BPL - Worrying news from Australia

The interference potential of Broadband Powerline Communications (BPL) is well recognised. It is of serious concern to many national radio societies including the Wireless Institute of Australia.

Little is known about what has been occurring behind the scenes in Australia as power companies prepare to adopt the BPL technology and the Australian Communications Authority considers its regulatory response.

However Jim Linton VK3PC has uncovered an interesting, to say the least, development that indicates potentially bad news.

Report -
The future introduction of Broadband Powerline Communications (BPL) in Australia could be on the condition that "less significant" HF radio users such as radio amateurs and four wheel driver clubs would not be protected from any interference it causes.

The Australian power industry has a real concern about the added expense required to address interference that could affect amateur radio stations and other recreational radio users.

Its arguments include that to remove amateur radio frequencies from a BPL system will add cost and reduce the capacity and potential data rate.

The power industry is requesting that the Australian Communications Authority (ACA) outweigh the concerns of recreational or "less significant" HF radio users with the higher community benefit of providing greater access
to broadband-enabling technology.

The ACA, in response to the power industry concerns, is now examining the legal possibility of allowing BPL networks to cause substantial interference to "less significant" radio services, while other radio services would continue to be entitled to interference protection.

Presumably if this becomes reality the Amateur Service could lose its protection against harmful powerline interference too. After all, were are in the eyes of some just a "less significant" radio service.

Source: Wireless Institute of Australia

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