Broadband Powerline Communications: Ready for Take-off

This publication has been discontinued on July 19, 2011.

Introduction

Power line communications (PLC) has evolved into Broadband Powerline Communications (BPL) that has two primary applications - broadband access (BPL-Access) and home networking (BPL-Indoor).

The report, "Broadband Powerline Communications: Ready for Take-Off," provides an exhaustive look at the BPL marketplace. The report details global BPL deployments, examines emerging BPL devices, and discusses standards and regulation. The report profiles major vendors marketing BPL equipment. The report examines developments in BPL technologies and compares these technologies them with other competing solutions. The report provides market sizing and market forecasts for both BPL-Access and BPL-Indoor.

Table of Contents

List of Tables. 9

List of Figures. 9

1. Executive Summary. 11

1.1 Overview.. 11

1.2 Findings. 11

1.3 Forecasts. 12

1.3.1 BPL-Access Forecasts. 12

1.3.2 BPL-Indoor Forecasts. 12

1.4 Report Highlights. 13

2 Scope and Methodology. 14

2.1 Scope. 14

2.2 Methodology. 15

2.2.1 Primary Research. 15

2.2.2 Secondary Research. 15

2.2.3 Trend Tracking. 15

2.2.4 Global Subscriber Forecasts. 16

2.2.5 Global Revenue Forecasts. 16

2.3 Target Audience. 16

3.0 Introduction to Powerline Communications. 16

3.1 Terminology. 16

3.2 Technology Evolution. 17

3.3 Technology Characteristics. 17

3.3.1 Signal Transmission. 17

3.3.2 Security Issues. 18

3.3.3 Safety Issues. 18

3.4 Narrowband vs. Broadband Powerline Communications. 18

3.5 Regulations. 19

3.5.1 Europe. 19

3.5.2 United States. 20

3.5.3 Rest of the World. 21

4 BPL Technologies. 21

4.1 BPL-Indoor. 21

4.1.1 HomePlug Standard. 21

4.1.1.1 HomePlug Powerline Alliance. 21

4.1.1.2 HomePlug 1.0. 21

4.1.1.3 HomePlug AV.. 22

4.1.2 Competing Technologies. 23

4.1.2.1 DS2s 205 Mb/s Technology. 23

4.1.2.2 Spidcoms 224Mb/s Solution. 23

4.1.2.3 Panasonics HD-PLC.. 23

4.1.2.4 Universal Powerline Associations Initiatives. 23

4.1.2.5 Analysis. 24

4.2 BPL-Access. 24

4.2.1 Existing Technologies. 24

4.2.1.1 Main.nets Technology. 25

4.2.1.2 Xelines Technology. 25

4.2.1.3 DS2s Solution. 25

4.2.1.4 Spidcoms Technology. 25

4.2.1.5 Amperions BPL/Wi-Fi Solution. 25

4.2.1.6 PowerWANs Hybrid Wireless/Fiber/BPL System.. 25

4.2.1.7 Mitsubishis Technology. 26

4.2.1.8 Analysis. 26

4.2.2 Standards Initiatives. 26

4.2.2.1 HomePlug AV "To the Home". 26

4.2.2.2 Open PLC European Research Alliance (OPERA) 26

4.2.2.3 Analysis. 27

5 BPL-Indoor: Products and Competing Technologies. 27

5.1 Vendor Landscape. 28

5.2 Products and Applications. 29

5.2.1 Adapters. 29

5.2.2 Bridging Devices. 29

5.2.3 PCs with Embedded BPL-Indoor Capability. 29

5.2.4 Internal Power Supply. 29

5.2.5 Wireless Access Points. 30

5.2.6 Surge Protectors. 30

5.2.7 Video Security Cameras. 30

5.2.8 Entertainment Products. 30

5.2.9 Specialized Applications. 30

5.2.10 Emerging Capabilities. 31

5.3 Competing Home Networking Technologies. 31

5.3.1 Wi-Fi 31

5.3.2 HomePNA.. 32

5.3.3 Network Cabling. 32

5.3.4 Comparative Assessment 32

6 BPL-Indoor Markets and Channels. 33

