Powerline lifeline?
Liverpool city has announced plans for a 200Mbs broadband trial connecting 1,000 homes using Powerline Communications (PLC) technology.
PLC delivers broadband access via existing national grid power cables but it has been around 5 years since PLC was seriously tried out, according to ISPreview. The technology could reportedly not keep up with cheaper and faster ADSL solutions and was also hit by numerous regulatory issues.
However, the UK government made mention of PLC in its national broadband strategy last month, signalling the technology could once again be an option. It reportedly said that in some cases PLC "might be the most effective method of delivering higher bandwidths" but warned its use will probably be ‘fairly limited' due to the cost of deployment.
Liverpool's PLC trial will run alongside the installation of smart meters giving technology that seemingly missed the broadband boat a new lease of life, according to the Liverpool Daily Post.
It is believed it saves money to install PLC at the same time as smart meters (that allow consumers to see how much electricity they are using and automatically send energy companies the information).
The local newspaper claims Liverpool is 1 of 6 leading cities when it comes to smart grid technology and around 1,200 homes are involved in the £1m trial aimed at cutting carbon emissions.
Mark Knowles, a low carbon energy manager for The Mersey Partnership reportedly said the installation of smart meters in older homes will pave the way for PLC, which could bring broadband that is ten times as faster to homes in the area.
"This is another option to deliver super fast broadband without having to dig up streets," he reportedly said.
Work on the scheme is understood to have been going on since July and the trial is thought to have be put in place by Scottish Power and Plus Dane homes, although the cost of the scheme is unknown.
