Transcript Presentation at 3rd GSM prebidders conferece

ITU-T FORUM ON IMPLEMENTATION OF
WTSA 08 DECISSIONS
ACCRA, GHANA
POWERLINE COMMUNICATION (PLC)
Daniel K. Waturu
Communications Commission of Kenya
Manager/Telecoms Compliance
Chairman/RG-AFR
Accra, Ghana, 16-17
June 2009
Outline
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Accra, Ghana, 16-17
June 2009
Introduction
PLC Technology overview
PLC Implementation
PLC Applications
Kenyan Experience
Advantages of PLC
PLC Challenges
Regulatory Questions
Task for Regulators
Conclusion
Introduction
Challenges for ICT access (in Africa)
due to limited Infrastructure
PLC designed to address this challenge
Reduce need for long process of costly
licensing of new telecommunication
infrastructure providers
Existing power companies can deliver
the needed infrastructure
Accra, Ghana, 16-17
June 2009
Introduction Contd.
Power lines are more widely spread
than telecommunication infrastructure
Rural Electrification Programs ( e.g.
Kenya) makes it reach rural areas
easily
Reduces the cost of laying new internal
and external cables
High speed internet possible at homes
and offices using common electrical
outlet
Accra, Ghana, 16-17
June 2009
PLC Technology overview
Power line grids need slight modification suited
for broadband communication
PLC signal is injected at the low voltage
(secondary) side of the transformer, or at a pole
near customer’s premises.
Forward connection to the in-house power
sockets
Connection back to the wider
telecommunications network achieved through
cable, optic fibre, satellite, wireless systems
Where necessary repeaters are used to
regenerate weaker signals towards the building
Accra, Ghana, 16-17
June 2009
PLC Technology Overview
Contd.
RF energy and electric current are
bundled on the same transmission
line
Due to difference in frequency, the
two do not interfere
Couplers or bridging circuits used to
bypass transformers
Silicon Chipset used to “pull” data
out of electric current.
Accra, Ghana, 16-17
June 2009
PLC Implementation
PLC modem uses specially
developed modulation technique
PLC modem uses adaptive algorithm
to prevent power line noise
PLC modems are plug and play
roughly the size as common power
adaptor
Modem plugs into a common wall
socket
Accra, Ghana, 16-17
June 2009
PLC Applications
Commercial
High speed internet access
Voice
Video
Home networking
Utility applications
SCADA
Automatic meter reading
Distribution transformer overload analysis
Line testing
Outage location and fault characterization
Power quality monitoring
Accra, Ghana, 16-17
June 2009
Kenyan Experience
Power utility company, KPLC, had private
communication network on OPGW
Previously licensed as private network
Extra bandwidth on OPGW
New business opportunity in telecommunication
Applied for a license for commercial use of
OPGW
License was granted under existing market
structure to KPLC
KPLC’s OPGW will act as backhaul for PLC
systems if implemented
Accra, Ghana, 16-17
June 2009
Kenyan Experience Cont’d
PLC solutions providers are approaching
utility companies for partnership and user
companies/organizations to provide the
service
Kenya’s Ministry of Youth Affairs has
installed PLC for its unified
communications infrastructure
For power, internet and local area
connectivity
No interference case has been reported
w.r.t. this installation
Accra, Ghana, 16-17
June 2009
Advantages of PLC
No need for additional cabling
Reduced cost of infrastructure (LAN &
Access)
Provide alternative broadband services
Provides wide accessibility to rural and
underserved areas where conventional
telecommunications infrastructure is not
available
Potential of home networking for
domestic appliances
Accra, Ghana, 16-17
June 2009
PLC Challenges
Possibility of interference especially on high voltage lines.
Some regulatory authorities consider PLC modems
unlicensed
They are therefore subject to power limits and should not
interfere with licensed systems.
Operations of PLC must cease if harmful interference is
caused to licensed services
PLC modems are sensitive to power fluctuations hence
possibility of loss of data/internet connections
WAN implementation a challenge due to high voltage
spikes which result in data interruption/loss
Regulatory Questions
Are PLC radio communication
systems subject to frequency
spectrum licensing ?
Communications between the devices is
through the wiring of the AC supply
network, not by radio waves
Electromagnetic radiations are from
electrical cabling
Accra, Ghana, 16-17
June 2009
Task for Regulators for PLC
deployment
Formulate appropriate policies on PLC
Carry out comprehensive studies on PLC
technology and its potential
Benchmark on regulatory and technical
standards and requirements
Maintain positive attitude on the benefits of
deployment of PLC
Accra, Ghana, 16-17
June 2009
Conclusions
PLC has potential to bridge ICT gap and
needs to be encouraged
Regulators ought to encourage competition,
facilitate use of new technologies and
accessibility of ICT for all
Utility companies want to diversify their
businesses
Telecommunication service providers want
new cost-effective means to reach customers
PLC is one of them
Accra, Ghana, 16-17
June 2009
Thank you!
Accra, Ghana, 16-17
June 2009