[LINK] Power lines offer broadband alternative

[Bernard Robertson-Dunn]

<brd>
A topic we have discussed on Link several times over the past six or
seven years.
</brd>

Power lines offer broadband alternative
Apr 3
Ben Woodhead
Fin Review
http://afr.com/it/2003/04/03/FFX97V370ED.html

The federal government has launched a review of controversial technology
that would allow the use of power lines to deliver high-speed internet and
data services to homes.

Known as power line communications, or PLC, the technology could transform
common power lines into high-speed communications links with the potential
to resolve many of Australia's "last mile" broadband access issues.

The review, managed by the Department of Communications, IT and the Arts,
is one of two broadband research projects announced by the office recently.

As reported by The Australian Financial Review last Tuesday, DCITA has also
launched a review of the nation's high-bandwidth transmission
infrastructure to determine the volume of unused capacity owned by
telecommunications operators and other organisations such as rail operators
and electricity distributors.

Much of that review is to focus on dark fibre, the optical cable that has
been laid but remains unused. Many rail operators and electricity
distributors own high-capacity fibre optic networks. These are distinct
from PLC, which operates across the power lines themselves. Users access
PLC through a specialised modem that connects to a power point.

"As electricity distribution networks access more residences than either
cable or even telephone lines, Australia's electricity distribution network
could be used to provide an alternative telecommunications network," DCITA
said in a tender calling for consultants to conduct the PLC review.

"The development of PLC technologies may offer communication providers
another option for the provision of communications services to end-users in
rural and remote Australia." The review will assess the viability of PLC,
which some claim is capable of data transmission rates of up to 45
megabytes a second, rivalling some DSL services.

PLC is still in the early stages of development though and many questions
hang over its ability to deliver quality services to homes.

The DCITA tender asks applicants to assess technical impediments to the
implementation of PLC as well as potential service levels, including data
rates.

"While the fundamentals of electricity distribution a re essentially the
same in every country, there is a considerable variation in reticulation
standards and wiring practices from network to network," DCITA said in the
tender documents.

"These differences impact on the ability to implement feasible PLC systems
and may necessitate a variety of implementation strategies." Despite
reservations, governments and utilities around the world are exploring PLC
as a means of boosting broadband penetration.

In other broadband developments, telecommunications journal Communications
Day reported that broadcast transmission provider Broadcast Australia was
trialling the delivery of broadband over datacasting spectrum in a further
bid to push high-speed internet access to rural and regional Australia.

-- 
We believe that electricity exists, because the electric company keeps
sending us bills for it, but we cannot figure out how it travels inside
wires.
-- Dave Barry

Regards
brd

Bernard Robertson-Dunn
Canberra Australia
brd at austarmetro.com.au