Digital Powerline (DPL)

Digital Powerline (DPL) technology provides the transmission of data to users over the same lines that bring electric power to homes and businesses. Using the Internet's TCP/IP protocol, companies using DPL across the mains electricity grid plan to deliver data at speeds up to 1 Mbps. DPL would allow a user to get Web pages and other Internet information over power lines with a 24-hour continuous connection (since your power lines are always connected). This would free your telephone for voice use. In addition, since many home appliances are attached to the power system, they could easily be addressed as Internet devices when plugged in.

Download this free guide

Download: Overcome Virtual Network Management Challenges

The virtualized network poses challenges to network management systems -- and as more hardware components become virtualized, that challenge becomes even greater. This handbook discusses the steps IT must take to both build and corral their virtualized infrastructure.

Start Download

• Corporate E-mail Address:

  You forgot to provide an Email Address.

  This email address doesn’t appear to be valid.

  This email address is already registered. Please login.

  You have exceeded the maximum character limit.

  Please provide a Corporate E-mail Address.

By submitting my Email address I confirm that I have read and accepted the Terms of Use and Declaration of Consent.

By submitting your personal information, you agree that TechTarget and its partners may contact you regarding relevant content, products and special offers.

You also agree that your personal information may be transferred and processed in the United States, and that you have read and agree to the Terms of Use and the Privacy Policy.

NOR.WEB, a joint venture of Northern Telecom Limited (Nortel) and the UK-based United Utilities PLC, plans to offer a service to users in the UK. Trials of DPL are ongoing in Manchester, UK., and Milan, Italy. Utilities in Sweden and Germany have also shown interest and are planning trials.

The DPL technology has, however, been dogged by allegations that it has failed to overcome line noise on the power grid; in addition concerns have been addressed in certain countries that DPL will cause the power grid to emit unwanted radio frequency (RF) interference. NOR.WEB says, however, that their technology has overcome the line noise problem.