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THE COMPUTING UNPLUGGED INTERVIEW
Implementing broadband over powerline
By David Gewirtz
Editor's note
In the week since we published Part I of this interview, we've gotten some very strong reactions from readers who are involved in amateur radio, also known as ham radio. We had no idea BPL was a controversial topic, but we're always able to count on our readers to keep us informed.
Apparently, ham radio operators do not like broadband over powerline in a big way and have some very strong opinions. In this issue, we continue our interview with Chano, but in upcoming weeks, we'll publish some of the more literate reader comments and responses from BPL industry experts.
Stay tuned. This is going to be very interesting.
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We continue our examination of broadband over powerline technology this week in the second part of our exclusive interview with Chano Gomez, one of the leading experts on this technology. If you haven't read the first part of our interview, be sure to visit http://www.computingunplugged.com/issues/issue200607/00001802001.html.
David: Is broadband over powerline installed more in the US or outside the country? Where?
Chano: DS2 200 Mbps technology underlies the majority of commercial BPL deployments worldwide. It is used by electricity giants such as EdF (France), EdP (Portugal), Iberdrola (Spain), Endesa (Spain), Consolidated Edison (NY, USA) and Duke Energy (NC, USA) to drive their broadband over powerline offerings.
As of 2005, the estimated number of consumers and businesses that enjoy access to Internet and voice-over over IP services through PLC technology is estimated at 100,000. Today, more than 30 power utilities worldwide are involved in deployments so that number is increasing exponentially.
According to Telecom Trends International, Inc. "Broadband Powerline Communications: Ready for Take-Off" report estimates, that the BPL-Access services market generated $57.1 million in revenue worldwide in 2004, and projects that by 2011, BPL-Access will generate $4.4 billion in revenue worldwide.
The same report estimates that the sale of end-user devices will grow to $5.3 billion worldwide by 2011. Several key utilities in the US companies including ConEd, Duke Power, CenterPoint, San Diego Gas & Electric are already in advanced technical trials with BPL equipment from vendors like Ambient, Corinex or Mitsubishi Electric, which are based on DS2 silicon. A full-scale test has been running in Manhattan since late 2004.
David: Are there implications for developing countries and non-US consumers? Is this particularly costly to implement?
Chano: There are fantastic opportunities to serve developing countries. BPL allows utilities to provide high-speed Internet access to far-reaching communities for a relatively low cost. Having a secure and competitive broadband infrastructure in place is essential to development and delivery of services and applications in fields such as education, health, business and government.
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