabble in wireless Internet access -- "Wi-Fi" in tech parlance -- it started with its hometown of Mountain View.

Google's Wi-Fi service started this week, making Mountain View the largest U.S. city with free Internet access available to all residents. Google is partnering with EarthLink for a similar service in San Francisco.

A Google-affiliated BPL service might similarly begin close to home, and that would of course mean that PG&E's network would be involved.

PG&E's Tremayne confirmed that the utility has had more than one conversation with Current about BPL, but said the talks have stalled on Current's insistence that PG&E also pony up some cash to get things going.

"If that changes," he said, "we'd be happy to keep discussing this."


San Francisco Chronicle

Telkonet Awarded Department of the Navy Approval to Support Worldwide Navy Marine Corps Intranet

GERMANTOWN, Md.--(Business Wire)--Aug. 17, 2006--

Telkonet, Inc. (AMEX:TKO), the leader in providing powerline carrier (PLC) networking solutions using existing electrical wiring, today announced that after extensive testing, validation and field deployment of its patented Telkonet iWire System(TM) powerline networking platform, the Department of the Navy and Electronic Data Systems (NYSE:EDS) approved the Company's FIPS 140-2 government certified networking solution for use within the extensive Navy and Marine Corps Intranet (NMCI) computing environment.
Ronald W. Pickett, President and CEO of Telkonet, Inc. commented on this significant milestone, "Telkonet has invested a significant amount of time, capital and creative energy to deliver and certify the secure Telkonet iWire System networking platform for NMCI use. We are proud to be the only powerline communications solution to secure such a significant competitive advantage within the Department of the Navy and the Department of Defense and look forward to building upon our relationship with EDS and its partners to support the delivery of high-speed communications in one of the largest, most secure enterprise network in the world."
Awarded to EDS in October 2000, the $6.9 billion government program was designed to unify thousands of disparate Navy and Marine Corps computer applications, networks and peripherals throughout the world into one secure, enterprise-class computing platform. In March 2006, EDS was awarded a contract extension for NMCI through 2010.
Telkonet's Government Systems team will continue to work closely with the Navy, Marine Corps, EDS and its NMCI partners to enable the Telkonet iWire System networking solutions where ever it is appropriate within the approximately 400,000 Navy and Marine Corps users across a wide range of deployments including: occupied commercial spaces, temporary locations, disaster recovery areas, historic locations, low-density facilities, remote locations and very small work sites.

About the Navy and Marine Corps Intranet

The Navy Marine Corps Intranet (NMCI) provides the Department of the Navy with a full range of network-based information services on a single, enterprise-wide intranet. Through NMCI, the Navy and Marine Corps will gain secure, universal access to integrated voice, video and data communications. The common environment will improve security across the enterprise, periodically integrate the most up-to-date commercial technologies and centralize information technology budgeting and expenditures for the department.
Eventually, the massive NMCI network will link more than 400,000 workstations and laptops for 500,000 Navy and Marine Corps users across the continental United States, Hawaii, Cuba, Guam, Japan and Puerto Rico.

About Telkonet

Telkonet develops and markets technology for the high-speed transmission of secure voice, video and data communications over in-premise and shipboard electrical wiring. The revolutionary Telkonet iWire System(TM) utilizes proven powerline communications (PLC) technology to deliver commercial high-speed broadband access from an IP "platform" that is easy to deploy, reliable and cost-effective by leveraging a buildings existing electrical infrastructure. The Telkonet iWire System can be installed rapidly and offers a viable and cost-effective alternative to the challenges of hardwiring and wireless local area network (LAN) deployment. Telkonet's products are designed for use in commercial and residential applications, including multi-dwelling units and the hospitality and government markets. Applications supported by the Telkonet "platform" include but are not limited to: VoIP telephones, Internet connectivity, local area networking, video conferencing, closed circuit security surveillance and a host of other information services. For more information, please visit www.telkonet.com.




BROADBAND over POWER LINES: new 200 Mbps Technology !!!

Toronto, Canada: Trimax Creates Broadband Over Powerline Video Surveillance Solution Eliminating the Need for Traditional Video Cabling

TORONTO -- (MARKET WIRE) -- August 17, 2006 -- Trimax Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Multi-Source Inc. (MSI), and PLC Networks Inc. (PLC) (OTCBB: TMXO), leading providers of Broadband over Powerline (BPL) communication technologies, are pleased to announce the signing of a joint venture/technology sharing agreement with VisualGate Systems Inc., a technology company based in Canada that produces IP Video Surveillance Security Systems using embedded Powerline Communications. VisualGate's advanced applications are used in residential, banking, retail, gaming and homeland security solutions. By integrating both companies' technologies into a seamless, secure "Plug and Play" solution, buildings of almost any size and complexity can be instantly and inexpensively equipped with a state-of-the-art Network Video Surveillance solution without the cost or disruption of installing additional cabling.

