3rd Powerline Communications World Asia 2007

Optimising "smart grid" with high-tech utility automation, monitoring and controls and enabling a new world of profitable voice, video and data applications with PLC for home and business
7-8 March 2007. Harbour Plaza Hotel. Hong Kong

“In 2005, worldwide unit shipments of broadband powerline equipment surpassed 2 million, and the market has reached an inflection point this year that points only upward. Worldwide annual shipments for broadband powerline equipment will exceed 200% growth in 2006.” ~ In-Stat, Aug2006

Broadband over Power Lines, also known as the "third wire" for delivering broadband communications to users, has been gaining traction on a global basis. BPL has been hampered by concerns over interference and the lack of standards necessary to drive it forward. However, recent movements by various global standards bodies promises to boost the market and questions of BPL-caused RF interference are being resolved satisfactorily. Since, more than 100 trials in 40 different countries worldwide have confirmed the viability of BPL technology that’s building momentum.

Broadband powerline networking, a wired technology that does not require new cabling to be installed, is poised to emerge as a winner in the residential networking interface race on a worldwide basis, reports In-Stat. Powerline networking has advantages over coax and twisted-pair cabling for in-home deployment. This is especially true in regions with few existing coax or phone jacks, such as in EMEA, Asia, and Pacific Rim countries, the high-tech market research firm says. The competing wired technologies, coax and twisted pair, that also do not require new wires will end up sharing the market in some areas. Some service providers fully expect to use multiple technologies and mediums that will co-exist in their in-home deployments, as long as each medium meets the operators' service quality and cost objectives. BPL has the general blessing of governments and a reservoir of underdeveloped markets in eastern Europe, China , India and other regions lacking a well-developed communications infrastructure.

Broadband Powerline Networking Asia 2007, is the ONLY event in Asia , in its 3rd year running, to provide the latest PLC market updates, business opportunities, technology development, services and applications. Drawing upon both regional and international expertise with practical case studies and results of current trials, this congress will once again be the meeting place for PLC players to gather and network on how to commercialise PLC technology towards profitable business models and applications.

DS2 announces flicker-free High Definition (HD) IPTV home video streaming via Power Line

DS2 announces flicker-free High Definition (HD) IPTV home video streaming


High performance 'UPA Plugtested' products to hit international market
Chano Gomez announces major advance in Powerline Networking, IPTV Conference 2007 San Jose, 27th February


Click here to see UPA 'Plugtested' seal

Valencia, 26 February, 2007 - DS2, the world's leading Powerline Chipset provider, will announce that the development of Universal Powerline Association (UPA) technology has reached the point where it is now the dominant provider for the home networking needs of the IPTV industry. The advance has been made possible by the UPA Digital Home Standard compliant DS2 200Mbps chip that powers IPTV Powerline applications. It makes available a new range of high performance products that allow international users to watch flicker-free High Definition (HD) home video streaming via standard wall sockets.

Chano Gomez, DS2's Vice President for Technology and Strategic Partnerships, will deliver a speech at the IPTV 2007 Conference that shows why key European IPTV operators have invested in the UPA 200Mbps DS2 chip for commercial roll-outs, and how this model is applicable around the world. IPTV providers in Belgium, France, Italy, Spain and Sweden already use UPA technology because of its speed, reliability and all-round performance. The UPA also has a range of application partners that provide Powerline solutions to consumers around the world. Netgear and D-Link, worldwide providers of technologically advanced network products, use UPA technology in products to enable video and gaming content to be used throughout the home.

"As the options for home entertainment grow, image quality and ease of delivery will become the key drivers for consumers," commented Chano Gomez, Vice President for Technology and Strategic Partnerships, DS2. "This means that the technology powering IPTV and other Powerline networking products becomes more important. It has to be powerful, resilient, and inter-operable and there must be commercial confidence in it, otherwise consumers won't be able to get what they want from their applications. At the Conference I will discuss these issues in more detail, which will kick-off a time of rapid proliferation of the UPA Powerline Networking technology."

There are three key areas for Powerline Networking technology and home networking, all of which significantly impact the end-user experience as well as the ability of service providers to deliver a broad range of products and service offers:

Consumers demand flicker-free images
HDTV needs much greater bandwidth and quality than standard video streams, which makes it important to have a powerful standard supporting the Powerline applications. Low performance technology can result in flickering images, or a complete breakdown in streaming. The UPA 200Mbps technology enables room-to-room HD streaming, which gives operators a high performance and quality service at a reasonable cost, and gives users the best entertainment experience when and where they want it.

'UPA Plugtested' Label ensures compatibility for all home applications
The UPA Digital Home Standard is the global standard for Powerline Networking and Communications, and applications that adhere to this are stamped with the "UPA Plugtested" mark. Without this, the system may not be fully backwards compatible or future-proof. Leading IPTV operators and Consumer Electronics companies worldwide choose UPA as the preferred solution for Home Networking over Powerlines.

Robust and proven technology comes with a pedigree
There are technology providers that have been in the market since it began and some that have been attracted to the growth. During 2006, UPA shipped over one million HD-ready 200Mbps chips to manufacturers of Powerline applications, which shows a rise in the number of manufacturers investing in the industry, and as it grows, we will see this trend develop. Those companies that use 200Mbps chips in their products have done much work in the market to develop and offer high specification UPA certified products. This investment guarantees performance, interoperability, simplicity and reliability of products.

