The Japanese government announced its plans to enable high-speed Internet access via existing power lines instead of telephone or cable TV lines.

• The Japanese government through its Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications announced its plans to enable high-speed Internet access via existing power lines instead of telephone or cable TV lines.

The ministry said it will revise a ministry regulation and start accepting applications for the Internet access known as power line communications within this year. The Radio Regulatory Council recommended the lifting of a current ban on power line communications. In the planned service, power lines at home will be used as a local area network by attaching special modems to power outlets. The system is expected to be capable of transmitting information at a speed equal to that of data communications via fiber optics. Manufacturers of electric appliances, electric power companies and telecom operators have shown strong interest in developing the technology as it enables easy high-speed Internet access as well as remote-control of electric appliances at home via personal computers outside the home. Many amateur and professional radio operators, however, are opposed to lifting the ban on power line communications, as there is a possibility that they may leak radio waves and disrupt existing radio communications.