Trimax has deployed IP Cameras and connected them through its BPL modems, however, solutions requiring high end analog cameras needed expensive media converters which increased costs and required extra components in the final design. Trimax required an enhanced integrated solution. VisualGate developed a complete Network Video Surveillance product suite that injects the analog video signals directly into the existing electrical infrastructure, thus providing the most cost effective in-building solution in the security market. This product combined with Trimax's BPL solutions that extend the signals throughout and between buildings, will enable enormous markets including industrial, retail, multi-dwelling units (MDUs), Government, Homeland Security, Hospitals and Educational institutions that continue to seek practical, cost-effective IP-based video security.

Malcolm Robins, VisualGate's VP Business Development, said, "We were seeking a partner that had expertise in the distribution of Powerline Data-based communications with large landlords to dramatically extend the range and performance of the system. The Trimax relationship not only offers this, but provides even more benefits due to their established relationships with BPL chip manufacturers and BPL R&D expertise and facilities. They will add significant value not only by way of technology, but also in their marketing capabilities and wide customer base of BPL installations."

"Terrorism and rising crime rates have forced governments and businesses to put public safety and security as a top priority and allocate their funding accordingly," said Derek Pepler, President & CEO of PLC Networks Inc. "With the convergence of access control communications, the development of LAN, WAN and Internet-based remote network systems and new inexpensive IP cameras, industry analysts expect the surveillance market to grow by 88% annually to $4Bn by 2010. Trimax has quickly recognized the value of its partnership with VisualGate and the market opportunity as in the past week we have delivered quotes for over half a million dollars to interested property owners."


MARKET WIRE) -- August 17, 2006

Sabah, Malaysia: Realm BPL to provide BROADBAND via POWER LINES !!!

August 10 2006
Business Times


BROADBAND connection using power lines could be available in certain parts of the country beginning September.

Realm BPL Communications Sdn Bhd, a licensed Access Services Provider, is in the midst of a pre-rollout programme to enable broadband over power lines (BPL). It is working with Realm Energy Sdn Bhd, a licensed Network Facilities Provider and Network Services Provider.


"Selected areas from Perlis to Sabah will be (broadband) connected by power line connection beginning September. And from January 2007 onwards, a mass rollout programme throughout the country will be implemented," Realm BPL chief executive officer Abdul Latif Mohd Nasir said in a statement.


The technology is based on transmitting data and voice over power lines.


As this technology uses existing power lines in the houses and buildings, the potential penetration of broadband could be phenomenal, Abdul Latif added.


He said BPL technology is commercially viable and already implemented in the US, France, Germany, Spain and Hong Kong.


Extensive tests and trials were conducted in Malaysia prior to the issuance of the licences. These include streamlining guidelines, procedures, and policies.


"Obviously there were challenging issues that surfaced, like absorbing high international gateway access cost and preparing creative and useful content for users. However, the company is committed to remain competitive in servicing the market in the long term," the statement said.

HUOSTON, TEXAS: Broadband over power lines could reach Cy-Fair area in a few years

By Kentesheia Dockery , Staff Writer
08/04/2006

The ability to enhance communication systems, improve customer expectations and uphold timely maintenance isn't as distant a concept as it used to be.


The innovation of BPL, or broadband over power lines, could very well be the solution to technical difficulties as well as a gateway toward better service.

Consulting engineer William Armstrong, PE of CenterPoint Energy introduced BPL to the utility infrastructure committee of the Cy-Fair Houston Chamber of Commerce on July 19.
Armstrong and others at CenterPoint Energy are hoping to change yesterday's method of implementation by taking advantage of quick moving technology of bandwidths through power lines.

"Right now, if the lights go out, utility doesn't know," Armstrong said.

So, a proposition is underway and different locations across the nation, to super impose a utility grid into a communications system providing a window into everything on the system. It would benefit an entire eco-system for residential communities, businesses, manufacturers and utilities, he said. At some point, people would be able to access the internet by simply plugging in a laptop or computer into the nearest wall outlet. Manufacturers of "smart" technology are mindful of BPL because many more customers will result from having more access to easy programming.