About DS2

DS2 is the world's leading supplier of the 200 Mbps technology that enables home networking and broadband access over power line, coaxial cable, and telephone wire. DS2 pioneered the industry with the introduction of its 200 Mbps chipsets, creating the fastest and highest performance solution for simultaneous data, digital audio and high-definition video transmission. Two pre-eminent industry groups, the Universal Powerline Association (UPA) and the European Union consortium OPERA (Open PLC European Research Alliance) have adopted DS2 technology in support of multi-vendor standard certified product. For more information, please visit
www.ds2.es

VoX Teams With Guinepp(TM) Inc. to Deliver Digital Phone Service Over Power Lines

Using VoX's Private Label VoIP Solution, Guinepp(TM) Inc. Brings Broadband Voice Alternatives to Business and Residential Customers
CELEBRATION, FL -- (MARKET WIRE) -- February 26, 2007 -- VoX Communications Corp., eLEC Communications Corp.'s (OTCBB: ELEC) wholesale and retail provider of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services nationwide, today announced a wholesale agreement with Canadian broadband service provider, Guinepp™ Inc.

Guinepp Inc. will private label VoX VoIP services under its CityvoiceTEL™ Brand to complement its existing high-speed Internet services, which include DSL and cable, as well as its new Broadband over Power Line (BPL) offering. Guinepp™ is pioneering the use of BPL in the U.S. and Canada to deliver a triple play solution consisting of high-speed Internet, video and VoIP telephone services.

Before selecting VoX, Guinepp™ Inc. worked with several other VoIP providers who promised to meet their requirements. VoX was the first to deliver on all counts and Guinepp™ Inc., through its CityvoiceTEL™ brand and wholly owned subsidiary is offering VoX's VoIP services for telephone calls over power lines.

"VoX has proved time and time again that they've got their act together," said Roy Dell, CTO and VP Business Development at Guinepp™ Systems. "We tested the product with various BPL customers and they couldn't believe they were using a VoIP service -- all have said that they will sign up for the offering. We even tested VoX with a point-to-point wireless network and experienced exceptional quality. VoX has demonstrated quality and service capabilities that we could not find from other VoIP providers."

Guinepp's BPL technology is currently available in areas of Canada and in Central and South Florida, using existing electrical distribution lines (available in the home, business or enterprise) and coaxial infrastructures to create a communication network that reaches more people and places, in less time and at lower cost within their service areas. The Guinepp™ BPL adapter self-provisions when plugged into any electrical outlet, to deliver broadband Internet connectivity with very high upstream and downstream speeds at a price comparable to or lower than alternative offerings. Guinepp's BPL adapter can be moved anywhere in the home or office for instant Internet, video or digital phone capabilities.

Guinepp™ Inc. will market its Broadband, VoIP and Video services through resellers or distributors and through Guinepp's own CityvoiceTEL™ retail stores. The company is opening three new CityvoiceTEL™ stores in Florida and three in Toronto, where they will sell their services and equipment, including the private labeled VoX solution. Guinepp's initial order for 1,050 VoX adaptors and wi-fi phones, many of which are pre-sold, will be used for initial stocking in their retail stores and for delivery to customers.

"Guinepp is making disruptive technologies like BPL a reality," said Mark Richards, President of VoX Communications. "The combined offering pushes the envelope on service delivery, convenience and economics. We look forward to a strong collaborative partnership."

ZDNET: "Broadband over powerline technology may be coming to your home, but first electric companies need to read your meter in real time."

February 23rd, 2007
Broadband over powerlines: It may take awhile
Posted by Larry Dignan @ 9:13 am

Broadband over powerline technology may be coming to your home, but first electric companies need to read your meter in real time.

That's the takeaway from a roundtable that focused Current Communications, a startup that is selling electric utilities on the need for better grid monitoring and management and software and broadband over powerline technology. Current sells the technology and gear (below) utilities can use to offer broadband. Internet access over the power grid allows you to plug in anywhere there is an electric outlet. Download and upload speeds are also symmetrical. Here's a gallery explaining how it works.

The roundtable at the Wharton Technology Conference had an executive from Current, Brendan Herron Jr., vice president of corporate development and strategy, and two investors–Richard Goldstein, managing director at Liberty Associates Partners and Scott Ungerer, managing partner at EnterTech Capital.

While the talk was focused on lessons for young startups, there were a lot of lessons about broadband over powerline technology.

Lesson 1: It's nearly impossible to sell new technologies to an industry that is risk averse and doesn't value new technologies. Current started with one big plan–enable voice and data communications over power lines. The rub: Electric companies weren't interested.

Lesson 2: Given lesson 1 you better be ready to cook up a new game plan. Current's game plan was to focus on software and services to monitor an electric grid in real-time with a system the company dubs SmartGrid. The business plan audible put Goldstein and Ungerer at odds, but it makes sense.

"Power companies are not looking to focus on broadband. That's why we launched the SmartGrid just to convince electric companies that we can help them," says Herron.

