Utilities tap broadband-over-power-line technology

Optical Networking This newsletter is sponsored by Arsenal Digital Solutions Solving the Distributed Data Protection Problem Hackers, disgruntled and careless employees, equipment failure, broken pipes, fires, and natural disasters all pose threats to your data. Savvy IT and business managers have recognized that in order to deal with these challenges, they need to deploy a company-wide data protection infrastructure. Click here to read this whitepaper today! Network World's Optical Networking Newsletter, 07/16/07 Utilities tap broadband-over-power-line technology By Jim Duffy Utilities view broadband over power line (BPL) services not only as an enabler of new revenue but as a benefactor of internal operations as well. Indeed, several utilities researched by Newton-Evans in the first quarter do not want to be in the telecommunications services business, but do want to gain the benefits of BPL for their internal use in remote asset management, monitoring and network control. BPL’s greatest promise is its potential to extend broadband to approximately 2 billion rural inhabitants who are “unreachable” for modern voice and data services, Newton-Evans says. Yet BPL will also be a key enabler of advanced metering infrastructure and automated meter reading, and allow demand response and “Demand Side Management” programs to develop, the firm asserts. Network World LAN/WAN Buyer's Guide Find the right LAN/WAN products for your enterprise - fast. Our extensive database of detailed product information will help you quickly pinpoint what you need. With the side-by-side comparison tool you can evaluate product features and make the best decision for your enterprise. Click here to go to the Buyer's Guide now. “Many observers see BPL as eventually able to replace other forms of remote asset management that include SCADA, Teleprotection, and the use of narrow bandwidth forms of Power Line Carrier communications,” the firm states in a press release. BPL is still in its infancy, but certain Western nations have now gained significant experience with sizable pilot implementations, Newton-Evans claims. These BPL rollouts, whether tests or full-scale deployments, now encompass the ability to serve perhaps 10 million customers, the firm says. The number of worldwide electricity consumers covered by BPL deployments is expected to grow from 1.3 million in 2006 to 69.5 million in 2010, according to Newton-Evans, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 170.4%. In North America, that number will grow from 745,000 to 20 million over the same period, a CAGR of 127.6%. The number of BPL subscribers worldwide will grow from 215,500 in 2006 to 7.2 million in 2010, Newton-Evans predicts, a CAGR of 140.6%. In North America, BPL subscribers will grow from 75,000 to 2.5 million over the same period, a CAGR of 140.3%.   What do you think? Post a comment on this newsletter

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Contact the author: Jim Duffy is managing editor of Network World's service provider equipment coverage. He has 18 years of high-tech reporting experience, including over 12 years at Network World. Previously, he was senior editor at Computer Systems News and associate editor/reporter at Electronic News and MIS Week. He can be reached at jduffy@nww.com. This newsletter is sponsored by Arsenal Digital Solutions Solving the Distributed Data Protection Problem Hackers, disgruntled and careless employees, equipment failure, broken pipes, fires, and natural disasters all pose threats to your data. Savvy IT and business managers have recognized that in order to deal with these challenges, they need to deploy a company-wide data protection infrastructure. Click here to read this whitepaper today! ARCHIVE Archive of the Optical Networking Newsletter. BONUS FEATURE IT PRODUCT RESEARCH AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Get detailed information on thousands of products, conduct side-by-side comparisons and read product test and review results with Network World’s IT Buyer’s Guides. Find the best solution faster than ever with over 100 distinct categories across the security, storage, management, wireless, infrastructure and convergence markets. Click here for details. PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE You've got the technology snapshot of your choice delivered to your inbox each day. Extend your knowledge with a print subscription to the Network World newsweekly, Apply here today. International subscribers, click here. SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES To subscribe or unsubscribe to any Network World newsletter, change your e-mail address or contact us, click here. This message was sent to: networking.world@gmail.com. Please use this address when modifying your subscription. Advertising information: Write to Associate Publisher Online Susan Cardoza Network World, Inc., 118 Turnpike Road, Southborough, MA 01772 Copyright Network World, Inc., 2007