Incorporating BPLs would also mean less expenditure for utility companies. Gas, electric and even water meter readers can largely cease door-to-door handlings, weather delays, safety concerns and travel time by merely logging into a database. Additionally, customers can access their monthly bill statements online and even keep track of it until then.
In all, Armstrong said BPL, also called power line communication, is customer-friendly, offers faster responses and more advantages - all from using a tool about the size of a lunchbox.

"This is three, four, five years in the making," Armstrong said. "It's not a question of will we do it, but how fast."

BPL could eliminate a lot of things, he said, especially at apartment complexes, where a lot of groundwork is necessary to read meters and tenants change rapidly.

Currently, three substations are being supported, including two in areas of Bellaire, and one in Greenspoint. An additional substation in Bellaire is slated for the near future.

===
BROADBAND over POWER LINES: new 200 Mbps Technology !!!

PCMAG.COM: FCC Supports Broadband Over Power Lines

FCC Supports Broadband Over Power Lines
08.03.06
By Wayne Rash
WASHINGTON—The Federal Communications Commission decided Aug. 3 to reaffirm its stance on the deployment of broadband-over-power-line technology. In a Memorandum Opinion and Order adopted by the FCC today, the commissioners affirmed that BPL providers have the right to provide data access using power transmission lines, provided they don't interfere with existing radio services.

By adpting this order, the FCC rejected requests by several groups, including the amateur radio community, the aviation industry and broadcasters, to either limit the service or to disallow it completely. However, the FCC did adopt provisions to protect some aeronautical stations and to protect radio astronomy sites from interference.

In the statements released by the commissioners, it was clear that the FCC sees BPL technology as a critical move in the effort to reduce the grip of the current broadband duopoly in the United States, and as a vital step toward serving areas of the United States that currently have no broadband access at all, including residents of rural and inner city areas.

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said all of the commission members would like to see some non-duopoly pipes bring broadband access to hard-to-reach Americans. "This technology holds great promise as a ubiquitous broadband solution that would offer a viable alternative to cable, digital subscriber line, fiber and wireless broadband solutions," Martin said in his prepared statement.

"Moreover, BPL has unique advantages for home networking because consumers can simply plug a device into their existing electrical outlets to achieve broadband connectivity," he said.

Martin was joined in his hopeful comments by other commissioners. Commissioner Michael Copps said that the United States was already behind the game in the adoption of broadband, and he said that BPL might help solve the problem.

"You know something is wrong when the best-case scenario is that a consumer has a choice between two broadband connections, both of which are more expensive and considerably slower than what consumers in other industrialized nations enjoy," Copps said in his statement.

"If you want a quantitative sense of how bad things have gotten," Copps added, "consider this: Last year, the ITU (International Telecommunications Union) listed us at 16th in the world in broadband penetration. Using the ITU's newer and more sophisticated Digital Opportunity Index, your country and mine is now ranked 21st in the world."
Copps also said the Congressional Research Service has said the broadband market is three times as concentrated as what the Department of Justice allows. "And this is not just some run of the mill product like a toaster or a lawnmower—it is the data pipe over which all future communications will run," he said.

Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate said the commission struggled to balance protection of existing users of the wireless spectrum, and encouraging new services to grow.

"BPL is another regulatory question requiring us to balance regulatory humility with our oversight responsibilities," Tate said. "The FCC has and will continue to struggle with finding an appropriate balance between regulation to mitigate potential negative 'side effects' that accompany BPL and a hands-off approach that gives BPL the room it needs to develop in a free market."

In another action, the FCC adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that seeks comments on the rules for wireless licenses in the 700MHz band. The FCC plans to auction portions of this band in February, 2008.

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BROADBAND over POWER LINES: new 200 Mbps Technology !!!

U.S. Broadband Power Line 2006 Conference in Charlotte, NC featuring Duke Energy`s Broadband 0ver Power Line !!!

============================
Broadband Power Line 2006
September 17-20, 2006
Omni Charlotte
Charlotte, NC
=======================

Ambient Corp.is the Platinum Premier Event Sponsor !!!

Special Address – Investors’ Perspective
For a broader view, we’ve invited a leading Wall Street BPL analyst to discuss what Wall Street and shareholders expect when it comes to BPL and utilities..

Judy Warrick
Senior Advisor, Morgan Stanley **INVITED
=======================

Sept. 18, 2006

8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Broadband Power Line 2006
Demo Hall Open

See it live! This is a chance to see what all the BPL vendors on the floor have to offer. Sprinkled throughout the day will be 10 minute presentations by each of the vendors on the floor highlighting their products and services – what they have available now and what they have plans to include. What better way to prepare for Tuesday’s educational program than to see where the industry is headed based on what the industries vendors have available?

