Unique among broadband access technologies, PLC has the added advantage that it can reach areas that other technologies do not, including rural areas in developed countries, and can do so at a competitive costs thus contributing to bridging the digital divide.

PLC is not only a competitive alternative to other access technologies but also in some case a necessary complement in order to achieve a widely available broadband infrastructure throughout the world. In many under-developed countriesm the electricity network covers 95% of the country while phone only 5% of the country is serviced by phone line, cable or other broadband technologies.

PLC's most noteworthy competitive advantages as an alternative broadband access technology are that it uses an existing infrastructure that allows higher potential coverage than any other access technology, it has low capital investment costs because no infrastructure work is required, it's easy to install without the need for new cabling at the customers premise and it is cost competitive and provides higher-speeds that deliver a range of new services that will support new applications and content.

David: When did this technology begin to develop? What's the history of BPL?

Chano: Power companies began testing the transmission of low-speed signals over powerlines more than 50 years ago. DS2 was founded in 1998 with the goal of developing high speed PLC to support voice, video and data applications. Home networking through a home's powerlines has also emerged as a key market for DS2, and we continue to remain focused on advancing wide spread BPL access across the United States.

David: What networking architectures work using this technology?

Chano: Because DS2 Powerline technology is based on standards such as IP [Internet Protocol] and Ethernet, all architectures that can be created using these standards are possible using DS2 technology.

David: What were the technical hurdles to make this technology possible?

Chano: DS2's design work began from the conviction that a technological breakthrough that could overcome inherent problems such as noise, signal attenuation and line impedance while delivering high speeds would be the catalyst to take PLC products to mass market.

High speed PLC designed to support more demanding applications such as multiple streaming video, and which could also satisfy clear social and economic needs such as delivering broadband Internet services to vast areas poorly serviced by existing technologies, would compete more effectively with the other established broadband LAN and Access technologies such as WiFi, cable and xDSL.

PLC and specifically DS2 PLC technology today delivers a family of chipsets that drive products that deliver data and voice communications to vast areas of the world not serviced by other networks such as cable, fiber or twisted pair, whole home coverage without any "dead zones" and with full security for networking applications, an alternative broadband Internet network (BPL), whole home extensions to extend the reach of existing broadband Internet networks such as ADSL, coaxial cable, or WiMAX connections, and the only commercial solutions to transmit High Definition Television throughout the entire home.