On 6 April, the European Commission adopted a Recommendation on broadband electronic communications through powerlines (powerline communications – PLC). This Recommendation aims to clarify rules applicable to PLC systems when using electric power cables to carry electronic communication data and to facilitate the use of electric power supply lines to offer broadband services.
This is, in fact, a market of significant dimensions, involving around 200 million power lines running directly into houses, schools and businesses throughout the European Union.
The Commission recommends that Member States remove any unjustified regulatory obstacles, in particular from public service companies, on the deployment and operations of powerline communications networks and services through the electric grid, thereby contributing towards the increase of competition in the electronic communications market, by opening it up to new suppliers, which is supported by the liberalization of the electric sector market.
As PLC systems are comprised by the new Directive on electromagnetic compatibility – Directive 2004/108/EC, of 15 December 2004, which shall enter into force on July 2007 – the respective application is also described in detail, in particular as regards interferences.
Member States should report to the Communications Committee on a regular basis on the deployment and operations which take place in this context, the first of such reports being due on 31 December 2005.
Further information:
- Commission Recommendation 2005/292/EC, of 6.4.2005 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2005:093:0042:0044:EN:PDF
- Nota de informação da Comissão http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/403&format=HTML&aged=0&language=en&guiLanguage=en
- Directive 2004/108/EC http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/lex/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2004/l_390/l_39020041231en00240037.pdf
- Powerline Line communications - questions and answers http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/05/119&type=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
- Comissão Europeia - área sobre a compatibilidade electromagnética http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/electr_equipment/emc/
