Keynote III. Communications over HV-MV-LV Power Lines: Europe Standards and Regulations overview

Power Line Communication (PLC) is a well-known data transmission technique using electrical power lines as media transmission. Thanks to a huge technological leap forward in DSP technology today it is possible to fully exploit this media not optimized for the transmission of communication signals and use it as a broadband communication channel. For long time PLC have been used to transport exclusively efficiently narrow band signals for Power Utilities electrical services delivering like Telecontrol, Teleprotection and Metering. Due to recent systems improvements broadand transmissions are becoming feasible, making it possible to extend the range of application of such systems from very narrow band to broadband. Trials carried out over several European test sites including High Voltage (HV), Medium Voltage (MV) and Low Voltage(LV) electricity power lines have shown new PLC system could be easily integrated over existing telecommunication infrastructure as well as other traditional connectivity technologies i.e. radio links, coaxial cables, etc.. Available product and generic standards cover all main aspects of these technologies making it possible to market and use them easily across EUROPE fulfilling all Regulatory constraints. Nevertheless there are still some open issues open could be addressed in order to consolidate definitively PLC Standards essentials for providing efficient and low cost products.