need you to help me prepare a 'white paper' on internet over power
lines. transmission of IP using electric utility power lines.  need to
know all existing companies that claim to have a way to pull this off.
need general overview of where this technology stands. my client would
like to invest in some private companies that have a shot if this is
in fact possible.

---

Request for Question Clarification by aht-ga on 03 Feb 2004 15:24 PST

holguinero-ga:

Using powerlines for data transmission is indeed possible, and has
been explored by several companies.

Can you clarify what sort of information you would accept as an Answer? 

For example, if I were to research this topic and provide you with a
list of companies involved in data-over-powerline networking, and
links to articles and other online information on the topic, would you
be satisfied?
 
Regards,

aht-ga
Google Answers Researcher

---

Clarification of Question by holguinero-ga on 03 Feb 2004 16:55 PST

yes. as you say. we are focusing on finding private companies to
invest in. clearly,the ones that are already offering a viable product
would be more useful for me to know about.

holguinero-ga:

Thank you for your Question regarding powerline networking for
Internet access, and the current state of the technology.

The term used by the industry is Powerline Communications (PLC),
encompassing the use of pre-existing electrical power distribution
lines to transmit data between devices. This technology is seen as
having high potential to provide broadband Internet access to
residences and businesses without requiring large-scale construction
or reconstruction of cabling infrastructure. Other terms used include
Broadband Powerline (BPL), Digital Powerline (DPL) and Powerline
Transmission (PLT).

Two key areas of development and opportunity are:

- powerline networking within the home or business, where the
electrical wiring in the building is used to connect network devices
and eliminate the need to run network cabling or invest in wireless
technologies; and

- powerline Internet access, where Internet service providers partner
with local electrical utilities to use higher frequency signals to
provide Internet access to residences and businesses

The main issues facing PLC for broadband Internet access are:

- security: current electrical grid architecture can have a large
number of homes all connected together on the same branch

- unintended radio interference: there is currently some debate as to
whether the higher frequency transmissions down the line, are causing
interference to shortwave radio users in the immediate area


-------------------------------
Background Information:

Australian Communications Authority: Broadband Powerline
Communications - A Background Brief
http://www.aca.gov.au/radcomm/frequency_planning/spps/0311spp.pdf

 - excellent overview


Powerline Communications Overview
http://www.exp-math.uni-essen.de/~vinck/plc/

 - good collection of some of the history behind PLC development


The Use of Existing Electrical Powerlines for High Speed
Communications to the Home - Dr. Michael Propp
http://www.ksg.harvard.edu/iip/doeconf/propp.html

 - a bit old (1997 or 1998)


Powerline Communications News
http://www.avisto.com/powerlinenews/

 - see archives links on left for more online info


Lonestar Broadband: Powerline Communications Primer
http://www.lonestarbroadband.org/technology/powerlines.htm

 - see links at bottom of page for more online resources


Powerline communications - Network Magazine India (August 2002)
http://www.networkmagazineindia.com/200208/focus3.shtml


PLC Research - Plexeon Logistics
http://www.plexeon.com/media-4.html


Powerline Communication Home Network Technology eLibrary
http://www.atpowerline.com/index.shtml


Daily Wireless - FCC Considering Powerline I-Net
http://www.dailywireless.org/modules.php?name=News&file=print&sid=911


Wave Report | CITI Powerline III
http://www.wave-report.com/other-html-files/citipowerline3.htm


-------------------------------

Several key industry groups exist, to allow member companies to share
information and learnings, and to develop common standards and
practices. These groups are:

United Power Line Council
http://www.uplc.utc.org/

HomePlug Powerline Alliance
http://www.homeplug.com/index_basic.html

The Power Line Communications Association
http://www.plca.net/

PLC Forum
http://www.plcforum.com/

2004 International Symposium on Powerline Communications and its Applications
http://www.isplc2004.unizar.es/

-------------------------------

Looking at the member lists of these industry groups provides a great
overview of the current players in the PLC industry. These groups pull
members from business both big and small, the academic sector, and the
regulatory sector:

PLC Forum Members
http://www.plcforum.com/frame_members.html


Companies that may make for investment opportunities include:

Adaptive Networks, Inc.  (private, founded by Michael Propp)
http://www.adaptivenetworks.com 

Ambient Corp.  (OTCBB: ABTG)
http://www.ambientcorp.com/

Amperion (private)
http://www.amperion.com/

Ascom Powerline   (SWX:Ascom N (ASCN,1133920))
http://www.ascom.com/

Current Technologies (private)
http://www.currenttechnologies.com/default.html

Elcon Systemtechnik (private)
http://www.elcon-system.de/

Ilevo (owned by Schneider Electric)
http://www.ilevo.com/

Inovatech (private)
http://www.inovatech-inc.com/techview.html

Intellon (private)
http://www.intellon.com/

Itran Communications (private)
http://www.itrancomm.com/

Main.net Communications Ltd. (private)
http://www.mainnet-plc.com/

Scottish and Southern Energy plc (operator)
http://www.southern-electric.co.uk/broadband/index.asp

Tecnocom (operator)
http://www.tecnocom.biz/frontend/plantilla4/base.php?cambio_idioma=si&idioma=2

Xeline (private: filed for public offering in S. Korea)
http://www.xeline.com/index_en.html


---------------------------------------------

And finally, to accompany the comment below from robertskelton-ga
regarding the potential regulatory threat to PLC:

Powerline-PLC.INFO
http://www.powerline-plc.info/index_en.html

://www.google.com/search?num=100&safe=off&q=%22Broadband+over+Power+Line%22&btnG=Google+Search

---------------------------------------------

I hope that this information helps! Please let me know if you require
clarification to any part of this answer.

Regards,

aht-ga
Google Answers Researcher

very thorough. thanks.

Your client should pay special attention to the problem of radio interference:
http://www.infoworld.com/article/04/01/07/HNbroadbanddog_1.html