Powerline Communications gets Superfast Internet

Powerline Communications (PLC), a technology developed to deliver broadband ‎Internet access to buildings via existing national grid power cables is making a ‎comeback, as a result of UK government’s revised strategy looking at Superfast Internet ‎Technology for the future. Availability of cheaper copper based ADSL solutions had ‎come in the way of the above technology, that separated electricity and internet traffic ‎using different wave lengths, between the years 2005-2010. Liverpool city is planning to ‎conduct a trial run for a 200Mbps ISP on 1,000 homes.

Various options were considered for providing Superfast Internet Technology in UK.
Powerline communications (PLC), which can use the existing electric power network for ‎the transmission of broadband also, could turn out to be an effective method of delivering ‎higher bandwidths, but the cost of deploying and providing services is relatively high.
Radio users may be riddled with interference problems at higher frequencies, which ‎could probably affect aeronautical radio, broadcast radio and navigation services.‎
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The PLC technology, also known as Broadband over Power Lines (BPL), was ‎abandoned midway through earlier due to limitations and other readily available options. ‎However, PLC is making a comeback trial alongside the installation of the new Smart ‎Meters. All the 24 Million Homes in the UK would have to install a smart meter by ‎‎2020. The visual display allows customers to see the exact consumption of electricity and ‎gas usage and relay the data to energy firms automatically. Installing a PLC at home also ‎saves money. This option is better suited to deliver super fast broadband as it eliminates ‎digging up streets. The trials would be conducted by Scottish Power and Plus Dane ‎Homes. PLC technology has seen improvement in some European countries who ‎continued to develop it. However the technology has its share of pitfalls, with countries ‎yet to adopt the same on a national scale. ‎