Powerline

 
 
 
 

PLC (PowerLine Communications) technology uses the existing public and private mains power wiring for the transmission of telecommunication signals, offering Internet access via electrical networks in the home and at work.

The areas of developing data transmission solutions via powerlines include outdoor (local loop) and in-house (home networking) solutions.

The obvious advantage of PLC is that it is everywhere in the developed world. PLC can deliver high speed, low cost Internet access with 'no new wires', as well as the capability for in-building Local Area Networks.

Deregulation has been a major factor in the development of Powerline (tele)communications:

  • Deregulation in telecommunications allows new market entrants to provide services along electricity networks
  • Deregulation in the power supply sector increases the demand for specific energy distribution related information systems.

Another opportunity for Powerline technology has been in the area of home-automation and in-house systems.

ETSI technical committee PLT (Power Line Telecommunications) standardizes PLC (Powerline Communications) systems.

Harmonized standards have been developed to allow presumption of conformity with the relevant EU/EC Directives: Commission Recommendation of 6 April 2005 on broadband electronic communications through powerlines 2005/292/EC.

ETSI PLT studies the technical requirements to avoid interference with users of the radio spectrum. As well as working with ETSI technical committee ERM, ETSI PLT has liaisons with the PLC Forum and CENELEC SC205A to establish a fruitful co-operation with these two groups attended by PLC experts.

The following is a list of recently published and frequently downloaded standards. Please use the ETSI Work Programme to find further related standards.

Standard No. Standard Title
TR 102 494 Technical requirements for In-House PLC modems
TR 102 370 Basic data relating to LVDN measurements in the 3 MHz to 100 MHz frequency range
TR 102 324 Radiated emissions' characteristics and measurement method of state of the art powerline communication networks
TR 102 270 Basic Low Voltage Distribution Network (LVDN) measurement data
TR 102 269 Hidden Node review and statistical analysis
TR 102 259 EMI review and statistical analysis
TR 102 258 LCL review and statistical analysis
TR 102 175 Channel characterization and measurement methods
TR 102 049 Quality of Service (QoS) requirements for in-house systems
TS 101 896 Reference Network Architecture Model
PLT phase 1
TS 102 578 Coexistence between PLT Modems and Short Wave Radio broadcasting services
TR 102 616 Report from PlugtestsTM 2007 on coexistence between PLT and short wave radio broadcast; Test cases and results