Texas to get broadband over its power lines

[Jared Moya]

The plan was announced on Monday by Current Communications Group, a service provider that specializes in broadband service over power lines (BPL), and TXU Electric Delivery, the largest electric company in Texas.

 

The companies estimate that roughly 2 million homes and businesses in northern Texas will be able to subscribe to the new service when the network is complete. Current Communications--which has built a similar network over Cincinnati's power lines with local utility company Cinergy--will design, build and operate the new broadband network. Deployments will begin in 2006, the companies said.

 

The purpose of the new network is twofold. First, it will allow TXU to monitor the health of its power network. If an outage occurs, the network, which is based on Internet Protocol, can send alerts immediately. Eventually, the utility could even use the network to remotely read meters and switch power on or off.

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[ratbag]

any idea of th u/d speeds

[Jared Moya]

It will supposedly thus far be DSL comparable, until final resolution of a few technical hurdles.......

[gaining]

I would have thought a network like this would have the capability of almost unlimitedGbps up/dn.

[hawkburn]

I personally like this, except for the fact that since our power lines are above ground and over 60 years old, I'm betting this would go out more than cable. Cable in Dallas is horrible, but the DSL service is excellent.

Not to mention it would probably give a big boost to TXU, which has been struggling since the deregulation and competition of a few years back.

[shawners]

TXU keeps hiking prices, they are losing ground in the electric field.. ANd you lose your INTERNET connection if power lines crap out. MOst of our lines are underground.

[clayc102]

Okay, there are some goods and bads with everything. However, if your argument against this is that if the power goes out you lose your internet, how many of your DSL or Cable modems don't use electricity? Besides, almost all computers I have worked on use it too. I understand you can use a laptop and battery backups, but that will only last for a short time. Face it, the power lines are a good feed for internet access. I will try it out myself. I just wonder about the limitations on distance, like DSL.