Broadband over Power Lines, or
BPL, refers to the transmission (sending
and receiving) of digital data through
existing power cables and electricity
distribution infrastructures. This can be
viewed as a mere variation on using
television cables; instead of using
television cables, though, power
transmission lines are going to be used.
The Broadband over Power
Lines Transmission
Architecture
The key to broadband over power lines
(Broadband over Power Lines)
technology lies in a long established
scientific fact: radio frequency (RF)
energy can be bundled on the same line
that carries electrical current. Since RF
and electricity vibrate on different
frequencies, there's not going to be any
interference between the two. As such,
data packets transmitted over RF
frequencies are not overwhelmed or lost
because of electrical current.
The Broadband over Power Lines
system does not utilize the complete
power grid. Electricity from power
generating plants proceeds to
transmission substations which
distribute the current using high-voltage
transmission lines carrying between
155,000 to 765,000 volts. These high-
voltage lines are not suitable for data or
RF transmission.
The Broadband over Power Lines
solution is to bypass the substations and
high-voltage wires and focus on the
medium-voltage transmission lines
(carrying around 7,200 volts) and the
transformers that convert the electrical
current to 240 volts - the electrical
current used in households.
In other words, standard fiber optic lines
specifically designed for Internet
transmissions are going to be used to
carry data. These fiber optic lines will be
connected to medium-voltage lines.
Repeaters are installed at these junction
points to 'repeat' the data and boost the
strength of the transmission. Couplers
or specialized devices are also going to
be installed at the transformers to
provide a data link around these. After
that, the digital data will be carried down
the 240-volt line that connects to the
residential or office buildings' electrical
outlets which become the final
distribution point for the data.
At this point, the residents and the office
administrators have two options for
Internet connectivity. They can
get wireless transmitters that will
wirelessly receive the signal and send
the data on to computer stations or they
can get Broadband over Power Lines
modems for data filtering -the
Broadband over Power Lines
modem will screen out power line noise
and let only data through - then send the
data onwards to the stations. The
wireless transmitter or the Broadband
over Power Lines modem can transmit
the signal to end-users or computer
stations wirelessly (which necessitate
WLAN-capable devices) or through
wires (which require computers
connected to the data transmitter or
Broadband over Power Lines modem
through Ethernet cables).
Broadband over Power Line
Issues
Although the technology for Broadband
over Power Lines is available, and
companies have started offering the
service in the US, it is facing opposition
from ham operators and the Federal
Emergency Management Administration
(FEMA) who are concerned that
Broadband over Power Lines
technology will reduce the number of
radio frequencies available for ham and
short-wave radio operators and that RF
transmission over unshielded medium-
voltage lines will cause interference with
already-assigned frequencies.
There are also no set transmission
standards for Broadband over Power
Lines technology. This is further
hampering efforts to have the
technology adapted by more Internet
Service Providers.
Internet Connection Image Gallery
Photo courtesy Morguefile
Imagine plugging your computer into any
electrical outlet in your home and having
high-speed Internet access. See
more Internet connection pictures.
An emerging technology may be the newest
heavy hitter in the competitive world of
broadband Internet service. It offers high-
speed access to your home through the
most unlikely path: a commonelectrical
outlet.
With broadband over power lines, or BPL,
you can plug your computer into any
electrical outlet in your home and instantly
have access to high-speed Internet. By
combining the technological principles
of radio, wireless networking, and modems,
developers have created a way to send data
over power lines and into homes at speeds
between 500 kilobits and 3 megabits per
second (equivalent to DSL and cable).
BPL is already being tested in several cities
around the United States and the United
Kingdom. In this article, HowStuffWorks
takes a look at this new service, how it's
possible, and what it could mean for the
common electrical appliance. We'll also
learn about the controversy surrounding
BPL.
If you think broadband is amazing, then click
here to learn how wireless mesh
networks work.
What's the Big Idea?
Despite the proliferation of broadband
technology in the last few years, there
are still huge parts of the world that don't
have access to high-speed Internet.
When weighed against the relatively
small number of customers Internet
providers would gain, the cost of laying
cable and building the necessary
infrastructure to provide DSL or cable in
rural areas is too great. But if broadband
could be served through power lines,
there would be no need to build a new
infrastructure. Anywhere there is
electricity there could be broadband.
By slightly modifying the current power grids
with specialized equipment, the BPL
developers could partner with power
companies and Internet service providers to
bring broadband to everyone with access to
electricity.
At this point, the proposal is for two types of
BPL service:
• In-House BPL will
network machines within a
building.
• Access BPL will carry
broadband Internet using power
lines and allow power
companies to electronically
monitor power systems.
By providing high-speed data
transmission between all of the electrical
plugs in a house, there is the potential to
network all kinds of common appliances
in a household. If your alarm clock, light
switch and coffee maker could talk each
other via a high-speed connection,
mornings might look a lot different.
In the next sections, we'll learn about the
technology behind both In-House and
Access BPL.
The Old Way
If you've read How Internet
Infrastructure Works, then you
understand that the Internet is physically
a huge network of networks that are
connected through cables, computers,
and wired and wireless devices
worldwide.
Typically, large ISPs lease fiber-optic
lines from the phone company to carry the
data around the Internet and eventually to
another medium (phone, DSL or cable line)
and into your home. Trillions of bytes of data
a day are transferred on fiber-optic lines
because they are a stable way to transmit
data without interfering with other types of
transmissions.
The idea of using AC (alternating current)
power to transfer data is not new. By
bundling radio-frequency (RF) energy on the
same line with an electric current, data can
be transmitted without the need for a
separate data line. Because the electric
current and RF vibrate at different
frequencies, the two don't interfere with
each other. Electric companies have used
this technology for years to monitor the
performance of power grids. There are even
networking solutions available today
that transfer data using the electrical
wiring in a home or business. But this data is
fairly simple and the transmission speed is
relatively slow.
BPL technology developers Current
Communications Group and Enikia are
working with power companies
like Ameren and EPRI to get BPL off the
ground. There are several different
approaches to overcoming the hurdles
presented when transmitting data through
power lines. The details of these
approaches are still pretty closely guarded
secrets as both companies vie for
the FCC's and IEEE's blessing for having
their method adopted as the standard way to
deploy BPL.
In the next section, you'll learn the basics
about the different approaches.
Power to the People
Like phone companies, power
companies also have lines strung all
over the world. The difference is that
they have power lines in a lot more
places than phone companies have fiber
optics. This makes power lines an
obvious vehicle for providing Internet to
places where fiber optics haven't
reached.
These power lines are just one component
of electric companies' power grids. In
addition to lines, power grids use
generators, substations, transformers and
other distributors that carry electricity from
the power plant all the way to a plug in the
wall. When power leaves the power plant, it
hits a transmission substation and is then
distributed to high-voltage transmission
lines. When transmitting broadband, these
high-voltage lines are the first obstacle.
is between 155,000 to 765,000 volts. That Hundreds of thousands of volts of electricity
amount of power is unsuitable for data don't vibrate at a consistent frequency. That
transmission. It's too "noisy." amount of power jumps all over the
spectrum. As it spikes and hums along, it
As stated before, both electricity and the RF
creates all kinds of interference. If it spikes
used to transmit data vibrate at certain
at a frequency that is the same as the RF
frequencies. In order for data to transmit
used to transmit data, then it will cancel out
cleanly from point to point, it must have a
that signal and the data transmission will be
dedicated band of the radio spectrum at
dropped or damaged en route.
which to vibrate without interference from
other sources.
BPL bypasses this problem by avoiding
high-voltage power lines all together. The
system drops the data off of traditional fiber-
optic lines downstream, onto the much more
manageable 7,200 volts of medium-voltage
power lines.
Once dropped on the medium-voltage

