Broadband Access: Wireline and Wireless - Alternatives for Internet Services

13Power Line Communications

13.1 Introduction

Power Line Communications (PLC) is an old idea that dates back to the early 1900s, when the first patents were filed in this area [1]. Since then, utility companies around the world have been using this technology for remote metering and load control [2,3], using at first single carrier narrowband solutions operating in the Audio/Low Frequency bands that achieved data rates ranging from few bps to a few kbit/s. As technology matured and the application space widened, broadband PLC systems operating in the high frequency band (2–30 MHz) and achieving data rates up to a 200 Mbit/s started to appear in the market. Today broadband PLC devices use frequencies up to 100 MHz and can achieve data rates up to half a Gbit/s.

PLC can be used to provide broadband internet access to residential customers. Access to the internet is today becoming as indispensable as access to electrical power and, since many devices that access the internet are normally plugged into an electrical outlet, the unification of these two networks seems a compelling option. Additionally, PLC also allows reusing existing power line cables within a building to provide a broadband LAN within the home or office. The major advantage offered by PLC home networks is the availability of an existing infrastructure of wires and wall outlets, so that new cable installation is averted.

Besides the traditional access and LAN applications, PLC also has other interesting applications. ...