6.1 Direct Consumer Sales Channels. 33

6.2 Partnerships with Access Providers and Facilities Owners. 33

6.2.1 BPL-Access Providers. 34

6.2.2 Telephone/Cable Operators. 34

6.2.3 Fixed Wireless Access Providers. 35

6.2.4 Satellite Services. 35

6.2.5 Schools and Hospitals. 35

6.2.6 Hotels. 36

6.2.7 Multi-Dwelling Unit/Multi-Tenant Unit Buildings. 38

6.2.8 Government Facilities. 39

7 BPL-Access Architecture and Competing Technologies. 40

7.1 BPL-Access Infrastructure. 407.1.1 Electrical Distribution System and BPL-Access. 40

7.1.2 Technical Challenges. 40

7.1.3 Electricity Grid Architecture: North America vs. Rest of the World. 41

7.2 Business Models. 417.3 Competing Access Technologies. 41

7.3.1 DSL. 41

7.3.2 Cable Modem.. 42

7.3.3 Fiber-to-the-User 43

7.3.4 Comparative assessment 43

8 BPL-Access Deployments. 44

8.1 North America. 448.1.1 United States. 44

8.1.1.1 Communication Technologies, Inc. 44

8.1.1.2 Broadband Horizons. 44

8.1.1.3 PPL. 44

8.1.1.4 Cinergy Corp. 45

8.1.1.5 Southern Company. 45

8.1.1.6 Duke Energy. 45

8.1.1.7 Florida Power and Light (FPL) 45

8.1.1.8 Pacific Gas and Electric (PGE) 45

8.1.1.9 Ameren Corporation. 46

8.1.1.10 Potomac Electric Power Company (PEPCO) 46

8.1.1.11 Progress Energy. 46

8.1.1.12 FirstEnergy Corp. 46

8.1.1.13 Northeast Utilities. 46

8.1.1.14 Aquila, Inc. 46

8.1.1.15 Hilco Electric Cooperative. 46

8.1.1.16 Idaho Power Co. 47

8.1.1.17 Consolidated Edison. 47

8.1.1.18 Other Deployments. 47

8.1.2 Canada. 47

8.1.2.1 Hydro Quebec. 47

8.1.2.2 PUC Telecom.. 47

8.2 Europe. 488.2.1 Spain. 48

8.2.1.1 Endesa. 48

8.2.1.2 Iberdrola. 48

8.2.1.3 Union Fenosa. 48

8.2.1.4 Epresa Energia. 48

8.2.2 Portugal 49

8.2.2.1 ONI 49

8.2.2.2 EEM... 49

8.2.2.3 TecnoCBL. 49

8.2.3 France. 49

8.2.3.1 EDF. 49

8.2.3.2 RSEIPC.. 50

8.2.4 Germany. 50

8.2.4.1 EnBW... 50

8.2.4.2 MVV Energie AG.. 50

8.2.5 Austria. 50

8.2.5.1 TIWAG.. 50

8.2.5.2 Linz AG.. 50

8.2.6 Italy. 50

8.2.6.1 ENEL. 50

8.2.6.2 ALPIKOM... 50

8.2.7 Sweden. 50

8.2.7.1 Sydkraft 50

8.2.7.2 Goteborg Energi 518.2.7.3 Skanska Energi 518.2.7.4 Vattemfall 51

8.2.7.5 Elforsk. 51

8.2.7.6 Jamtkraft 51

8.2.7.7 Vastervik. 51

8.2.7.8 EDF. 51

8.2.8 Norway. 51

8.2.8.1 Eidsiva Energi 51

8.2.8.2 Lyse Tele. 52

8.2.9 Finland. 52

8.2.9.1 Adato Energia. 52

8.2.9.2 Finish Electric Society. 52

8.2.10 Switzerland. 52

8.2.10.1 EEF. 52

8.2.10.2 SIG.. 52

8.2.11 United Kingdom.. 52

8.2.11.1 Scottish and Southern Energy. 52

8.2.11.2 City of Winchester 52

8.2.12 Ireland. 53

8.2.12.1 ESB.. 53

8.2.13 Iceland. 53

8.2.13.1 Reykjavik Energy. 53

8.2.14 Isle of Mann. 53

8.2.14.1 MEA.. 53

8.2.15 Russia. 53

8.2.15.1 Electro-Com.. 53

8.2.16 Poland. 53

8.2.16.1 Pattern Communications. 53

8.2.17 Hungary. 53

8.2.17.1 32Vnet 53

8.3 Asia-Pacific. 53

8.3.1 China (Including Hong Kong) 53

8.3.1.1 CK Power Communications & Hutchison. 53

8.3.1.2 FibrLINK Networks Co. 54

8.3.1.3 China Gridcom Co. 54

8.3.1.4 Others. 54

8.3.2 Korea. 54

8.3.2.1 Korea Electric Power Corp. 54

8.3.3 Australia. 54

8.3.3.1 Great Southern Energy. 54

8.3.4 New Zealand. 55

8.3.4.1 United Networks. 55

8.3.5 Japan. 55

8.3.5.1 Tokyo Electric Power Company. 55

8.3.5.2 Others. 55

