Power lines Communication (PLC) and Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) are technologies that has been waiting for a “boom” and boost from the Information Technology industry.
In the US, after President Obama approved the Stimulus plan, the tech community became alive amidst the global economic crisis. The Stimulus plan had a budget provision to install the Smart Grid program. This program uses BPL technology.
The term smart grid represents a vision for a digital upgrade of distribution and long distance transmission grids to both optimize current operations, as well as open up new markets for alternative energy production. As with other industries, use of robust two-way communications, advanced sensors, and distributed computing technology will improve the efficiency, reliability and safety of power delivery and use. – wikipedia
And one of the many features that can be harnessed from the smart grid is BPL.
This maybe new to me and most of us but this is not new to the Philippines. In fact, BPL has been in the country since 2005 – or even way back. The only company here in the country that seems to provide and push for such technology is Nextream Broadband Philippines
- November 2005: Roxas City was the first to try out BPL
- January 2006: Bataan became a wired City.
- May 2006: Rural “broadband” Revolution
There was no update with regards to the status of Broadband over power lines in the last quarters of 2007 and for the whole 2008.
I sent an email to nextream broadband Philippines but i haven’t received a response as of posting time.
What does this mean for us? Well, it would mean a lot of things. My forum-mate JC commented:
meralco = more internet = more power consumption
san miguel = more internet = more product consumption(e.g. coffee and beer)
Ahahhaha! But that’s on the company side. How about for the common users?
- Cheap Broadband access once deployed
- Broadband anywhere
- Lower electricity rates due to other income sources of electric companies using OLD infrastructures and new businesses. (but yes more consumption).
There are still some issues to be resolved when using BPL. For one the gadgets or euipment to be used. Like the cheap BPL modems. Currently, BPL modems sell for more that P2,000. Well, new technology, not many new gadgets.. (supply and demand).
CDR King has a PLC gadget the Powerline Ethernet Bridge Set (ZA-P1) 85Mbps is selling it for P2,800.00.
Looks like Meralco is going to be a battleground for BPL in the Philippines with SMC and PLDT battling for control…From what I’ve read BPL is still in a nascent stage in the Medium Voltage area but it is said to work in low voltages 220v….Most companies who have tried it out ended up using them for utility applications particularly smart metering and distribution automation which require narrow bands,,,