12:30-1:30 p.m. Networking Lunch in the Demo Hall
2:00-5:00 p.m. BPL Site Visit – Duke Power

Duke is one of the largest and oldest BPL deployments in the country. Their deployment includes several vendors’ equipment as part of the demonstration. They are deploying BPL for a variety of commercial and utility applications, and have a team of personnel devoted to implementing BPL throughout the company’s operations. This site visit truly will offer a different take on BPL than any other tour you might have taken before.

Read more: UPLC Broadband Power Line 2006

read: Previous articles:
DUKE ENERGY selects AMBIENT/DS2 G2 200Mbps BPL gears in N. Carolina !!!

DS2 BROADBAND over POWER LINES: new 200 Mbps Technology !!!

Ambient Corp. BROADBAND over POWER LINES new 200 Mbps Technology gear based on DS2 CHIPSETS !!!

Ambient Corp. comments on FCC Adoption Opinion and Order on BPL

Ambient Corporation would like to share with you the favorable outcome of today’s Federal Communications Commission (FCC) meeting. Please find below the FCC’s press release on the reconsideration of its October 2004 BPL Rule and Order.

Specifically, the FCC’s action generally affirmed its rules for Access Broadband over Power Line (Access BPL) systems, which helps in eliminating the regulatory uncertainty created by the various requests for reconsideration. It also affirms its rules regarding emission limits for BPL, including its determination that the reduction of emissions to 20 dB below the normal Part 15 emissions limits will constitute adequate interference protection for mobile operations and denies the request by the amateur radio community to prohibit BPL operations pending further study and to exclude BPL from frequencies used for amateur radio operations.

Ambient is pleased with the most recent FCC decision, especially the denial of the amateur radio community’s specific request.

We also thank you for your continued support of our Company.

Best regards,
John J. Joyce
President and CEO


BROADBAND over POWER LINES: new 200 Mbps Technology !!!

FCC ADOPTS MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER ON BROADBAND OVER POWER LINES TO PROMOTE BROADBAND SERVICE TO ALL AMERICANS !!!

FCC ADOPTS MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER ON BROADBAND OVER POWER LINES TO PROMOTE BROADBAND SERVICE TO ALL AMERICANS
August 3, 2006

Washington, DC - As part of its ongoing efforts to promote access to broadband services for all Americans and to encourage new facilities based broadband platforms, the Federal Communications Commission today generally affirmed its rules for Access Broadband over Power Line (Access BPL) systems while maintaining safeguards against harmful interference to existing radio services. If harmful interference does occur, the Commission will take appropriate action to remedy the situation. Today’s decision was adopted in response to a number of petitions for reconsideration of the BPL rules established in October of 2004.
In the Memorandum Opinion and Order (MO&O) adopted today, the Commission again acknowledged the significant benefits of Access BPL, reaffirmed its commitment to address interference issues, and reemphasized that the Part 15 rule changes were made to ensure that Access BPL operations do not become a source of interference to licensed radio services.

Specifically, the MO&O by the Commission:
- Affirms its rules regarding emission limits for BPL, including its determination that the reduction of emissions to 20 dB below the normal Part 15 emissions limits will constitute adequate interference protection for mobile operations;
- Denies the request by the amateur radio community to prohibit BPL operations pending further study and to exclude BPL from frequencies used for amateur radio operations;
- Denies the request by the television industry to exclude BPL from frequencies above 50 MHz;
- Affirms the July 7, 2006 deadline for requiring certification for any equipment manufactured, imported or installed on BPL systems, with the proviso that uncertified equipment already in inventory can be used for replacing defective units or to supplement equipment on existing systems for one year within areas already in operation;
- Affirms the requirement that information regarding BPL deployment must be provided in a public database at least 30 days prior to the deployment of that equipment;
- Adopts changes regarding protection of radio astronomy stations by requiring a new exclusion zone and amending consultation requirements for these stations; and
- Adopts changes to provide for continuing protection for aeronautical stations that are relocated.
- Denies the request by the aeronautical industry to exclude BPL operating on low-voltage lines from frequencies reserved for certain aeronautical operations;
- Denies the request by the gas and petroleum industry to be considered as public safety entities;

Action by the Commission, August 3, 2006, by Memorandum Opinion and Order (FCC 06-113). Chairman Martin, Commissioners Copps, Adelstein, Tate and McDowell. Separate statements issued by Chairman Martin, Commissioners Copps, Tate, and McDowell.

ET Docket No. 04-37 and 03-104.

