Power line communication (PLC) uses existing electrical infrastructure to transmit data and provide high-speed internet services. Different PLC technologies are used for different voltage levels, and it can be a cost-effective solution for remote areas. It can also replace expensive wired networks and use existing wiring in homes or businesses.
Power line communication (PLC) is a technology that can allow data to be transmitted from an existing electrical infrastructure. Also known as powerline broadband (BPL), powerline communication can be used to build home networks or to provide high-speed Internet services to end users. Whenever the voltage in a power grid is reduced between high-voltage lines, local distribution lines, and home or business users, different power line communication technologies may be required. As a delivery method for Internet Service Providers (ISPs), it can offer a cost-effective way to deliver high-speed broadband to remote or sparsely populated areas. Home or business users may find the PLC useful, as it can negate the need for a wireless router or an expensive wired local area network.
Electricity can be transmitted at a variety of different voltages, depending on the area served and the distance the lines travel. Long distance lines will typically have very high voltage, while local distribution lines use medium voltage, and the voltage is stepped down further for home and business use. There are different forms of PLC technology for each of these situations, and a power grid can use any or all of them. Transformers used to step down the voltage between different levels of power distribution can interfere with data signals, although this can be overcome with specialized converters.
Under certain circumstances, it may be too expensive for a cable or phone company to install the infrastructure needed to serve their rural customers with broadband Internet access. The cost of installing expensive data infrastructure often has to be compensated for by a particular number of users, and sparsely populated areas may not provide enough potential customers to justify the cost. One potential solution to this problem is power line communication, as it can use existing infrastructure to provide broadband Internet access.
Home networks can also use certain forms of power line communication to replace existing network structures. A typical wired network can be expensive to install, and wireless routers have drawbacks such as signal interference from walls, floors, and other objects. The power line network can use existing wiring in a home or business to transmit data. These systems typically include an adapter that allows you to connect a modem to a power outlet using an Ethernet cable. You can then connect additional adapters to outlets in your home or business, allowing computers or other devices to access your network.
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