"If we didn't shift the business from broadband to SmartGrid. We would not have landed business. Who doesn't want to manage their assets better?" says Goldstein.

The catch: Convincing electric companies to take risks takes time. "You're changing their thought process over many years," says Goldstein.

Lesson 3: But don't forget the initial goal. Goldstein says that once SmartGrid is installed, utilities can offer broadband services. One large Texas power provider, TXU is starting to offer broadband services. TXU decided to invest in Current. In effect, SmartGrid is the Trojan Horse Current will use to roll out broadband services. If Current switched course too early SmartGrid and broadband services may not have hatched.

"Once we solved for the voice problem. Everything else became a subset of that technically. If say I just want to read the meter, we would have missed it," says Goldstein. "The problem is how do you get customers excited about voice over powerlines."

Lesson 4: Broadband over powerline technology needs evangelists. Current has two large customers, Duke Energy and TXU, and it will need those partners to convince other utilities to follow suit.

Lesson 5: Success is a slog. Translation: Don't expect broadband over powerlines any time soon. Current had to face regulatory hurdles and is targeting broadband services market by market, says Herron. There is no number of customers that will create a snowball effect right now although Current will need more than TXU and Duke on board.

Results so far: Current's rollout with TXU means broadband service capabilities will pass several 100,000 homes, says Herron. In Cincinnati, Current passes 54,000 homes. Goldstein argues that as long as customers don't fall in love with both cable and phone companies Current has a market. The experiment bears watching: Current raised $130 million in 2006 and counts Google, Liberty Media, Hearst and a handful of utilities as investors.

SOURCE: http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=4547

FCC: CHAIRMAN MARTIN HIGHLIGHTS BPL DURING SENATE TESTIMONY; FCC STATISTICS SHOW BPL GROWTH

FCC: CHAIRMAN MARTIN HIGHLIGHTS BPL DURING SENATE TESTIMONY; FCC STATISTICS SHOW BPL GROWTH
February 20, 2007


FCC Chairman Martin recognized BPL during his testimony before the Senate Energy and Commerce Committee early this month. Chairman Martin said that "BPL is a potentially significant player in the developing broadband world". Martin's testimony drew the ire of the ARRL, which previously had criticized the Chairman for making similar public statements supporting BPL during a speech at Georgetown University. Clearly, Chairman Martin is not backing down. In his Senate testimony, Martin explained that BPL can "more easily provide broadband to rural areas," due to power lines' ubiquitous reach; and he cited to the United Power Line Council for information on the number of deployments nationwide. (To see the updated UPLC deployment map, click here.) In a related story, the latest statistics from the FCC indicate that the number of BPL subscribers increased to 5,208 as of June 30, 2006; up from 4,571 reported for the end of 2005. Although the number of subscribers increased, BPL still is last on the list of broadband technologies in the FCC's report, far behind fixed and mobile wireless, as well as satellite and fiber.

Finally, as an additional reminder to previous articles in the UPLC PowerLine newsletter, all broadband Internet access service providers, including BPL providers, must file their CALEA System Security and Integrity Reports on March 12, 2007. For more information on CALEA and its requirements as they apply to BPL, contact the UPLC Legal/Regulatory Department.

Europe`s OPERA2 now uses Inductive Coupling along Medium Voltage Power Lines from Capacitve Coupling technology

Ambient Corp. owns Inductive coupling patents in the U.S.

European Commission has approved Euros 9.6 million funding to the Open PLC European Research Alliance (OPERA) broadband over powerline field tests !!!

EU to help fund broadband over powerline field tests

By John Walko
Courtesy of EE Times Europe
(02/21/2007 7:36 AM EST)


LONDON — The European Commission has approved Euros 9.6 million funding to the Open PLC European Research Alliance (OPERA) to aid extended field deployments based on the open specification for broadband access over powerline developed by the Alliance over the past few years.
The next phase of the project — which is supported by 26 partners covering chip suppliers such as DS2 of Spain, electricity utilities in several European countries, communications network operators, OEMs and universities — is to test deployments and monitor the use of powerline communications for applications such as high data rate broadband access, VoIP, intelligent grid services, Video over IP, and security.

The specification adopted in OPERA Phase 1 is available on the project web site .

The specification covers the PHY, MAC and equipment for broadband PLC (or Powerline Communications, as the technology is better known in Europe), and is based on DS2's 200Mbit/s technology.

The OPERA group has already received about Euros 20 million of funding to help develop the specification and the chips and equipment, as part of the EU's efforts to push the use of broadband over powerlines on the continent.

The group suggests its specification will be the only really open PLC system that ensures full interoperability for broadband access and in-building distribution systems without recourse to proprietary technologies.

It has been submitted to the powerline standardization work underway in both the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI).

However, there are other industry and standards groups looking into broadband over powerline. For instance the IEEE has also defined a new standardization program in its P1901 effort.

And the HomePlug Powerline Alliance already has defined physical-layer (PHY) and media-access control-layer (MAC) chips for the 200Mbit/second extension to the in-building networking standard, HomePlug 1.0 + AV. The alliance has recommended using the same PHY and MAC for the BPL solution.

