Power lines can provide an attractive alternative for broadband connectivity, but competing technologies and providers have hampered standardization efforts.
Enterprise Networking Planet reports on the latest efforts by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) to find common ground between the competing interests and what still needs to happen to get a final standard established. Other broadband over power line standards may also emerge.
Technologists working to hammer out a common standard for broadband over power line (BPL) technology have reached a consensus on a draft protocol, which will now pass to a final vote.
Since 2005, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) has been working on a specification to help provide standards for the BPL industry. With BPL technologies, Ethernet connectivity is provided over regular power lines, which can offer an appealing alternative to traditional models of connectivity for both enterprises and consumers.