The world's first large-scale trial of Broadband over Powerline (BPL) technology began in Tasmania today.

TasTel claims the new BPL technology can offer Internet access at up to 200Mbit/s, significantly faster than the speeds reached by ADSL2 and 2+ technology.

However, the actual speeds offered during the trial are much slower. The fastest priced BPL plan offered by TasTel is only 4Mbit/s and includes only 2GB of data for $79.95/month. (It offers a 12Mbit/s plan, "price on application"). The slowest plan is 256/64 and includes an astoundingly small 20MB of data, which includes uploads. An additional network access charge will also be levied, although it is being waived for the trial, which could last twelve months.

TasTel says that these prices are "cheap" and lists a number of other questionable "great benefits" of BPL over traditional ADSL service delivery.

The trial includes VoIP services provided by engin, and a smaller sub-group will also trial video delivery. Up to 500 homes in Hobart will be invited to participate.

BPL technology uses existing power lines, offering Internet access through every electrical power outlet in connected premises. Users just plug a modem into the power outlet to connect.

The trial, which follows the successful completion of a pilot study earlier this year, is a joint venture between ISP Datafast, Mitsubishi Electric who manufacture the modem and the utility company Aurora Energy. If the trial is successful, access to BPL will be extended to over 250,000 Tasmanian homes and business serviced by Aurora.

Amateur radio users are unhappy about the trial. At least one radio ham living in the area has reported significant interference on HF radio bands, a problem also reported in BPL trials in USA. Data packets passing down unshielded cables cause them to act like giant antennas, spreading interference over a wide area, according to a report in The New Scientist. The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ordered service providers to use filters on their household equipment to avoid the problem.

Links:

• Media Release  (Datafast, 13 Sep 2005)
• Aurora trial switched on  (Wireless Institute of Australia, 25 Aug 2005)
• TasTel's BPL plans
• Broadband plans a concern for radio hams  (ABC News, 13 Jan 2005)
• Broadband powered by... power  (Whirlpool, 24 Nov 2004)