The OPERA group, led by Spanish electricity utility Iberdrola, suggests Phase II will contribute the necessary field research to both IEEE and ETSI confirming the importance of the work undertaken in developing and validating the specification.

The OPERA specification has also been endorsed by the Universal Powerline Association (UPA), the leading Powerline Communications industry body driving the acceptance of open standards for access BPL and home networking applications over Powerline.

John Malone interested in Broadband over Powerline technology ? !!!

Click for: Dr. John C. Malone
Chairman
Liberty Media Corporation
=========================================

February 19, 2007
Shock to the System?

Broadband over power line poses no threat to cable now, but any technology that interests John Malone should not be taken lightly.
By Michael Grebb

Broadband over power line — or BPL — is one of those technologies that just wanders through the desert year after year, never really finding the promised land. After power companies blamed regulation for their lack of action, Congress eased off a few years ago. Then in October 2004, the FCC officially adopted rules allowing power companies into the broadband game. But here we are two years later, and only about 400,000 homes nationwide subscribe to BPL — mostly in rural areas without access to cable modem or DSL services.

The question for cable operators is whether or not BPL will ever become a significant competitive threat. After all, Parks Associates predicts that BPL customers will number just 2.5 million by 2011. That’s fewer than 10% of cable’s current helping of nearly 30 million broadband customers, and we can only assume an even smaller chunk of the broadband universe in five years. And let’s not forget that electric utilities have zero experience marketing new services to customers. They have much catching up to do.

Despite all this, however, cable operators would be wise to keep checking the rearview mirror — lest they be "shocked" (sorry) by new BPL developments. On the technology side, BPL primarily serves as an Internet access conduit. But with broadband video and IPTV gaining steam over the next few years, BPL operators could easily start offering a triple-play combo of Internet access, VoIP and IPTV video service over that same broadband infrastructure.

The Telecommunications Industry Association predicts that 87% of Internet connections will be broadband by 2010. At that point, cable’s triple-play market penetration could be reaching its peak based on that classic hockey-stick shaped adoption curve, which means even modest BPL gains could suck away customers and revenue from cable operators and telcos. Wall Street won’t like that. All the more reason for cable to stay focused on sticky products that make it painful for customers to defect. (How about storing user-generated content like family pictures and videos at the head-end? What customer would want to re-upload all that stuff?) Make no mistake: The technology exists for the electric utilities to peel off cable broadband subscribers one by one.

Will it happen? Well, the power industry’s lumbering nature should put cable execs at ease in the short term. But well-funded players are already plotting and scheming: Consider prominent BPL firm Current Communications Group, whose investors include not only John Malone’s Liberty Media but also Hearst, Goldman Sachs and Google. Not exactly a mom-and-pop crowd. If somebody can prove BPL has legs, there’s no telling how many business mavericks could enter the game (perhaps through private-equity buyouts). Cable should be prepared. Just in case.

Universal Powerline Association Member Companies to Ship 4 Million 200Mbps Powerline Chips In 2007

Tuesday February 20, 4:00 am ET
UPA Products Dominate Market For 200Mbps HD Quality Home Networking and BPL Access Applications


LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Universal Powerline Association (UPA) today announced the shipment of one million UPA compliant 200Mbps Powerline communications chips during 2006 and forecast sales of 4 million by end 2007. These chips provide connectivity solutions for Access Broadband over Powerline (BPL) applications and in-home simultaneous distribution of high definition (HD) video, audio and data over existing Powerlines.

Eric Morel, UPA President stated, "2006 was the year of the trail blazers in the high-speed Powerline communications market. Companies with 200 Mbps Powerline product using UPA technology have made huge financial investments in product development and certification to be ready to serve the market today with mature and stable interoperable products." Mr. Morel continued, "The 2006 chip volumes confirm that the age of UPA Powerline product has arrived. UPA members have sold proportionately more 200 Mbps chips over the last nine months than other vendors of Powerline chips that deliver Ethernet-like speeds have reportedly sold over the last six years."

The UPA forecasts that chip sales will reach four million during 2007 to support increased demand for 200 Mbps Powerline products in both the Home Networking and BPL Access markets and to support new product launches from UPA members. Today, these chips power a wide range of commercially available interoperable Powerline products. Twelve of these products have already been through the UPA certification process and carry the "UPA Plugtested" label.

As a result of increased adoption of UPA technology for high-speed Powerline applications during 2006, top tier companies serving the retail and operator markets are now opting to use UPA technology in their products. The UPA now includes three semiconductor companies. Having multiple silicon providers in the association is critical to the proliferation of the UPA's Powerline technology.

"The growing performance capabilities and reliability of Powerline communications in tandem with the worldwide ubiquity of electric outlets is now making the promise of Powerline networking a true reality," said Kurt Scherf, vice president and principal analyst with Parks Associates. "As an important supplier of Powerline networking solutions, the growth shown in UPA chipset shipments reflects a very strong outlook for Powerline-based Home Networking solutions."

About the UPA

The Universal Powerline Association (UPA) is an International not-for-profit trade association working to promote global standards and regulations in the fast developing Powerline communications market. The UPA aims to catalyze the growth of Powerline technology by delivering UPA certified products that comply with these specified standards and regulations. All products and applications designed around UPA guidelines will communicate, from simple coexistence to full interoperability. The UPA provides all Powerline players the opportunity to respond to key customer expectations with open standards, based on interoperability, security and coexistence and supported by exclusive and independent certifications, the only global guarantee of quality and confidence for high-speed power line technology available today.