BPL Retailers
For a complete list of third party
products that support BPL,
seeHomePlug-certified
Products.
lines, the data can only travel so far
before it degrades. To counter this,
special devices are installed on the lines
to act as repeaters. The repeaters take
in the data and repeat it in a new
transmission, amplifying it for the next
leg of the journey.
In Current Communications Group's model
of BPL, two other devices ride power poles
to distribute Internet traffic. The CT
Coupler allows the data on the line
to bypass transformers.

The transformer's job is to reduce the 7,200

volts down to the 240-volt standard that
makes up normal household electrical
service. There is no way for low-power data
signals to pass through a transformer, so
you need a coupler to provide a data path
around the transformer. With the coupler,
data can move easily from the 7,200-volt
line to the 240-volt line and into the house
without any degradation.

In the next section, we will see how the data

moves around once it reaches the house.

Power to the People

Like phone companies, power
companies also have lines strung all
over the world. The difference is that
they have power lines in a lot more
places than phone companies have fiber
optics. This makes power lines an
obvious vehicle for providing Internet to
places where fiber optics haven't
reached.
These power lines are just one component
of electric companies' power grids. In
addition to lines, power grids use
generators, substations, transformers and
other distributors that carry electricity from
the power plant all the way to a plug in the
wall. When power leaves the power plant, it
hits a transmission substation and is then
distributed to high-voltage transmission
lines. When transmitting broadband, these
high-voltage lines are the first obstacle.

