January 8, 2009

IEEE Confirms Baseline for BPL Standard

The IEEE P1901 Working Group has confirmed and approved the baseline for IEEE's standard related to broadband over power lines (BPL), IEEE Std 1901, "Draft Standard for Broadband over Power Line Networks: Medium Access Control and Physical Layer Specifications."

Three proposals addressing more than 400 functional and technical requirements in three critical areas of BPL, in-home, access and coexistence, were approved to form the baseline of the standard. The proposals received more than 85 percent of affirmative votes within the working group, exceeding the 75 percent required threshold. More information about the standards process can be found at http://standards.ieee.org/announcements/bkgnd_stdsprocess.html.

The baseline specification of more than 2,000 pages includes FFT and Wavelet OFDM modulation schemes and an option for compatibility with the ITU-T Study Group 15/Q4 G.hn Recommendation under development. The in-home part allows low-voltage wiring in structures to carry digital content; the access part provides for transmission of broadband content on the medium- and low-voltage power lines that feed homes; and the coexistence and interoperability part ensures all equipment and devices used on BPL networks are compatible.

The draft standard will be developed over the next several months. The P1901 Working Group already formed the first Technical Sub Group dedicated to this task. The Working Group will next convene from Feb. 3-6 in Miami.