Less than a week after Nortel Networks Inc and United Utilities Plc folded its digital power-line venture Nor.Web Ltd, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute has launched a project to develop standards for the communications-over-electricity-mains technology. ETSI’s Project for Powerline Telecommunications (PLT) is to work with the International Powerline Communications Forum, which was set up to investigate not only technical standards but political, regulatory and strategic matters.
Digital powerlines are regarded by many as a cheap way to bring broadband voice and data services to peoples homes, and the best way to implement home networking without any troublesome installation. But PLT been plagued by rumors of dangerous interference and a reluctance to embrace the technology. When Nortel and United Utilities dropped Nor.Web, the firms said they could not see adequate profit potential, and the technology is not yet out of pilot anywhere in Europe.
The first meeting of ETSI’s PLT project will take place on October 13 and 14, at ETSI headquarters in Sophia-Antipolis. It will be chaired by David Healey, of the IPCF.
