Broad Band Over Powerline Project 2022

Running head: BROADBAND OVER POWERLINE
BROADBAND OVER POWERLINE
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction..........................................................................................................................2
2.0 Working procedure of Broadband over Power line.............................................................2
2.1 Technology based on Power Line Communication.........................................................3
2.2 Need for OFDM Modulation in BPL...............................................................................4
2.3 Architecture of Broadband over Power Line...................................................................5
3.0 International standardization of BPL...................................................................................6
4.0 Forward Error Code Correction...........................................................................................8
5.0 Benefits of Broadband over Power Line (BPL)...................................................................9
6.0 Issues related to the BPL connection.................................................................................10
Conclusion................................................................................................................................11
References................................................................................................................................13

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1.0 Introduction
The advancement in the technological developemnet which enables the transmission
of high speed digital data over utility power lines is proposed by the term Broadband over
Power Line. It uses the existing electrical power line as a medium of transmission of data at a
high rate of data speed by coupling the energy of radio frequency over the power line (Held
2016).The technology is implemented by utilizing the principle of power engineering, radio
wave spectrum, network and modem technology along with the electromagnetic
compatibility. The broadband over power line provides an instant access of internet just by
simply plugging the power input of the PC and other devices which provides access to the
internet to the in-house electrical outlet supply. The users have to install a modem which can
be plugged into an ordinary in-house outlet to get access to the broadband services (Singh
and Advocate 2016). Though the broadband technology is increasing rapidly but still a huge
part of the world do not have the access to high speed internet because the cost of cable
laying and constructing the required infrastructure is too expensive in the rural areas, whereas
transmitting the broadband service through the already existing the power line saves a high
expense as well as eliminates the problems of digital divide in the rural areas. This report
discusses about the working procedure of broadband over power line, error code correction
merits and demerits of BPL along with the international standardization.
2.0 Working procedure of Broadband over Power line
In order to provide access to the internet connection at a cheap rate the Broadband
over Power Line uses the power line communication technology over the ordinary power
lines (Dash and Panda 2016). A device can be used just by plugging into a BPL modem
connected to the in-house electrical outlet.

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There are three-tiered power grid hierarchy which comprises of the High voltage,
Medium voltage and Low voltage transmission line. However,the BPL communication
configuration are predominant by two types of transmission line:
i) Medium voltage power line
ii) Low voltage power line
The medium voltage and low voltage power line are used to transmit the internet
signal where a device named head end is used to transmit the signal with the help of fiber
cable. However, the dropped signal over the power line cannot traverse a long distance due to
the distortion or attenuation in the signal strength (Gankov 2018). To avoid such
consequences repeaters are installed over the power lines to enable a smooth transmission of
the data. At last, the end user can get the access over the connectivity of the internet just by
plugging the devices into the BPL modem.
2.1 Technology based on Power Line Communication
The combination of radio frequency with existing electrical medium voltage power
lines generates the functioning of the BPL technology (Artale et al. 2016). The BPL
technology utilizes a method based on high density modulation called Orthogonal Frequency
Multiplexing Division (OFDM) which provides a quality communication to the customers
(Corcoran, Foo, and Lowery 2018). To fulfill the requirements of the customers the upload
and download speed are configured accordingly and delivers the transmission of data at a
high speed to the customers. The BPL technology based system operates over the frequency
range of 10 MHz to 30 MHz which enables the prevention of the signal attenuation (Wen et
al. 2017) . The data usage is optimized throughout the network by keeping the signal strength
more than 30dB.

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The OFDM stacks information and transmits simultaneously across narrowband
operators at distinct frequencies. Approximately there is 2 to 10 bits per sub-carriers is added
in this technology for the communication purpose. It has the maximum of 1536 sub-carriers,
which is considered as the highest numbers of sub-carriers as compared to any other wired
technology used in communication and operates between 10 MHz to 30MHz. This
technology is accomplished with high reliability and highest efficiency by adjusting the
number of bitson on real time basis for each single carrier (Fan, Yu and Guan 2015). The data
transmission rate provided throughout the communication by Power Line Communication is
about 200 Mbps. Hence, the number of bits adapted depends upon the condition of the
received signal and transmission medium. Thus, as a result this technology provides the
maximum stability and highest quality of communication even in the phase of interference.
Therefore, this modulation technique is used to encounter with the issues of natural
obstructions and as well as with the interference of unwanted signals over transmitting data
using the power line (Marey and Dobre 2016). The implementation of the OFDM in PCL
provides spectral efficiency in wire line communication technology with highest level of
performance.
2.2 Need for OFDM Modulation in BPL
It is a multi-carrier modulation technique which broadens the use of multiple sub-
carriers under a single channel by using the concept of single subcarriers modulation. OFDM
use the large number of closely spaced orthogonal subcarriers which are orthogonal in nature
and transmits in parallel instead of sending a data stream at high-rate with a given single
subcarrier. Thereafter, every single subcarriers is modulated at low symbol rate by using the
generalized conventional digital modulation techniques, such as QPSK, 16QAM and many