Office of Engineering and Technology Contact: Bruce Romano (202) 418-2124; Anh Wride (202) 418-0577.


Please reference the FCC’s website at www.fcc.gov

STATEMENT OF
CHAIRMAN KEVIN J. MARTIN
Re: Amendment of Part 15 regarding new requirements and measurement guidelines for
Access Broadband over Power Line Systems; Carrier Current Systems, including
Broadband over Power Line Systems

In this item, we build upon our previous efforts to facilitate deployment of broadband
over power line (BPL) systems while protecting existing spectrum users from harmful
interference. It is my hope that our rules will allow BPL systems to flourish. This technology
holds great promise as a ubiquitous broadband solution that would offer a viable alternative to
cable, digital subscriber line, fiber, and wireless broadband solutions. Moreover, BPL has unique
advantages for home networking because consumers can simply plug a device into their existing
electrical outlets to achieve broadband connectivity. Promoting the deployment of broadband
continues to be one of our top priorities and today’s action is another step towards reaching that
goal.

STATEMENT OF
COMMISSIONER MICHAEL J. COPPS

We all have high hopes for Broadband over Power Line and I think we would all
like to see some non-duopoly pipes bringing broadband access to, particularly, hard-toreach
Americans. We are behind the game in putting high-speed, high value bandwidth
to work for all our citizens. You know something is wrong when the best case scenario is
that a consumer has a choice between two broadband connections, both of which are
more expensive and considerably slower than what consumers in other industrialized
nations enjoy. And that’s how it works in our wealthy metropolitan areas. Over much of
the rest of America, it just gets worse. Customers in rural, and even some urban, areas
often cannot get a broadband connection at all. Or their only option is so expensive as to
be unattainable as a practical matter.
If you want a quantitative sense of how bad things have gotten, consider this:
Last year, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) listed us at 16th in the
world in broadband penetration. Using the ITU’s newer and more sophisticated Digital
Opportunity Index, your country and mine is now ranked 21st in the world.
The reason we’re so far behind, of course, is that – in the words of the
Congressional Research Service – our residential broadband market is a flat out “cable
and telephone duopoly.” Indeed, this market has an HHI index of roughly 5,500 to 5,800
– well over three times what the Department of Justice considers “highly concentrated.”
And this is not just some run of the mill product like a toaster or a lawnmower – it is the
data pipe over which all future communications will run.
I recount these alarming statistics just to emphasize how important it is for this
Commission to take every step within our power to encourage new broadband
competitors. And that brings us to this item. Along with wireless technologies,
Broadband over Power Line is a credible candidate for a “third pipe” that could bring
meaningful competition to this market. Accordingly, I am pleased that we take steps
today to resolve certain questions about BPL and radio interference. The BPL industry
needs regulatory certainty from us, and I believe today’s item helps provide some
certainty—although important policy questions remain to be tackled and need to be
tackled.
Even as we seek to encourage BPL – as I stated when we issued our initial order
two years ago – we must also ensure that its providers protect existing spectrum users
from interference. This applies with special force to amateur radio operators whose skills
and dedication once again proved so valuable in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Amateur radio serves the public interest in so many ways that we must be always mindful
of its needs. I believe today’s Order strikes an acceptable balance between protecting
existing users and providing BPL an environment conducive to innovation and to getting
on with the job of deployment. But we should be ever alive to the reality that the
unexpected often happens and unforeseen consequences are as often the rule as they are
the exception. That’s why the Commission must be available and positioned to respond
to interference complaints with alacrity. Amateur operators shouldn’t have to wait for
months to get complaints resolved—they deserve better.
So I want to thank the Chairman and my fellow Commissioners for including
language in today’s item reaffirming the Commission’s commitment to providing
amateur radio users with assurances of expeditious relief when they are subject to
impermissible interference. When we ask multiple users to share the same spectrum, that
old line about justice delayed being justice denied is especially apt. For that reason, this
Commission must monitor, investigate, and act quickly to make sure that the rules we
reaffirm today are being observed out in the field. If for any reason these procedures
prove inadequate, I, for one, will be back asking for more.
Thanks to the Bureau for working through these difficult issues and for bringing
this item to us today. I am pleased to support it.
====

Breaking News: FCC Votes To Promote BROADBAND over POWER LINES

FCC Votes To Promote Broadband Power
By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable,
8/3/2006 9:58:00 AM

The FCC Thursday unanimously approved tweaks to its rules intended to spur the rollout of broadband over power lines (BPL).


Currently there are about 50 BPL operations in the development or testing stage.