The power flowing down high-voltage lines

is between 155,000 to 765,000 volts. That
amount of power is unsuitable for data
transmission. It's too "noisy."
As stated before, both electricity and the RF
used to transmit data vibrate at certain
frequencies. In order for data to transmit
cleanly from point to point, it must have a
dedicated band of the radio spectrum at
which to vibrate without interference from
other sources.
Hundreds of thousands of volts of electricity
don't vibrate at a consistent frequency. That
amount of power jumps all over the
spectrum. As it spikes and hums along, it
creates all kinds of interference. If it spikes
at a frequency that is the same as the RF
used to transmit data, then it will cancel out
that signal and the data transmission will be
dropped or damaged en route.
BPL bypasses this problem by avoiding
high-voltage power lines all together. The
system drops the data off of traditional fiber-
optic lines downstream, onto the much more
manageable 7,200 volts of medium-voltage
power lines.
Once dropped on the medium-voltage
BPL Retailers
For a complete list of third party
products that support BPL,
seeHomePlug-certified
Products.
lines, the data can only travel so far
before it degrades. To counter this,
special devices are installed on the lines
to act as repeaters. The repeaters take
in the data and repeat it in a new
transmission, amplifying it for the next
leg of the journey.
In Current Communications Group's model
of BPL, two other devices ride power poles
to distribute Internet traffic. The CT
Coupler allows the data on the line
to bypass transformers.

The transformer's job is to reduce the 7,200

volts down to the 240-volt standard that
makes up normal household electrical
service. There is no way for low-power data
signals to pass through a transformer, so
you need a coupler to provide a data path
around the transformer. With the coupler,
data can move easily from the 7,200-volt
line to the 240-volt line and into the house
without any degradation.

In the next section, we will see how the data

moves around once it reaches the house.

The Last Mile

The last mile is the final step that carries
Internet into the subscriber's home or
office.

In the various approaches to last-mile

Available Now
Current Technologies is offering
BPL service in Cincinnati, Ohio,
and Rockville, Maryland.
solutions for BPL, some companies
carry the signal in with the electricity on
the power line, while others put wireless
links on the poles and send the data
wirelessly into homes. The CT Bridge is
capable of both.
The CT Bridge can also:

• Manage symmetric data

transmission to all the electrical
outlets in the customer's home
or office ("Symmetric" means
that uploads and downloads are
transmitted at the same speed.)
• Support WiFi hot spots
 • Handle data routing of handling powerline noise on a wide
• Manage subscriber spectrum.
information
• Employ Dynamic Host
Configuration Protocol (DHCP -
The protocol that allows the
management and assignment of
IP addresses on a network)
• Support
security encryption of all
transmissions
The signal is received by a powerline
modem that plugs into the wall. The
modem sends the signal to your
computer. Let's take a look at these
modems.

The BPL modem simply plugs into the wall and then into your
computer. These modems are capable of speeds comparable to
DSL or cable modems.
A BPL modem is plug and play and is
roughly the size of a common power
adapter. It plugs into a common wall socket,
and an Ethernet cable running to your
computer finishes the connection. Wireless
versions are also available.
While the potential of this new technology is
exciting, not everyone is excited about it. In
the next section, we'll discuss some of the
challenges confronting the implementation
of BPL.

BPL Modems
BPL modems use silicon chipsets
specially designed to handle the work
load of pulling data out of an electric
current. Using specially developed
modulation techniques and adaptive
algorithms, BPL modems are capable
 Because it requires no new wiring, and the
network adds no cost to your electric bill,
power-line networking is the cheapest
method of connecting computers in different
rooms.

In this article, we'll talk about power-line

networking and the technology used to
make it happen. We'll also discuss the
advantages and disadvantages of using a
power-line network.

