PISCATAWAY, N.J.-IEEE said it has begun work on a standard to define the nature of the communication channel to be used with installed electrical power lines for Internet and other broadband communications.
The IEEE P1901 standard is officially titled “Standard for Broadband over Power Line Networks: Medium Access Control and Physical Layer Specifications.” IEEE has set a completion goal of early 2007.
The standard will apply to broadband-over-power-line devices for first- and last-mile connection to broadband services as well as for local area networks and other data distribution systems to function over copper power lines in a building, said IEEE.
“The ability to transmit digital data over power lines from substations to homes and offices is attracting attention because it can transform wall outlets into Internet portals,” says Jim Mollenkopf, co-chair of the IEEE BPL PHY/MAC Working Group. “This approach resolves the tough task of linking long-distance fiber optic cables to individual computers and should make use of the Internet even more universal than it now is. If BPL is to become widespread, there is a need for a robust standard that supports the use of many types of BPL devices. Our intent is for IEEE P1901 to be that standard.”