The commission denied broadcasters' request to limit BPL's power to below 50 mHz during the transition to digital, and amateur radio operators' request for various limitations until the FCC gets a better handle on potential interference to their service.

FCC Commissioner Michael Copps said he was glad to see "nonduopoly pipes delivering broadband," referring to the current choice between cable and telephone braodband for the vast majority of households.

Pulled from the agenda of the FCC's Thursday public meeting was classifying BPL as an information service.


New Commissioner Robert McDowell said he hoped the new rule changes would help "drive down prices and foster innovative technologies."

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin pointed out that four of the five commissioners had been on a field trip to see PBL in action and said it was critical to spur the technology.

While the FCC is setting new technical standards for BPL, it grandfathered for one year existing technology for supplementing existing systems or replacing defective equipment.


BROADBAND over POWER LINES: new 200 Mbps Technology !!!

Australia: 200 mbps BROADBAND over underground POWER LINES technology to compete with Cable and DSL !!!

Regional NSW BPL pilot to smash city broadband speeds
Howard Dahdah, PC World

31/07/2006 15:17:01

Country Energy (CE) is expected to supply the first commercial Broadband over Power line service in NSW in the latter half of the year. This means Internet surfers in regional NSW will, for the first time, have access to speeds that smash what is available to most users in the city.

The NSW-based power distribution provider has been working for over four years on bringing the service to fruition. The CE Executive will meet in August to consider the business case of the service.

"If it is approved we will commence a commercial pilot in Q4," said Geoff Fietz, manager of telecommunications enterprises at Country Energy.

Despite still needing management approval, Fietz was quietly confident the commercial pilot will proceed.

The utility has already been trialling BPL since November 2004 in Queanbeyan, near Canberra. That trial started with a 45Mbps service from hardware supplier Mitsubishi, but has since gone on to incorporate Mitsubishi's latest 200Mbps chip, which is now the standard speed offered by BPL providers worldwide.

Although logically the pilot points to Queanbeyan, Fietz remained tight-lipped about which part of NSW will receive the commercial service. He did say the pilot will cover a section of a regional town, passing about 300 houses.

"We feel 300 is a respectable number and will give us a good base to work from."

He also said the pilot will be provided in an area which already offers DSL. "We are going head-to-head against DSL. We feel we need to indicate that BPL can stand on its own."

A number of consumer plans will be offered, but Fietz did not provide specific details.

Unlike ADSL, the technical specifications of BPL provides for symmetric speeds, allowing users to benefit from the same upload speeds as download. The plans will most likely start at 10Mbps. However, the system can reach a theoretical maximum speed of 200Mbps.

Although BPL is very much a nascent technology in the country, this 200Mbps speed is significantly faster than what is offered by current cable or DSL providers.

According to the ACCC the majority of Australian broadband users are accessing broadband via ADSL technology which offers a maximum 1.5Mbps download limit. ADSL2+ presently offered by a handful of ISPs, does offer a maximum 24Mbps download with 1Mbps upstream. A drawback to ADSL2+ is that it's technically only available to residents that live within 1km of their exchange. Meanwhile, Optus' cable plans offer peak download speed of 9.9Mbps and upload speeds of 256Kbps.

Apart from fast speeds, Country Energy will also offer customers VoIP from two different suppliers. A video on demand service is also on the table.

To receive the service customers need to buy a BPL modem which plugs into a power point. PCs connect to the modems either via Ethernet or USB ports.

From the modem, the signal is then sent to a metering device that is housed in the mains power box attached to the outside of the house. After it leaves the home, the signal passes along the low voltage (LV) powerlines, going through repeaters every 400 metres or so, and then ending up at the Head End, which is the box containing the 200Mbps Mitsubishi or Schneider equipment. This equipment then connects to a fibre pipe which ultimately leads into the telecommunications network and to the Internet.

The service will be delivered underground, rather than above ground power lines. A drawback of BPL is that it emits noise that can interfere with high frequency signals used by amateur radio operators, of which there are 14,000 around Australia. The level of interference is significantly weaker when transmitted on underground cables as the ground absorbs most of this noise.

Fietz said the pilot will incorporate equipment from Mitsubishi and Schneider Electric. Both vendors have played an active role in Australia's BPL deployments and trials to date.


Long time coming
Country Energy's exploration of BPL technology commenced in 2001 largely through the interest that was already shown by Great Southern Energy, one of the three state-owned energy providers that were merged to form the power entity.