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more (Li et al. 2016). However, multiple subcarriers are combined to allow the data rates
corresponding within the equivalent bandwidths produced by the conventional single-carrier
modulation schemes.
It provides a distinct advantage over its ability to deal with the issues of narrowband
interference, frequency selective fading and attenuation at high frequencies. The OFDM
simplifies the channel equalization which results in the slowly modulation of the narrow band
signals and rapid modulation of the wide band signals.
2.3 Architecture of Broadband over Power Line
Based on the seven-layer model of ISO-7498 open system interconnection, BPL
devices are intended to work on a two-layer architecture consisting of both physical (PHY)
and medium access control (MAC) layers.
The physical specifications of the devices are defined by the physical layer (PHY) of
the OSI model. It initiate the relation between the physical medium and the devices. It
involves all the supply scheme of electrical power lines and electrical in-house equipment
down to the sockets of the ceiling. The PHY layer's main tasks includes establishment and
termination of a communication medium link, controlling communication flow, modulating
and scheduling the code multiplexing.
MAC layer composed of the lower MAC sublayer and the Logical Link Control
module, which offers an interaction between PHY and upper levels for physical media
connection.
Initially, BPL devices companies created their own patented alternatives for injectors,
repeaters, extractors and couplers (Lazaropoulos 2015). Such alternatives have been
introduced in various range of device architectures featuring various techniques of

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modulation and models at different layers of PHY, MAC and LLC. These systems were
raised the issue of incompatibility with the BPL architecture. Hence, the Orthogonal
frequency division multiplexing technique (OFDM) was introduced to combat with the issues
of channel impairments like non-linear channel characteristics, strong channel selectivity,
noise, multipath. In Figure 1.0 shows the general architecture of BPL technology.
Figure 1.0: The general architecture of BPL technology
3.0 International standardization of BPL
The networks of BPL connection function in a mutual medium for transmission
where users face difficulties regarding the utilization of same transmission resources, MAC
is implemented for point-to-multipoint applications and is focused on multiple-access
collision-sense collision avoidance (CSMA / CA) applications (Lampe, Tonello and Swart
2016). MAC layer also ensures the secure communication among the users with the help of
the secure key exchange during the encryption and the authentication while transferring the
data, by using the advanced data encryption standards.

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To streamline BPL systems and its functionality, European Committee for
Electrotechnical Standardization, Open Power line communication European Research
Alliance, Universal Powerline Association, European Telecommunications Standards
Institute, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and HomePlug Powerline
Alliance have developed standards for BPL systems (Gul and Gutierrez 2018).
IEEE P1675 constituted by ' Standard for Broadband over Power Line Hardware, '
IEEE P1775 ' Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Requirements for Powerline
Communication Equipment ' is based on the Testing and Measurement Methods’ and IEEE
P1901 ‘Draft Standard for Broadband over Power Line Networks: Medium Access Control
and Physical Layer Specifications.’
In-house BPL requirements have been developed by HomePlug Powerline Alliance as
HomePlug 1.0 for data rates up to 14 Mbps and HomePlug AV for data rates up to 100 Mbps.
However, the interoperability problems required distinct solutions in a extensive way,
and several businesses were striving to produce a coherent G.hn norm within ITU-T that
would deliver three main benefits:
i) Unifying the energy line-related sectors and solving interoperability issues.
ii) Creating a single market through the unification of the coaxial networking,
telecommunications and energy lines sectors.
iii) Should be regarded a next-generation standard that would deliver greater
efficiency levels than the current standards available.
IUT-T announced the adoption of draft G.hn standard (officially known as G.9960) on
12th December 2008 for systems administration over telephone lines as the worldwide
standard, electrical cables and co-axial link. The single PHY/MA architecture of ITU-T G.hn