8.3.6 Singapore. 55

8.3.6.1 Singapore Power 55

8.3.7 Malaysia. 55

8.3.7.1 TNB.. 55

8.3.8 Indonesia. 55

8.4 Latin America. 55

8.4.1 Brazil 55

8.4.1.1 AES Electropaulo. 55

8.4.1.2 CEMIRIM... 56

8.4.1.3 COPEL. 56

8.4.1.4 EDF. 56

8.4.2 Peru. 56

8.4.2.1 Luz del Sur 56

8.4.3 Mexico. 56

8.4.3.1 Grupo Iusa. 56

8.4.3.2 Comision Federal de Electricidad. 56

8.4.4 Costa Rica. 56

8.4.4.1 Instituto Costarricence de Electricidad. 56

8.4.5 Chile. 57

8.4.5.1 EMEL. 57

8.4.6 Others. 57

8.5 Africa. 57

9. Market Forecasts. 57

9.1 BPL-Access. 57

9.1.1 Demand Drivers. 57

9.1.1.1 Current and Emerging Applications. 58

9.1.1.2 Utility Deregulation. 58

9.1.1.3 Extending Reach of Fiber 59

9.1.1.4 Low Cost of Deployment 59

9.1.1.5 Serving Unserved Areas. 59

9.1.2 Demand Inhibitors. 59

9.1.3 BPL-Access Market Forecasts. 60

9.1.3.1 BPL-Access Service Revenue. 60

9.1.3.2 BPL-Access Subscribers. 62

9.2 BPL-Indoor. 62

9.2.1 Growth Factors. 62

9.2.2 Market Forecasts. 64

9.2.2.1 BPL-Indoor Devices Revenue. 64

9.2.2.2 BPL-Indoor Devices Sold. 65

10 Vendor Profiles. 67

10.1 Ambient Corp. 67

10.2 Amperion, Inc. 68

10.3 Ascom Powerline Communications AG.. 70

10.4 Asoka USA Corporation. 72

10.5 Aztech Systems Ltd. 74

10.6 Belkin Corporation. 75

10.7 Corinex Communications Corp. 75

10.8 Current Technologies, LLC.. 76

10.9 devolo AG.. 78

10.10 Design of Systems on Silicon S.A. (DS2) 79

10.11 GigaFast Ethernet 82

10.12 Intellon Corporation. 83

10.13 Main.net Communications, Ltd. 8510.14 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (Panasonic) 89

10.15 Mitsubishi Electric Corporation. 90

10.16 Netgear, Inc. 92

10.17 Packard Bell 93

10.18 PowerWAN, Inc. 93

10.19 Sagem S.A. 94

10.20 Schneider Electric Powerline Communications AB.. 95

10.21 Spidcom Technologies S.A. 98

10.22 Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. 99

10.23 Tecnocom Telecomuniciones y Energia, S.A. 10010.24 Telkonet, Inc. 101

10.25 Xeline. 105

10.26 Others. 106

10.26.1 Conexant Systems, Inc. 106

10.26.2 Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. 107

10.26.3 Arkados, Inc. 107

11 Conclusions and Recommendations. 107

11.1 Conclusions. 107

11.1.1 BPL-Access. 108

11.1.2 BPL-Indoor 109

11.2 Recommendations. 109

Appendices: HomePlug-Certified Products. 112

Appendix A: Retail Products. 112

Appendix B: Reference Designs. 114

List of Tables

Table 1: Comparison of Home Networking Technologies. 33

Table 2: BPL-Access Service Revenue - 2004-2011. 60

Table 3: BPL-Access Subscribers - 2004-2011. 62

Table 4: BPL-Indoor Devices Revenue - 2004-2011. 64

Table 5: BPL-Indoor Devices Sold - 2004-2011. 66

List of Figures

Figure 1: BPL-Access Service Revenue by Region - 2004. 13

Figure 2: BPL-Indoor Devices Sale Revenue by Region - 2004. 14

Figure 3: BPL-Access Service Revenue by Region - 2011. 61

Figure 4: BPL-Access Subscribers by Region - 2004. 63

Figure 5: BPL-Access Subscribers by Region - 2011. 63

Figure 6: BPL-Indoor Devices Revenue by Region - 2011. 65

Figure 7: BPL-Indoor Devices Sale by Region - 2004. 66

Figure 8: BPL-Indoor Devices Sale by Region - 2011. 67

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