Country Energy commissioned independent telecommunications consulting company, Gibson Quai in 2002 to conduct a report about the viability of the service. The consultant's conclusion was that BPL represented "a good opportunity for Country Energy to add value to the existing infrastructure and to provide new services to its customers."

Following this, a BPL Business Development Plan was approved by the Country Energy Executive in May 2002 and set out a three-phase exploration process: Bench testing, Grid testing and Commercial pilot.

Subsequent reports and investigations have followed. To deal with the radio interference caused by BPL, Fietz said Country Energy brought out an expert from the Open University at Manchester, to conduct research.

Most recently in October, Rothcorp Research was hired to conduct telephone interviews across various regional centres asking them a series of questions relating to BPL technology. All up, 100 small businesses and 308 households were surveyed.

"A lot of work has needed to be done to develop the technology in-house. We have meandered through it, but always in a detailed way," he said.

Country Energy's reach is massive. The group came into being after the July 2001 merger of three state-owned energy providers: NorthPower in Port Macquarie, Advanced Energy in Bathurst, and Great Southern Energy in Queanbeyan. Broken Hill's Australia Inland Energy joined in July 2005. Geographically its grid covers 90 per cent of NSW - excluding Sydney, the Hunter region and the Southern Highlands - and includes 190,000km of power lines.

Juergen Bender, an international expert on BPL and one of the people responsible for the first ever BPL trial in Germany a decade ago, stressed that BPL is not a solution for all things.

"It will always be a niche technology," he said.

Wherever cable or DSL are seen as the incumbent broadband access technologies, BPL will find it tough to compete, he said.

=============
BROADBAND over POWER LINES: new 200 Mbps Technology !!!

The Latest Buzz on BROADBAND over POWER LINES !!

The Latest Buzz on Powerline
08/01/2006

By Meg McGinity

It’s been talked about and promised for years, yet the market for it never seems to materialize. But sporadic voices in the occasional booths and panels around GLOBALCOMM earlier this summer were proclaiming enthusiastically the promise — and growing presence — of broadband to and through the home via power lines.

While many chip makers, device manufacturers and some innovative service providers have been champing at the bit to leverage the electric infrastructure so prevalent in many countries, utilities for the most part have been reticent to jump into or partner with the broadband and networking business. One of the things holding back the progression of tapping into power lines for in-home networking has been the conservative nature of the utility companies that own the assets, say executives. “Utilities have been slow to grasp this,” says Chano Gomez, vice president of technology and strategic partnerships at DS2 (Design of Systems on Silicon), which supplies high-speed powerline chips to device makers such as NETGEAR. “They are waiting for the pioneers.”

Those pioneers smell a market. That’s because as service providers continue to invest in network upgrades that promise faster connections to the home, they are faced with the quagmire of how to distribute that fat pipe throughout the residence. “The problem providers have is they know how to bring broadband to the home, but they can’t distribute the signals inside,” says Gomez.

The more appliances in the home that can access more applications, the more a service provider could recoup in added revenue. That’s where using powerline technology as a means for trafficking content throughout the home comes in.


CURRENT Communications’ Jim Dondero
On paper, using power lines as a means for distributing traffic throughout a residence is a no-brainer. For one, electric lines are prevalent in nearly every home, so there would be no install required or disruption to a customer, or big investment by a carrier for equipment. It’s getting more economical, too, say executives. Today, adding the powerline communication capability chip to a home gateway device adds about $25, but by year’s end, with bigger volumes being produced, that cost will drop to about $15, estimates Gomez.

While only tech-savvy consumers at this point would know enough to buy the equipment in stores, standards and trade groups, like HomePlug Powerline Alliance, are pushing to make such equipment more robust and interoperable. One challenge, executives say, is dispelling the “quirky” label with which home-plug networking has been labored. One contributing factor is the possible interference from HAM or CB radio communications, say experts, that could decrease the reliability of the transmissions. Another potential problem for the powerline advocates is the difficulty in ensuring the quality of the electric wiring inside the home.

Other technologies aimed at home networking also have their strengths and vulnerabilities. For instance, wireless technology, which has gained momentum in modems for its portability factor, can have reliability, interference and security problems. Consumers have been buying their own access points for the home and stringing them together to create a network, much to the chagrin of providers, say industry executives. “Wireless in the home is a service provider’s worst nightmare,” says Tom Wendt, founder of Optical Entertainment Network. “We are finding consumers say ‘come fix that for me.’”

Coax is another transport option, as championed by companies like Entropic Communications Inc. The company’s network processor, c.Link, threads together devices using coax. Coax is abundant in homes and easy to work with and has the backing of organizations like MoCA (The Multimedia over Coax Alliance), but the physical wiring and drilling through walls for installation is not aesthetically ideal to consumers.

