Coexistence analysis of access and indoor powerline communication systems for Smart Grid ICT networks

In the context of enabling a comprehensive ICT infrastructure for the Smart Grid including Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) and Demand Side Management (DSM), the coexistence of narrowband and broadband access and indoor powerline communication systems is essential, since neither the customers accept performance loss of their private indoor networks, nor the Meter Reading Operator or Distribution System Operator can operate its Smart Grid components efficiently. Therefore, in this paper a coexistence testbed is introduced in order to investigate the influence of narrowband and broadband access systems on the customers indoor networks. Even though their operating frequencies do not overlap, also common narrowband powerline communication systems using the CENELEC A band can cause a significant performance decrease on an OFDM-based broadband powerline communication system, which operates in the frequency range of 2 MHz to 30 MHz, when using the same mains. These effects are investigated in detail and the results show the spectral behavior of the interacting systems, their performance data and coexistence with other systems. It is shown that the performance decrease on the BPLC system can be nearly nullified by introducing an additional filter.