BROAD BAND OVER POWER LINE(BPL)

BY:-

B.ALMAS

TARANNUM

What is BPL?

Broadband over power

lines (BPL) is a method

of power line

communication .

High-speed digital data

transmission over the

public electric power

distribution wiring.

Signalling frequencies higher

than the electrical signals.

Home networks can be run at

speeds of 1 to 3 Mbps with

full Internet access.

Transmission Line

Generating Plant

Substation

End UserDistribution System

History of BPL

BPL is an old technology that has struggled with

interference issues since it was first rolled out in

Manchester, England in 1997.

Many countries adopted BPL technology.

Due to interference issues BPL transmission had to

be ceased

Test site with 7,000 user’s was started in Europe in

2003

Current status of BPL in the world

Number of foreign

governments are

currently studying

BPL technology.

Some of the

countries have also

permitted

equipment trials.

Main features of BPL

It operates at higher frequencies than traditional

range(600kHZ) between 2 and 80 MHz

Modulation technique used is orthogonal

frequency division multiplexing(OFDM)

Provides broadband access over medium voltage

power lines.

The technology transports data ,voice and videos at

broadband speed to the end user’s connection

Architecture of BPL

Working of BPL

Uses power line communication

technology

Only a BPL “modem” is to be

plugged in to get high speed

internet access.

Internet signals are dropped at

medium voltage with a device

called ‘head end’

This signal gets degraded during

transmission so repeaters are

installed.

Injector

coupler

Repeater

coupler

Extractor

distributio

n

transform

er

Destinatio

n

Function of BPL modem

Uses silicon chipsets

These modems are

capable of handling

power noise on a wide

spectrum.

These modems are

capable of speeds

comparable to cable

modems

Power line communication (PLC)

technology

PLC is a technique for

sending high speed data

through the medium

voltage power

distribution network

PLC is based in OFDM

technique mainly

because of immunity of

OFDM towards

interference

OFDM Modulation

Is a frequency

multiplexing scheme

utilized as a digital multi

carrier modulation

method

Orthogonal sub carriers

are used to carry data.

It eliminates issues of

cross talk and

interference between sub

channels.

Advantages of BPL over other

connections

High speed home networking system

Can also reach remote areas

Broadband at every outlet

Cost effectiveness and large scale broadband

penetration.

Low cost equipment

More secured

BPL can be used by power companies to solve

their problems in the line

Issues and challenges

Compatibility problems with other users of the

radio spectrum

Signal attenuation.

Turning on and off every time of any electrical

device introduces a click into the line.

Coordination among Telecom & Power service

providers

LV transformers act as a low-pass filter,

allowing electricity through it with low losses

at low frequencies but not higher frequencies

etc.

Conclusion and recommendations

In our Country where serious financial constraints exist in terms

of heavy investments to be made for laying copper or installing

satellite as a mode of final broad band transmission, giving

serious consideration and priority to BPL would be worthwhile

Besides, low maintenance costs and lesser installation

time make BPL a worth technology for increasing broad band

penetration.

The Broad Band over Power Line communication

network technologies are new for Indian telecom network and

will grow extensively in near future for higher capacity

applications e.g. Triple Play services (telephony, data and TV

etc.). Also BPL is a better option with less cost for network

operators.

Reference

Wikipedia 2011 URL:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_line_c

ommunication

Valdes, Robert. "How Broadband Over

Power lines Works",

HowStuffWorks.com.<http://computer.ho

wstuffworks.com/bpl.htm>24 February

2010.

Thank you