BPL - Broadband Over Power Lines

Broadband Over Power Lines (BPL) in the USA may have gotten a much-needed boost from IBM this week. They contracted with International Broadband Electric Communications (IBEC) to install high-speed Internet service to rural electric cooperatives (RECs). The 900+ RECs in America provide electricity to almost half of the nations power grid. IBEC plans to offer the systems to co-ops for no capital expense on their part in order to bring Internet service to rural communities not currently served by cable and often poorly served by the smaller telephone companies. Ars Technica has a good article on the IBEC/IBM arrangement.

BPL should be faster and cheaper than satellite Internet service. Current BPL technology is capable of Internet speeds about the same as low and medium-speed DSL. More advanced versions have been demonstrated at speeds up to one gigabit.

Unfortunately, BPL has a spotty record, so it remains to be seen if IBEC and IBM can really make it happen.