PLT continues to be punted by vendors

This past week, PLT (also known as BPL) was again the subject at a conference held in Sandton, South Africa.

A new company which has been very active promoting PLT is iPOWA. According to their website, iPOWA is the exclusive local provider of the world's leading broadband-over-Powerline (BPL) system.

A proven, cost-effective and robust route to rapid broadband deployment, iPOWA is the last-mile solution for which utilities, ISP's, hotels, schools and property developers have been waiting for. By leveraging existing infrastructure and utilizing a unique plug 'n play system, iPOWA is the key to high-speed access that works - fast.

Three of their representatives presented their case at Internetics 07, a conference about IT and the internet, sponsored by Internet Solutions.

iPOWA's approach has been somewhat different from their previous presentation at a broadband conference a few weeks ago. This time they are promoting it as the fixed line solution that powers the internet 15 times faster than ADSL and that besides the internet provides opportunities for power management, meter reading, electricity demand control to prevent black outs, security cameras and traffic management.

Problems such as interference to HF never entered into their discussion. They however did admit that they are waiting for ICASA to license PLT, which is the official name for BPL.

The interference issue of PLT and possible interim standards is on the Agenda of Committee TC73, the SABS committee on EMC standards which meets mid August.

The South African Radio League is keeping a close watch.

Source: The South African Radio League