SSE Telecom, a power utility company in Scotland has commercially deployed PLC technology to deliver ~2 Mbps broadband services to its rural power utility customers. The utility is also hosting a conference of the Powerline Communications Forum (http://www.plcforum.com)
SCOTLAND TO HOST MAJOR POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS FORUM
SSE Telecom is to host a major international forum in Edinburgh in September to bring together manufacturers, utility companies and research organisations in the field of powerline communication technology (PLC). PLC offers an opportunity to establish broadband communications using the most wide-spread, pre-existing infrastructure – the electricity network, delivering service through house and office wiring to any standard power sockets. SSE Telecom is pioneering affordable broadband services in rural areas with PLC projects in Campbeltown and Crieff.
The forum "Powerline Communications – the World in your socket!" is expected to attract around 60 key delegates from Europe, America and Asia. The event will be held in central Edinburgh from the 11th to the 13th of September.
Scottish and Southern Energy was a founding member of the original Powerline Communications Forum, which had its inaugural meeting in Crieff, in 1999.
Dr Keith MacLean, Director of SSE Telecom, said:
"We are very pleased that the plcforum has accepted our invitation to bring this event to Scotland. PLC technology is an exciting opportunity to utilise the electricity network for broadband communication. Here in Scotland, with our partners Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Perth & Kinross Council, we are implementing pilots in Campbeltown and Crieff with the intention of establishing that PLC can be used to bring broadband services to rural towns and villages in Scotland very much in line with the aspirations of the DTI and Scottish Executive’s Broadband strategy.
"I look forward to hosting the event and I am sure that Edinburgh, with traditional Scottish hospitality, will be a very popular choice for delegates from Japan, Europe and the USA who are working throughout the world to promote PLC. The event will allow us to share experiences and compare technological advances in PLC from around the world."
NOTE TO NEWS EDITORS
The plcforum is an international association representing the interests of manufacturers, utility companies, research organisations and academics active in the field of powerline technology. The forum includes many of the world’s premier utilities such as Electricite de France, RWE and Tokyo Electric and major electronics companies such as Motorola, Philips and NEC.
The pilot project in Crieff has now started and is showing promise with a good take-up by businesses and domestic householders. Work to market the Campbeltown network is underway prior to final connection in September.
The two pilot networks form part of the Scottish Executive’s Action Plan to implement the DTI’s UK Broadband Fund in Scotland promoting, among other things, innovative methods of extending Broadband coverage in more rural areas.