Power-line networking is one of several

ways to connect the computers in your
home. It uses the electrical wiring in your
house to create a network.
Like HomePNA, power-line networking is
based on the concept of "no new wires." The
convenience is even more obvious in this
case because while not every room has
a phone jack, you will always have an
electrical outlet near a computer. In power-
line networking, you connect your computers
to one another through the same outlet.
Learn More

• Home Networking Quiz

• How FiOS Works
• Discovery.com: Top 10
WiFi Cities
 Challenges
On April 23, 2003, the FCC put forth
a Notice of Inquiry to the public
supporting the potential of the BPL
technology and seeking to set standards
in practice for its implementation.
Immediate opposition came from
the American Radio Relay
League (ARRL) and the Federal
Emergency Management
Agency(FEMA). Both entities claim that
BPL will cause serious interference
issues.
A BPL modem is considered an unlicensed
device, like a cordless phone or garage door
Bibliography opener. All unlicensed devices are governed
• Current Group by the FCC's Part 15 rules. Part 15
• Enikia mandates that all electronic devices sold in
• ARRL.org: Broadband the United States must meet FCC radio-
Over Power Line: Why Amateur frequency emissions limits. These limits are
Radio is Concerned About its in place to secure against interference with
Deployment important transmissions like CB
• TelephonyOnline: FCC communications, air-traffic control and
to study broadband over power government channels. ARRL and FEMA are
lines concerned about the interference caused by
• Wave Report: BPL BPL signals transmitted on exposed
Tutorial medium-voltage power lines.
• United Power Line Cable TV operators get around the
Council interference problem by shielding all of their
• FCC: Notice of Inquiry cables. "Coaxial cable" used by cable TV
on BPL operators has a braided metal shield that
• ARRL.org: Broadband surrounds the signal wire. Telephone cables
Over Power Line and Amateur are also shielded. Power lines, on the other
Radio hand, have no shielding. In many cases, a
power line is a bare wire, or a wire coated in
plastic. The lack of shielding is where the
interference concern comes from.
Depending on the bandwidth the FCC allots
for BPL, interference with other radio
services may be a problem. Currently, the
frequency band breaks down as follows:

s

• AM radio - 535 kilohertz
to 1.7 megahertz
• Short-wave radio - 5.9
megahertz to 26.1 megahertz
• Citizens-band (CB)
radio - 26.96 megahertz to
27.41 megahertz
• Television stations - 54
to 88 megahertz for channels 2
through 6
• FM radio - 88
megahertz to 108 megahertz
• Television stations - 174
to 220 megahertz for channels 7
through 13
While FEMA is wiling to allow the FCC to
seek a compromise, the ARRL claims that
compromise is not possible because the
bandwidth needed for BPL will directly
interfere with ham radio and short-wave
radio transmissions. Developers of BPL say
that these interference issues have been
solved. Only tests and time will tell. Until
then, the advancement of BPL moves
forward slowly as it waits for standards and
logistics to be decided by regulating bodies.
For more information on BPL, other
Internet connection methods, and related
topics, check out the links on the next
page.
Broadband over powerline searches for san
Access opportunity is still slow, but smart grid appli
gaining momentum
by Sean Buckley
Thu. April 23, 2009
Once ballyhooed by industry pundits as the third leg in the broad
delivery stool, broadband over powerline (BPL) technology ha
struggled to gain mainstream acceptance.
But a recent article in The Washington Postcalled “Manassa
Broadband Program” highlights the challenges BPL has had in gain
leg status.
At issue in Manassas, Va. is that the local BPL provider ComTec
discontinue its BPL service. From there, the city took over the fra
serves a small number of only 670 subscribers and is now evaluatin
not to keep the system running or shut it down altogether.
Proponents say the BPL network provides a more affordable Int
($25 per month) to residential customers, while others believe
should let the telecom and cable providers offer service. Not
Comcast and Verizon piped up in the article saying they can provid
broadband service. Verizon said it will extend FiOS to all Manassas
2011, while Comcast said it can provide broadband access to the
prices starting at $25 per month.
 Empowering smart grids
Despite setbacks as a wide area broadband connectivity mediu
technology is finding a new life to empower smart grid application
consists of a mix of smart meters, wireless technology, sensors
which in turn makes provides the utility with better visibility and c
they deliver energy.

As more electric utilities get interested in smart grid, BPL

responding with new products. What’s interesting is that many o
surviving companies are that they were the early supporters o
broadband access.

Ambient and BelFuse, for instance, announced they would create a

agreement to develop products for smart grid deployments.

Timing could not be better either for utilities or vendors.

In February, the Obama administration announced that $4.5 billion

billion U.S. stimulus package will address support for utilities to ado
technology.

A smart grid network will incorporate some form of a smart

consumer's home. Simply put, a smart meter can measure consum
then communicate that information via either a powerline or cel
back to the local utility for billing purposes.

While nothing has been formally established, it looks like Manas

same way.

Already leveraging the BPL network to identify system outages

automated
Figure 1. BPL is being called the next major Internet meter
pipeline by reading,
industry the city has approved funding for what i
experts.Source: Communication Technologies, Inc. advanced metering pilot project.

