The Evolution Of Broadband: Broadband Over Power Lines Takes Another Step Forward !!!

October 6, 2006 • Vol.28 Issue 40
Page(s) 30 in print issue

The Evolution Of Broadband
Broadband Over Power Lines Takes Another Step Forward

Broadband over power lines, or BPL, took one step closer to reality with a recent Memorandum Opinion And Order from the FCC (Federal Communications Commission). But while clearance has been given for operators to offer services, don’t expect to be able to plug into your wall socket and get Internet service any time soon. FCC-approved commercial equipment is just now beginning to become available, so it will be a while before any large-scale deployments roll out.

Several energy companies plan on implementing BPL to improve their overall service reliability. According to Tom Shiel, spokesperson for Duke Energy, “Duke Energy will be using BPL to make our electrical distribution more efficient and reliable through better monitoring down to the transformer level. We expect to take advantage of the two-way communication the smart grid will provide by implementing other applications as we go forward.”

Duke Energy has also been part of several Internet trials around southern Charlotte, N.C. The first test in 2004 involved 500 to 700 homes, while a more recent trial includes up to 6,000 homes using equipment provided by BPL design, development, and marketing firm Ambient (www.ambientcorp.com). This test will help demonstrate the scalability of the technology while measuring reliability.

The Other Side

One of the biggest concerns about BPL is the potential interference with some forms of communication. Amateur radio could potentially experience the most interference due to the unshielded wires used to transmit power over long distances. Because of this, the Amateur Radio Relay League was one of the most vocal opponents to approval of the technology during the FCC’s comment period before issuing the memorandum.

FCC part 15 regulates unlicensed RF devices and will be the specific controlling document with respect to each BPL deployment. The biggest concern of the amateur radio operators is that this won’t be enforced to the level necessary to prevent disruption of their communications.

Moving Forward

The United Power Line Council is an organization with the stated goal of “driving the development of broadband over power line solutions for electric utilities and their partners.” A recently released UTC (United Telecom Council) study titled “Opportunities for Electric Utilities: Broadband over Power Line” listed a number of factors pertinent to BPL and its deployment:

• Smart grid automation and intelligent grid projects will help to demonstrate the viability and usefulness of BPL

• BPL use for in-building networks will increase

• BPL for home networking of communications, computing, and entertainment systems will become available

• BPL as a solution for rural Internet access

Several vendors are providing BPL equipment for testing and early deployment.

CURRENT Communications Group (www.currentgroup.com) has received a number of investments during the past year. It has partnered with several energy companies in early demonstration efforts, including TXU Electric Delivery in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and Duke Energy (formerly Cinergy) in Cincinnati.

Ambient has participated in a number of demonstrations in partnership with Consolidated Edison in New York and Duke Energy in Charlotte. In September, Ambient received a grant of BPL Equipment Authorization from the FCC for its second-generation communication node, also called the X2. This approval allows Ambient to market and install its latest equipment to commercial customers.

With FCC approval should come more real deployments. As the equipment makes its way to the field, the questions of scalability and reliability should be answered. Power companies will be the biggest initial users, as they strive to cut costs and improve their services. Right behind them should be some of the other services mentioned in the UTC study.

by Paul Ferrill Jr.



Companies Offering Broadband Over Power Lines

Company URL Available Products
Ambient www.ambientcorp.com Smart grid; BPL (broadband over power lines)
Arkados www.arkados.com Whole house connectivity
BPL Global www.bplglobal.net Smart grid; BPL
CURRENT Communications Group www.currentgroup.com Smart grid; BPL
Telkonet www.telkonet.com Multidwelling BPL