Gomez says the market outside the United States for powerline technology is gaining traction at a faster pace. Telefonica S.A., he says, already is using power lines for IPTV distribution within the home. European providers are eyeing it for gaming applications, linking one box to another.

Still, the powerline technology and movement has its skeptics. Some device vendors say that while they are testing it as a means for networking in their labs, the jury is out on the technology. “RBOCs want wireless,” says Frank Galuppo, CEO at Amedia Networks Inc.

But even if skeptics are right and powerline technology ends up being the best solution only for the “odd room out” — like the kitchen that doesn’t have coax or the porch that can’t get strong wireless reception — rather than the whole home, that slice of the networking market could be enough to power up the powerline industry.

Of course, powerline technology is also a form of broadband access in the loop. This commonly is referred to as Broadband over Power Line (BPL) technology. And the most high-profile company pushing ahead BPL is probably CURRENT Communications Services LLC, which counts as investors such marquee names as Google and Liberty Media.

CURRENT Communications has partnered with utilities to use the electrical grid as means for broadband delivery to the home. Once the network passes a home, the customer can plug the provided modem into the outlet, connect the appliance and get high-speed access. Using the powerline infrastructure also will enable CURRENT and the partnering utility to offer security services like home surveillance, or telemetric applications, like automatic meter reading.

CURRENT has passed 50,000 homes in Cincinnati, and although the company won’t discuss subscriber numbers there, Jim Dondero, vice president of marketing at CURRENT, says 55 percent of CURRENT’s customers have switched over from DSL and cable.

As announced last year, the company also is working with Texas energy utility TXU, with plans to turn on service by year’s end.

CURRENT plans to pass 2 million homes within the next few years, Dondero says.


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BROADBAND over POWER LINES: new 200 Mbps Technology !!!

Australia: SP AusNet, Victoria's biggest energy transmission and distribution utility, is conducting a Broadband over Power lines trial !!!

You Beauty! Victorians to get free broadband as part of trial
Howard Dahdah, PC World

01/08/2006 15:48:03

Fifty lucky residents in the Victorian alpine town of Mt Beauty will get access to free broadband as part of a trial by SP AusNet to test the viability of delivering Internet over power lines.

SP AusNet, Victoria's biggest energy transmission and distribution utility, is conducting a Broadband over Power lines information meeting tonight at the Mt Beauty Neighbourhood Centre. Following a presentation, interested residents will be asked to nominate themselves for a trial of the service.

However, not everyone from Mt Beauty can participate in the trial: it is restricted to residents who live on eight streets in the town: Lakeside Avenue, Nelse St, Roper Street, Valley Avenue, McKay Street, Freeburgh Street, Simmonds Street and Wermatong Avenue, said Cory Parfett, communications adviser at SP AusNet.

Although it is still to be confirmed, SP AusNet is expected to be delivering a minimum of 5Mbps download/upload speeds to each location.

The trial is expected to begin in September and those who will be selected will receive free and unlimited broadband; dedicated e-mail addresses; an iLevo SmartBPL Modem incorporating separate ports for Internet, USB and VoIP; and any necessary external equipment including installation if required.

A Video on Demand to some of the locations is also expected, in which case the residents will need a set-top box that connects to the SmartBPL modem.

The trial is expected to last six months.

"We want them to use the service as much as possible and we will assess them through that period," Parfett said.

The utility is partnering with Schneider Electric which is providing all components of the BPL network. This includes the Head End, Repeaters, Couplers and related items such as specific cables and connectors.

According to Gavin de Livera, strategic business development manager at Schneider Electric, the trial will run over overhead power lines and SP AusNet have undertaken to carry out interference tests - a side-effect of BPL transmission -- before and after the head ends have been installed.

David Mclennan, project manager for the Mt Beauty deployment said the area was ideal for the tests as it is situated in a valley. "This gives us a clear [test] site for interference - there is very little background noise in a valley," he said.

Strong noise level become a concern as they can interfere in HF signals which are used by amateur radio operators.

In addition, Mt Beauty, which is situated in Victoria's north-east and about 30kms from Falls Creek, is an ideal location due to its proximity to its existing fibre telecommunications network linking the township to Melbourne.

SP AusNet joins a number of utilities such as NSW's Country Energy and Tasmania's Aurora Energy currently trialling BPL. Country Energy said this week it is also expected to launch a BPL pilot later this year.



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BROADBAND over POWER LINES: new 200 Mbps Technology !!!