RSSDirecTV to Offer Internet Over Power Lines
By Ed Oswald | Published August 15, 2007, 11:56 AM
DirecTV said Wednesday that it had signed an agreement with Current Group, which would allow it to offer Internet broadband services via power lines.
The company had indicated in May of this year that it was shopping around for a partner to test out so-called "broadband over power line" (BPL). Current appears to be it; the service will premiere in Dallas later this year or early next year.
Current's BPL package will be sold just like the reseller agreements DirecTV already has with other high-speed Internet providers, including AT&T, Verizon, and Qwest. Offerings will include VoIP telephone services in addition to Internet service, it said.
"By choosing this bundled option, DirecTV customers will now be able to enjoy fast, reliable and secure high-speed Internet service anywhere they have a power outlet in their homes," broadband vice president Evan Grayer said in a statement.
Indeed, BPL turns any outlet into a data conduit once a special modem is connected to it. Supporters of the technology say that speeds could potentially be faster than current cable and DSL deployments. Current is now constructing networks in Cincinnati and Dallas, and is in talks with utilities to offer service in other cities.
All is not rosy with BPL, however. The technology is said to create a great deal of radio interference, which has been documented by groups including the American Radio Relay League (AARL), an organization of ham radio operators.
The ARRL says that BPL interference has been observed across the high frequency or "shortwave bands," as well as on VHF frequencies commonly used by first responders.
"Overhead electrical power lines and residential wiring act as antennas that unintentionally radiate the broadband signals as radio signals throughout entire neighborhoods and along roadsides," literature from the group on the subject reads.
"In terms of speed, the US has already caught up to Europe."
woehaaaa i think you miss something here... Netherlands is all about fiber optics city Deventer even the most sofisticated in the world where you have speeds you only can dream off in the USA... check your data!
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|Agreed.
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|This technology is improving at a rapid rate and stands a good chance of being practical nation-wide within two years. Its actually old hat in some areas where people's thermostats and meters communicate with the local power company straight over the line. Believe me when I say that ANY affordable broadband or "middleband" option is better than what you have now only a few miles beyond most city limits.
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|This technology will never grab hold, just like satellite internet... albeit for different reasons, besides the interference already mentioned. It's too laber intensive(individually) & requires too much equipment that blocks too much space / looks so ugly....
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|I don't trust DirecTV with Internet services anymore; they're current (HughesNet/DirecWay) service along with their "Fair" Access Policy is enough of a headache as is. Download too much (too much meaning 160+ MB) in too little time (within a 24 hour period), you get internet slower than dial-up (less than 1 kB/s) for over 24 hours.
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|Maybe now with this opportunity available, the US will come up to European standards as far access to the Internet and high speeds?
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|In terms of speed, the US has already caught up to Europe. The technology being used in the US is called fiber optics. Chances are, fiber optics are actually faster than internet access in Europe.
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|I think he is referring to those technologies being available to the average user. I live in Minneapolis and we *still* do not have direct access to fiber, it's either Cable or DSL.
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|In theory maybe, but not in practice.... significant areas of many countries get speeds as high 50/75 even 100....
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|I agree. He overstated his case... let him go to Asia, Scandinavia, etc. and marvel at how fast and affordable broadband most have access to-- 10X faster than we do.
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|BPL does have one really good thing going for it. That is that it is symmetrical.
Although I think it would better suited if it was deployed in rural areas. It is pretty much guaranteed to sell there.
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|Devils advocate: But if it's more suited for rural areas, wouldn't its downsides (apparent severe RFI) be even more of a problem?
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|Why would it be more of a problem in rural areas than urban?
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|Wait, is it the rural or urban areas that have more dashes?
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|rural areas typicaly would have higher voltage overhead lines. (less interference when lines are buried) besides its not economical for rural areas because the signal requires many repeaters over longer distances and then the speed drops dramaticaly
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|I'd say that with ANY signal leakage into other bands (especially those regulated by FCC) that this would be a no go off the bat. Ever seen how seriously they lay the smack down on cable when they discover a signal leakage? This is why there are techs that just drive around with a signal reader to see if they can find the leakage first. :P
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|i didn't think comedy could die but here we are.
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|...and I was there to witness it.
This is definitely going in my scrapbook. ;)
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