Members of the UPA include: AcBel Polytech Inc., Ambient Corporation, BPL Global, Comtrend, Corinex Communications Corp., Current Technologies International, Cypress Semiconductor, D-Link, DS2, Duke Energy, Ilevo (Schneider Electric Powerline Communications), Itochu Corporation, Logitec Corporation, Netgear, Open Solutions, PCN Technology, Pirelli Broadband, Sumitomo Electric Industries, Toshiba Electronics Europe GmbH, TOYO Network Systems and Watteco.

Additional information about the UPA is available at www.upaplc.org.

Broadband Power Line Winter Conference 2007: Everything from Smart Grid to Home Networking

February 27-March 2, 2007
Red Rock Casino - Resort - Spa
Las Vegas, NV

Ram Rao is moderating the "Broadband Technology Showdown" panel and speaking on the "Smart Grid Applications" panel

Come see Ambient in Booth #5 & 6 in the Exhibit Hall

BPL Global Closes $26 Million Series C Financing Round; $5M from Morgan Stanley !!

Thursday February 15, 7:30 am ET
- Company Receives Investment by Leading Global Financial Services Firm -


PITTSBURGH, Feb. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- BPL Global(TM), Ltd., an international leader in "Smart Grid" technologies and broadband services over power lines (BPL), announced today the close of its Series C financing round with aggregate investments of $26M including $5 million from Morgan Stanley. The company plans to use the funds to accelerate development of its technology, establish strategic partnerships and market its offerings to utilities and Internet service providers (ISPs) that would benefit from Smart Grid and BPL solutions.

Smart Grid applications combine the use of software, communications and sensors to provide state of the art technology solutions that address some of the most complex challenges facing the electric utility industry -- improved grid reliability, more efficient use of electricity, lower environmental impact and increased operational efficiency and work force management. By implementing Smart Grid applications, electric utilities achieve unparalleled control of the power distribution grid and improved management of customer demand.

"BPL Global has a strong and experienced management team with a combination of global experience and entrepreneurial skills. We're pleased to join the Series C round," said Jeffrey Holzschuh, Chairman, Global Power & Utility Group, Morgan Stanley.

"We're pleased to have the strong support of our investors. They have shown significant interest in the strength of our product line and our relevance to the utility community, both from an energy efficiency, grid reliability and power line communications standpoint," said Keith Schaefer, CEO of BPL Global. "Our recent expansions into Latin America and Europe, the addition of several key management team members, the formation of several strategic partnerships and the closing of this Series C round are all strategic moves by BPL Global in recent months to construct a framework for ongoing success."

BPL Global forms joint ventures with electric utilities and ISPs, providing Smart Grid solutions for heightened reliability and efficiency of utility power grids and enabling data, voice and ultimately video broadband services over power lines for multi-occupancy buildings, businesses, government agencies and consumers. The company's integrated platform of Smart Grid applications includes demand and load management; outage management; grid monitoring and device control; as well as energy theft prevention.

BPL Global gears up for MENA regional expansion at the upcoming Middle East Electricity Conference

February 11 - 2007

BPL Global™, Ltd., part of Kuwaiti investment group Al-Deera Holding's (Listed in the Kuwait Stock Exchange) portfolio of companies, and an international leader in 'Smart Grid' technologies and broadband services over power lines (BPL), will be exhibiting at the Middle East Electricity Exhibition and Conference.
The group will be meeting with leading electric utility executives to establish new relationships for early adoption of their unparalleled Smart-Grid technologies to improve energy efficiency, increase service reliability, automate processes, reduce operating costs, improve capital productivity, introduce innovative billing and achieve bottom line savings, in the GCC and surrounding regions.

'BPL Global's expansion into to the Middle East North Africa is aligned with IFA consortiums and Al-Deera Holding's strategic vision to bring advanced technology to major infrastructure projects in the Middle East and around the world,' said Mr. Abdulwahab A. Al-Nakib, Chairman and Managing Director of Kuwait-based Al-Deera Holding Company. 'Through strategic joint ventures and partnerships with strong players in the region, BPL Global can accelerate implementation of their innovative Smart Grid solutions.'

'BPL Global's Smart Grid technology brings important advances to distribution automation,' said Mr. Khaled El-Marsafy, General Manager of Al-Deera Holding Company. 'Implementing these technologies will help utilities in the Middle East provide the quality, reliability and efficiency of power required for a digital economy.'


'The Middle East is an integral part of BPL Global's strategic growth plans and we are delighted to introduce our Smart Grid technologies and applications to the local market. Our technologies and unique applications are particularly well suited for the local environment and we are excited by the joint venture and other partnership opportunities that we seek to develop at the conference,'


added Mr. Keith Schaefer, Chief Executive Officer of BPL Global.

BPL Global is on the lookout to further form joint ventures and partnerships with utilities and Internet service providers (ISPs) within the Middle East, providing data, voice and eventually video broadband services over power lines to multi-occupancy buildings and consumers, while ensuring heightened reliability and efficiency of utility grids through Smart Grid initiatives. Smart Grid applications include demand and load management; outage management; grid monitoring and device control; as well as energy theft prevention.

