PLC enhanced wireless access networks: a link level capacity consideration

The integration of power line communication (PLC) is of interest to future broadband communication systems. These communication systems will be mostly wireless but the use of non-dedicated wired infrastructure will help to reduce costs. PLC uses the highly developed infrastructure of the electrical energy distribution network for data transmission. So it is possible to enlarge the capacity of communication systems without additional wiring and additional costs for this wiring-for outdoor applications, for example to bridge the last mile, as well as indoors, for example to establish or enlarge LANs without new data cables. To evaluate the potential of PLC an analysis of the channel capacity of the power line at higher frequencies is needed. In this paper a detailed analysis of the link level channel capacity of indoor PLC channels is presented at frequencies between 1 MHz and 30 MHz. This analysis is based on extensive measurements of the transfer function and the noise of these channels-for an office environment as well as for a home environment.