Broadband service is very lucrative in & of themselves what makes its most attractive apart from the data, are ancillary services such as digital cable and digital telephone. Even the utility companies especially the power grids are made efforts to offers broadband to the customers via power lines and why not, after all, it is an convenient way out for the company that provides electricity.
Wondering what is broadband over power lines?
Broadband over power lines sometimes also known as the Internet over power lines is a technology that caters to the transmission of data over the utility power line.it works with a similar speed of the digital subscriber line (DSL) and uses short wave, medium wave, and low band VHF.
What makes ideal from a technical perspective is that it can deliver broadband services to those areas where the telecoms and cable operators are unable to reach.
Through BPL the electric companies will able to provide high-speed internet access what the providers often term “the last mile”. It can provide three-tier services –phone lines, television and internet service via copper or fiber based long haul network all way to the neighborhoods peripheral and the powers lines brings the signal to its subscriber home. To access BPL, its subscriber needs to install a modem that can be plugged into ordinary wall outlet and have to the subscription fees similar as you pay for the internet via other modes.
How can it emerge as an ideal choice?
- An alternative to wireless broadband:
It can be an ideal option where wireless broadband is not present, BPL can provide a decent option. BPL is destined for the customers’ usage speed that ranges around 256 KBPS to approximately 3 Mbps. But when compared to the speed of latest generation fiber optic based solutions, VDSL, and cable-broadband.
- In-house BPL:
It can be used with traditional telephone or cable broadband to provide internet access to all the rooms of the houses that are big and have thick walls that make wireless a problem. We just need to plug the Ethernet lead from the modem into the adapter that fits power outlet.
- Take a new level to the concept of smart home:
It opens varied possibilities that redefine the concept of smart home and other emerging smart devices. Why can’t we connect our home appliances to one another or internet it may be possible via BPL. Smart homes where appliance automatically switches on and off controlled by computers can step further with BPL, for example it may be possible in future we can use the web browser in our computer to switch on an appliance in the kitchen at home or how about web browser on your mobiles to switch on and off in your home when you are outside, adding a protection against intruders.
If these possibilities work out, there will be a new revolution in the remote control.
- Other advantages include:/
- Simple accessibility- Accessing BPL is simpler.
- Uninterrupted electricity supplies in most of the developed nation.
- It is cheaper and simple access can be deployed in rural areas as compared to the high cost incurred while setting up the broadband via telephone lines over cable.
- Power companies can provide inexpensive broadband services to its existing customers over the same lines which reduce the broadband cost across the board.
- The in-house of BPL is compatible with the Wi-Fi thus helps to overcome the shortcomings of the wireless network to some extent.