DUKE ENERGY`s *Broadband over Power Lines*

Ambient Corporation (OTCBB: ABTG) has Expanded Broadband over Power Line Deployment with DUKE ENERGY (NYSE: DUK) to pass 6,000 homes.

Consumer Demand and Business Factors Will Drive Growth in the BPL Industry

DUBLIN, Ireland--(BUSINESS WIRE)----Research and Markets has announced the addition of FTTx and BPL: Analysis and Outlook to their offering.

This report analyzes market trends and significant events that will impact FTTx and BPL deployments over the next five years. It also addresses consumer and competitive pressures that will influence these methods, the economics associated with the deployment of these technologies and the opportunities FTTx and BPL provides for vendors and service providers.

"Both consumer demand and business factors will drive growth in BPL," said Chris Roden, research analyst. "On the consumer side, many rural residents don't have access to DSL or cable, but every house in the U.S. has access to power lines. This technology is often the only option for these residents to receive broadband service. On the business side, utility companies will also drive BPL's growth. BPL gives utilities more information to better manage power demand and troubleshoot line issues."

The Bottom Line is a concise, executive-level summary of the current state of the market, evolutionary path, and the implications for companies doing business in this space.

Source:
Updated:2007-01-31 12:28:22
http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c49577

Princeton, IL: Broadband over power lines will expand into full southern part of town

Princeton Internet project on track

Broadband over power lines will expand into full southern part of town
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
BY ERINN DESHINSKY
OF THE JOURNAL STAR

PRINCETON - An Internet provider in Princeton has begun its next phase providing a cutting-edge technology to a growing number of residents in the Illinois Valley community.
Princeton is one of the first cities in the nation to offer Internet users broadband over power lines (BPL), a relatively new technology allowing users to connect to the Web by simply plugging their computers into their power outlet.

By March, most Princeton residents in the southern part of town will be able to hook into the service, said Steve Brust of Connecting Point in Peru, which offers the IVNet BPL service packages.

Brust told the Princeton City Council on Monday the company will be expanding the service from the southwest quadrant, which was used as a testing area, to the full southern portion of town.

This keeps the project, started more than a year ago, on schedule to be finished later this year. IVNet and city officials have been working for about two years on bringing the new technology to Princeton.

The city-owned electric utility installed about 14 miles of fiber optic cable through the city's power grid as a backbone for the new technology. The broadband signal runs over the fiber optic lines and branches into the homes and businesses for speedy connection over the power lines.

Brust said the company's equipment has also been certified by the Federal Communications Commission regarding interference with amateur radio frequencies. Many amateur radio operators complained to the FCC the new BPL signal caused interference as it ran from the fiber optic cable over the power line to the modem. The FCC put new regulations on BPL equipment in November 2006, but Brust said Princeton's hardware has been approved.

Broadband over power lines rates compare with several DSL and cable Internet providers in the area, creating another competitive price to help drive down costs, said mayor Keith Cain, who installed BPL in his home last year.



Source: PEORIA JOURNAL STAR

CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN: Midwest Energy plans to bring *POWERLINE* Internet to customers in Spring 2008

February 06. 2007 6:59AM

Broadband coming to Cass
Midwest Energy plans to bring Internet to customers in 2008.


BARBARA DEMPSEY
Tribune Correspondent

CASSOPOLIS -- Customers of Midwest Energy Cooperative most likely will be able to receive broadband Internet service over power lines by the spring of 2008.

Robert Hance, the cooperative's chief executive officer, spelled out the plans to the Cass County Board of Commissioners last week, saying the company will begin working this spring in Cass County on the necessary technical modifications and equipment needed for the service.

Cass County Administrator Terry Proctor, along with several commissioners, hailed the offering for Midwest's 14,000 electric customers in Cass County as a significant service for those residents without access to either a digital subscriber line, which is offered over telephone lines, or high-speed cable.


"We think it is a good project for us and for Cass County in general," said Hance, who noted its improvement over the more expensive Wild Blue broadband satellite service that Midwest initiated in 2005, or the much slower dial-up service that the cooperative has had in place for several years.

The broadband-over-power lines service, tagged BPL, will be seven or eight times faster than dial-up service at the lowest price to be offered, Hance said.

"It is like making a move from a Model T to a Corvette," he said.

The cooperative hopes that BPL eventually will be available to most of its 36,000 electric customers in 13 counties in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio.

"It is a great chance for people to get broadband who don't get cable or DSL," Hance said.

The installation fee will run $99, Hance said, with a monthly bill of $29.95, $49.95 or $89.95, depending on the package. There also will be a $50 activation fee.

In contrast, the Wild Blue broadband satellite service, for which the beam is closed because it has reached capacity, required the customer to pay $299 in equipment fees. Monthly charges for that service are $49.95, $69.95 or $79.95, depending on the package.

Midwest initially signed on 428 customers for the satellite program in Michigan and now has 512.

