Broadband over Powerline (BPL) is a relatively new standard that aims to take advantage of the fact that every building is connected to a power system. BPL uses power cables to transmit radio signals that can be interpreted by network devices. The IEEE standard for BPL is IEEE 1901 and it is based on a standard called Homeplug AV.
This technology can be used in remote locations that don’t have other kinds of infrastructures to provide Internet connectivity. Another use for BPL is home automation, where it can control electronic devices in the house (e.g., lights, temperature, alarm system, etc.) from a remote location.
An important thing to consider is that BPL uses radio signals, so depending on the frequencies used, BPL communication might be susceptible to interference.
BPL can run at the following speeds:
- Low speed with a narrow bandwidth (15 to 500 kHz); usually used by utility providers that need to read home meters from outside
- Medium speed with a bandwidth up to 576Kbps ( 9 to 500 kHz)