With this in
There has not been a lot to say, really, about BPL’s presence metering project, Gregg Paulson, deputy director of Mana
the broadband
arena. Overall, the BPL market in the United States isDepartment said that
relatively scant. The the
FCCBPL network could serve as an entrée in
metering projects.
reports late last year that there were only about 5,000 BPL subscribers. Not
exactly a big market opportunity.
This metering project could have two major benefits: it would allow
So what’s kept BPL from becoming the mainstream better monitor and
phenomenon thattrack
was their energy usage, while the city cou
predicted in the late 1990s? overall emissions. But the BPL network already in place, Paulson
should just leverage and extend what is already there.
Since BPL started to percolate with large companies like Nortel, the technology
was plagued with interference problems — problems“Ifthat we many
didn’t like
havethe
theham
BPL network in place, we would have had to
money in deploying the meter program,” he said.
radio guys still say exist even with new modulation techniques.

The most famous documented issue came during Nortel’s BPL trial with United
Utilities NorWeb project. After trying to compensate for Home sweet
distortion home
noise given off
by lightbulbs, Nortel decided to up its data signal, and Complementing
the results weren’t
thepretty.
utility grid, powerline technology is increasin
presence in the home to connect various energy devices such as a
Not only did street lights start blinking, but the street lights
other started
energy acting such
devices as as thermostats. Users could potenti
antennae and interfering with air traffic and security systems.
powerline-based devices that communicate with the utility network.
Rob Ranck, the president of the Home Plug Alliance, believes
Just whenthat
youwhile
thinkheBPL
doesas a broadband service is down, someone
see some possible signs of life with BPL as a broadband
a way
alternative,
to bring in
it the
backnear-
to life.
term, he believes powerline will more likely be used to help consumers manage
electrical consumption in the home. Although there have been other high profile deployments and inte
years from Earthlink and AT&T, there have not been really any big
in using BPL on a grand scale. Earthlink has been somewhat quiet
plans, but perhaps that could be due to its own financial trappings.

Home Plug’s Ranck believes that BPL could have some play as a wa
broadband gap in rural areas.

“In the U.S., there are a lot of electric cooperatives, and it’s tho
where their customers may not have access to cable, DSL or a fib
solution,” Ranck said.

One company that thinks BPL could have a big effect in rural areas

Big Blue previously put forth an ambitious $9.6 million contr

International Broadband Electric Communications (IBEC) to bas
broadband connectivity to mainly rural markets.

Built and managed jointly by IBEC and IBM, the two companies w
Figure 1. Energy management in the home. Source: Southern California Edison
about a dozen electric cooperatives across seven states. Big Blue an
BPL build out agreements in both Michigan and Wisconsin.
“The other application for powerline is to help utility companies monitor their
own grids,” he said. “I think that smart grid is a pretty healthy application and it
Working with Midwest Energy Cooperative, IBM and IBEC says
ties in with our smart energy initiative as well inside of Home Plug.”
broadband over powerline to area residents and businesses th
seven counties the utility serves. In another deployment, IB
In the in-home environment, powerline can be used to communicate with home
Washington Island Electric Cooperative install smart meters
devices such as thermostats, appliances, and potentially smart meters.
understand electricity demands and how to more efficiently manage

To help drive powerline communications for in-home energy management the

Given the interference issues and the fact that there are a number
HomePlug Forum has aligned their efforts with the Zigbee Alliance’s Smart
broadband technologies (LMDS spectrum, 4G and WiMAX), BPL m
Energy initiatives.
some access legs, but it’s still far from the hyped-up promise
thought it would have.
ZigBee and HomePlug have developed a common application layer that can run
on HomePlug technology. This means that a utility can take advantage of either
“There are pockets of access opportunity, but I think it would b
a Home Area Network (HAN) that leverages both wireless (Zigbee) and wired
people don’t see an explosive opportunity the way they did a num
(powerline) technology for their respective AMI programs. (see
back,” Ranck said.
into the M2M limelight).

What's even more significant about this alliance launched last summer was that
it is being driven by major electric utilities.

Ranck says that he has seen either former utility company members rejoin or
new utilities join the alliance.

“The initiative is being driven a lot by utility companies, so we’ve had a lot of
utility companies join HomePlug,” he said. “From California this includes PG&E
and San Diego Gas and Electric, Duke Energy, American Electric Power from the
Midwest and Reliance Energy from Texas has joined HomePlug as part of this
whole push.”

Filling the broadband cracks

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