SARL to work closer with STANSA TC74

The South African Radio League (SARL) was represented at the STANSA TC74 committee meeting held this past week. The committee discusses communication technology standards and makes recommendation for acceptance and publication of the standards by the SABS.

The SARL is now also represented on the Powerline Communication Working Group, which is chaired by Teddy Naidoo of Johannesburg City Power. During discussion, a Telkom representative on TC74 reported that judging from discussions at the CSPIR meeting held in Cape Town last October, no PLC standards are likely to be forthcoming until some time in 2007.

In a discussion with Johannesburg City Power it appears that the authority has awarded contracts for electricity metering using PLC. It is however not clear what system will be deployed. There appears to be a disagreement between City Power and the Electricity metering group as to the final system to be used. Some systems pose no threat to communication while others are a concern. The SARL will meet with City Power soon to the establish the facts.

In a related PLC news item received from Germany this week, the Durban City Engineer announced that the Metro would start offering low cost broadband internet connections to its citizens using its fibre cable reticulation and by introducing PLC. Contact has already been made with the Durban Electricity Department to establish the facts. The Tshwane Metro is mum about its PLC pilot at Rooiwal. It was planned for switch on during January but even until two weeks ago, the Engineer in charge said they were still working on the installation.

Source: The South African Radio League

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