"We have a widely underserved broadband market," said Hance, noting that in a 2004 Wild Blue survey, more than 1,200 customers expressed a strong interest in high-speed operations and 93 percent of those surveyed identified speed, reliability and price as key features they wanted in Internet service.

Hance said that another survey in 2006, done primarily over the Internet to determine interest in broadband-over-power-lines service, resulted in a healthy 12 percent response rate.

Of those responding, 91 percent were "extremely/somewhat interested in a BPL offering at $29.95 per month," according to information provided by Midwest.

Based on information taken from a national survey, 47 million residents in the United States are waiting for or will never have cable data or DSL service.

Proctor said that Cass County, with just over 50,000 residents, has suffered "because big providers won't bring high-speed Internet to us."

He said of the cooperative's plans: "This is great news, a very good thing into the future, and I hope you are successful because people of the county need high-speed Internet (service)."

Telkonet and GE Energy Develop Integrated Utility Substation Automation System

February 06, 2007 09:30 AM Eastern Time
Telkonet and GE Energy to Co-Develop a Custom, Private Label Product That Enables Remote Monitoring and Management of Substation Equipment

DistribuTECH 2007

GERMANTOWN, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Telkonet, Inc. (AMEX:TKO), the leader in providing in-building broadband access over existing electrical wiring, today announced that it has signed an exclusive supply agreement with GE Energy to co-develop an innovative custom product that enables vital remote monitoring and management of utility substation equipment. This integrated system will revolutionize the way in which a substation’s performance is monitored, considerably improving efficiency and reliability. Over the next six months, GE will commence the first installation phase involving customers in North America to further develop and refine the product, customizing it to be compatible with all the various types of substation equipment.

Over the past year, GE Energy conducted extensive laboratory and field testing of the Telkonet iWire System™ successfully; Telkonet’s system met the rigorous performance and reliability requirements, as well as the environmental standards for both AC and DC operating environments, for GE Energy and the utility marketplace.

The Telkonet iWire System leverages the existing electrical wiring inside a substation to enable high-speed network connectivity, eliminating the need for new wiring or cabling. The data collected from GE Energy’s monitoring systems can be transmitted remotely to any location via a broadband Internet connection, enabling utilities to monitor the conditions of the transformers, reroute power and efficiently manage the energy supply.

GE Energy will demonstrate this customized substation automation product, incorporating the Telkonet iWire System, at DistribuTECH 2007 in San Diego, CA, the largest energy trade show in the U.S., February 4 − 7, 2007.

Ron Pickett, President and CEO of Telkonet, commented, “We have been working very hard with GE Energy over the past year to make sure that this is a success and believe that it will open up many new opportunities for both companies. This agreement is a key element in Telkonet’s strategy of delivering solutions to both the supply and demand sector – utilities and building owners/managers.”

News: "Broadband over power lines (BPL), made a giant leap- that BPL products will be available from big-box retailer Best Buy ~

BPL Sparks Best Buy

After a painfully slow start, high-speed broadband over power lines cracks big-box retail.
February 5, 2007
By Cassimir Medford


Broadband over power lines (BPL), a technology that has taken only baby steps in the United States, made a giant leap with the announcement Monday that BPL products will be available from big-box retailer Best Buy.

Best Buy For Business introduced ConnectedLife.Home, a technology package that targets small businesses and “prosumers” that has at its core video distribution products from Corinex Communications.

Corinex, a privately held company based in Vancouver, Canada, markets communications products that use electrical wiring or coaxial cable within the home to allow consumers to move video around the house.

The ConnectedLife.Home package is initially targeted at professional contractors that wire new homes, hotels, or multi-dwelling units, for instance, but it is also targeted at small businesses and prosumers.

Using either coax cable or electrical wiring, Corinex’s AnyWire system creates an in-home distribution network that operates at 200 megabits per second (Mbps).


‘Power lines go everywhere.’

-Brian Donnelly,

Corinex


Consumers will be able to stream TV around the home, from room to room or TV set to TV set, using the network, and with 200 Mbps consumers can stream HDTV video and movies with relative ease.

Business at Best Buy

Best Buy For Business is a three-year-old effort by the retailer to sell to small businesses. According to Jeff Dudash, a Best Buy spokesperson, Best Buy found that small businesses were buying products in the same manner as consumers.

So the retailer developed Best Buy For Business as a store within a store to address the needs of small businesses. Much like the retailer’s well-known Geek Squad, BBFB has its own counter within Best Buy stores.


Of Best Buy’s 812 stores nationwide, 300 include best Buy For Business counters.

“We started with this as a small business technology, but we believe this will be a consumer product so you may see this product introduced into general retail stores sometime this year,” said Mr. Dudash.

Wireless Rival

To date, BPL has been introduced in the U.S. as a technology rival to cable modems and DSL, so it has been delivered by BPL service providers such as ComTek and Current Communications.

There are some lower-speed in-home BPL products available in retail, but this is a first for high-speed BPL.

Corinex markets products to service providers such as Telefonica and Belgacom, as well as to companies focused on in-home networking to connect TVs, PCs, and other digital devices.

It is in that latter capacity that Corinex competes with other in-home networking systems, such as wireless systems marketed by Ruckus Wireless.

