Monday, October 25, 2004
Broadband over Power Lines: Going Nowhere Fast
Utilities take pass on offering broadband
Most firms skeptical of providing service over power lines
By Peter J. Howe, [Boston] Globe Staff | October 25, 2004
Most firms skeptical of providing service over power lines
By Peter J. Howe, [Boston] Globe Staff | October 25, 2004
The nation's top telecommunications regulators are convinced that electric-power lines are finally ready to become a revolutionary new way for Americans to get high-speed Internet access, unleashing competition for cable and phone giants. But the utility companies that would actually deploy the services remain overwhelmingly skeptical.Wouldn't it be cheaper to go straight to fiber? The utilities could deliver fiber in the same sheath as electricity. What's wrong with this picture?
Of the nearly 160 investor-owned utilities in the United States, dozens have tried out ''broadband over power line" systems. Only one -- Cinergy Corp. in Cincinnati -- has moved ahead with a significant commercial rollout, so far attracting barely 1,500 subscribers. Dozens of utilities that ran trials of the service in the last three years took a pass on making a business venture of it.
Locally, Western Massachusetts Electric Co. is starting up a 25-home trial in Agawam of a hybrid system that carries Net traffic on medium-voltage lines and uses wireless gear for the last-mile connection to homes. But the state's two dominant electric utilities are both steering clear.
Comments:
The real reason for BPL is so that power companies can monitor their power distribution system. Only a few substations are actively monitored, so the first clue that a customer has lost power is when they call. When there's an outage, many meters stop spinning. The sooner they can get them spinning again, the better.
The only reason to provide broadband to residences is 1) to read their meter, 2) to know that they have power, and 3) reduce the cost of the data transmission system by renting bandwidth to ISPs.
The only reason to provide broadband to residences is 1) to read their meter, 2) to know that they have power, and 3) reduce the cost of the data transmission system by renting bandwidth to ISPs.
Further, look at the reason why Con Ed is interested in Ambient Technology's BPL product: "This state-of-the-art monitoring and communications system will serve us well." Nothing in there about how Con Ed will use it to provide bandwidth to its customers.
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