Broadband over Powerlines (BPL) in a Nutshell
jonas ribeiro
Broadband over Powerlines (BPL) in a Nutshell
Customers with broadband over powerlines (BPL) can get high-speed internet connections through their electrical outlets, without any special installation or wiring. It is faster and cheaper to deploy than most other forms of broadband networks.
December 09, 2004
Broadband over powerlines (BPL) allows customers to get high-speed internet connections through their electrical outlets. Users can plug a power line modem into an electric socket anywhere in an office or facility, without requiring any special installation or wiring. Computers connected to the modem (either directly or through a local area network) have fast internet access.
Here's how it works: The utility connects the internet to its electric distribution lines by installing power line adaptors at centralized locations. These adaptors receive internet data and translate it to special frequencies that can be combined with electricity and transmitted over the distribution lines. The endpoint modems separate the data from the electricity, sending the data to an Ethernet port.
This technology has been around for several years, but the early products were mostly aimed at low-cost home computer networking. Utilities have used earlier versions of the technology (at lower frequencies) for asset monitoring.
When compared to digital subscriber lines (DSL) or cable modems, BPL could be faster to deploy, and with less capital investment per new customer. That equates to lower rates for users and faster cost recovery for the utility. BPL rates are currently $30-40 per month.
To extend BPL, the power company installs some equipment in their home office and attaches repeaters to the existing lines. The low cost of field gear and the presence of existing lines gives BPL an advantage in areas where there is a low ratio of customers to gear.
BPL is not widely deployed today. It has the potential to spread broadband quickly, either through thousands of BPL connections, or by motivating DSL and cable operators to more quickly serve rural communities.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_line_communicationPower line communication or power line carrier (PLC), also known as Power line Digital Subscriber Line (PDSL), mains communication, power line telecom (PLT), power line networking (PLN), or Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) are systems for carrying data on a conductor also used for electric power transmission.
Electrical power is transmitted over high voltage transmission lines, distributed over medium voltage, and used inside buildings at lower voltages. Powerline communications can be applied at each stage. Most PLC technologies limit themselves to one set of wires (for example, premises wiring), but some can cross between two levels (for example, both the distribution network and premises wiring). Typically the transformer prevents propagating the signal, which requires multiple PLC technologies to be used to form very large networks.
Power line communication (PLC), also known as power line carrier, mains communication, power line telecom (PLT), or power line networking (PLN), is a system for carrying data on a conductor also used for electric power transmission. Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) uses PLC by sending and receiving radio signals over power lines to provide access to the Internet.
Power line communication (PLC), also known as power line carrier, mains communication, power line telecom (PLT), or power line networking (PLN), is a system for carrying data on a conductor also used for electric power transmission. Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) uses PLC by sending and receiving radio signals over power lines to provide access to the Internet.
A System on Chip for Power Line Communications According to European Home Systems Specifications
Isidoro Urriza, José I. Garcia-Nicolás, Alfredo Sanz and Antonio Valdovinos