“We’ve seen 300 percent growth in our in-home business in the last couple of years,” said Brian Donnelly, vice president of marketing for Corinex. “Our systems are easier to setup and use than wireless systems, which are susceptible to interference in some places. Power lines go everywhere.”

The ConnectedLife.Home package sells for $15,000 and allows users to turn on the lights before they get home and record and watch different TV programs at the same time.

The package includes devices that support either coax or power lines. Initially consumers will need help in setting up the system.

Telkonet's High-Speed Internet Access Platform Selected by WorldMark by Wyndham for All Timeshare Properties in the US and Canada

Monday February 5, 11:47 am ET
National Roll-out of 50 Properties for Wyndham Vacation Ownership, the World's Largest Vacation Ownership Company


GERMANTOWN, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Telkonet, Inc. (Amex:TKO - News), the leader in providing in-building broadband access over existing electrical wiring, today announced that it has received a contract to provide high-speed Internet access to all self-managed WorldMark by Wyndham timeshare properties, a total of 50 additional properties, totaling over 4,000 rooms. WorldMark by Wyndham is a subsidiary of Wyndham Vacation Ownership, the world's largest vacation ownership company. The full-scale deployment decision was made after a successful trial of the Telkonet iWire System(TM) at six WorldMark properties last year. Telkonet's system proved to be a reliable, hands-off solution, meeting WorldMark's key performance criteria. Telkonet's system can also support future applications that WorldMark may require, such as voice over Internet protocol (VoIP), energy management and video on demand (VoD).

Six WorldMark properties are currently using the Telkonet iWire System to deliver high-speed Internet access, with convenient wired Internet access at any electrical outlet in the rooms, and wireless access at the pool and lobby areas. In addition to supporting broadband Internet access, Telkonet's powerful platform is supporting billing capabilities. The user web-interface provided by Telkonet enables a number of services developed by Goodwell Technologies to maximize the owner experience while traveling.

Over the course of the trial period, WorldMark's management was impressed by the take rate generated by providing high-speed Internet access to its owners, especially since the service offering was not yet proactively marketed to its owners. They were also pleased that users found Telkonet's system to be simple and straightforward to get on-line, without needing any technical support from timeshare management.

Steve Townsend, WorldMark's Director of Resort Services, commented, "We are extremely happy with our choice of Telkonet for the whole system. Our tests-to-date have shown the system to be the most trouble-free, dependable system that I have worked with. We have enjoyed working with the Telkonet team and we are looking forward to the roll-out."

Netgear boost powerline broadband to 200Mbps

Netgear boost powerline broadband to 200Mbps
By Stuart Corner
Monday, 05 February 2007



Netgear is now shipping its 200Mbps powerline broadband products in Australia: providing the kind of throughput that WiFi can't offer and which is needed for distributing high definition video signals around a home.

They simply plug into a powerpoint and the computer, printer or other device is connected with an ethernet cable.

The product is the HDX101 Powerline HD 200Mbps Ethernet Adapter which retails for $229, or you can buy a pair for $429. According to Netgear, "The HDXB101 enables simple plug and play installation, with built-in QoS to support video streaming and non-stuttering VoIP. Configurable QoS is also accessible to advanced users and encrypted security protects the network from hackers."

Around the world a number of IPTV operators have opted for 200Mbps BPL to enable their customers to distribute the signals around their homes, but newer high speed wireless technologies are also mounting a strong challenge

3rd Powerline Communications (PLC) Asia 2007

7-8 March 2007
* Harbour Plaza Hotel *
Hong Kong
www.informatm.com/powerline

PLC Asia 2007, endorsed by Broadband Services Forum, HomePlug Alliance, Home Gateway Initiative and Universal Powerline Alliance, is the ONLY event in Asia, in its 3rd year running, to provide the latest PLC market updates, business opportunities, technology development, services and applications. Drawing upon both regional and international expertise with practical case studies and results of current trials, this congress will once again be the meeting place for PLC players to gather and network on how to commercialise PLC technology towards profitable business models and applications.

Australia - Bob Darwin, Business Development Manager, New Ventures, Aurora Energy

Austria - DI Josef Heizinger, Member of the board LINZ AG & CEO LINZ STROM

Japan - Takashi Yanase, Assistant Manager, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO)

Korea - Byungseok Park, Senior Researcher, Korean Electric Power Company (KEPCO)

India - Ajoy Rajani, Vice President, RelianceEnergy

Malaysia - Zulkernian A Talib, President & CEO, Realm Energy

And many other industry players from • Bender Information & System Technology, Inc • Bmp telecommunications Consultants • Broadband Energy Networks Inc • DS2 • In-Stat • MainNet Communications • Motorola • Xeline

U.S. BPL Deployments List by Zip codes !!!

U.S. BPL Deployments List by Zip codes

2007 Broadband Power Line Winter Conference: Everything from Smart Grid to Home Networking

Broadband Power Line Winter Conference:
Everything from Smart Grid to Home Networking
February 27-March 2, 2007
Red Rock Casino - Resort - Spa
Las Vegas, NV


UPLC Winter Meeting 2007
Ram Rao is moderating the "Broadband Technology Showdown" panel and speaking on the "Smart Grid Applications" panel

Come see Ambient in Booth #5 & 6 in the Exhibit Hall




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