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guarantees multi-vendor interoperability. This standard, however, can also be performed
across various wired connection such as telephone lines, coaxial cables and energy stations,
making the G.hn suitable and dominant for the home networking sectors.
4.0 Forward Error Code Correction
The forward error correction is a technique which is possessed by digital signal
processing to introduced the called error correcting code, redundant data, prior to data
transmission or storage. There are mainly two types of errors:
i) Interleaving and concatenation
ii) Random and burst error
i) Interleaving and concatenation: The frequency/ time correlation has a strong implication
over the transmission error. Interleaving decreases or eliminates local fading by allowing the
decoder to break the time correlation through the bang (Vilela et al. 2015). The interleaving
range should be sufficiently big enough to cut lengthy straight mistakes. Concatenation is
another method to improve a system's ability to correct mistake.
ii) Random and burst error: The errors occurs very randomly and repeatedly in a memory
less channel. The occurrence of single randomly bit errors are independent of bit to bit error
(Gracia-Morán et al. 2018). Burst errors are associated with memory channels that depend on
the noise transmitted from one symbol to another. Hence the occurrence of error is in the
cluster form. The coding scheme for error correction controlling with random error correction
capacity cannon improve the performance of the channel individually. Due to strict emission
of the electromagnetic compatibility, the upcoming broadband PLC may be implemented
over low transmitted power density. BCH codes or Bose – Chaudhuri – Hocquenghem codes
are a category of cyclic error-correcting models that have been found as the finest technique

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of adjustment to decrease sound and impulse response at a certain time period. (Prakash and
Muthamizhse 2016). The appropriate scheme error can be applied over the effect of impulse
response.
5.0 Benefits of Broadband over Power Line (BPL)
The Broadband over power line technology can be implemented with very little
investment and infrastructure. This technology uses the wide, spread and extensively
available infrastructure which already exists in terms of overhead power line cables through
which the electricity is supplied in the rural areas (Nafi et al. 2016). Hence, the data is
transmitted through it as a result it provides access to the internet. The major advantage
provided by it that it saves the cost as well as difficulties of the broadband service providers
in laying the electrical cables or having a DSL connection. It has been also recognized as the
most acquiring intelligent power grid by delivering the electrical power in terms improved
quality and reliability (Chien 2015). BPL technology makes it possible to handle energy and
utilities more efficiently, monitor and measure on the basis of automation over the current
power grid to prevent future errors. The most valuable advantages of BPL are:
i) Broadband penetration is at large scale
ii) Maintenance cost is negligible
iii) Installation cost is very cheap
iv) The setup can be installed in less than 45 minutes
v) No additional infrastructure is required
vi) Provides a greater range of connectivity
vii) The broadband service is more reliable and robust

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viii) Provides high speed broadband as compared to the telephone lines and cables
ix) Eliminates the issues of digital divide in rural areas
6.0 Issues related to the BPL connection
The temporary lack of international standard and huge variability in the electrical
network's physical features make service provision far from being repeatable and normal
method. It is, however, questionable how much bandwidth a BPL network can provide for the
wired and wireless network. The main problems posed in the BPL owing to the intrinsic noise
in the power wires because of high-energy distributor in the grid. Each moment an electrical
unit is switched off or on, it brings a button into the row (Zaqout, Abu Nasr and Abu-Nasser
2017). This brings quite attenuated harmonics into the row and because of this reason the
energy-saving systems becomes quite predominant. The unit should therefore be intended in
such a way that it can able to handle the disturbance induced by the natural indicators.
Another significant problem is the signal power and the working rate. The short wave
radio transmissions can interfere with BPL's working frequencies as the unprotected energy
wires behave as an antenna for the transmissions which it carries as because the system is
likely to operate under a frequency range of 10 to 30 MHz. When the antennas are physically
near the power lines the interference is clearly observable (Shekoni, Hasanand Shongwe
2018). The interference decreases considerably and is generally observed when the antennas
are detached from the power network.
Though the implementation of the BPL system may also raise other problems like:
i) Attenuation of the signal.
ii) For the existing as well as for the new users the compatibility issues may arise.

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iii) Issues related to RFI for other range users. iv) The power cables are only compatible with
the low and medium voltage power lines.
v) Repeater design and signal boosting.
vi) Coordination among Telecom and Power service providers.
vii) Low voltage transformer functions as a low-pass filter that limits the greater frequencies.
but enables the low-frequency electrical signal.
viii) Security problems while adopting the Internet facilities.
ix) To prevent attenuation, signals need an amplifier to allow them move larger lengths.
Transformers, surge guards and circuit breakers can affect broadband transmissions.
Conclusion
Hence, it can be concluded from this report in rural regions where the consumption of
broadband is exceptionally small and the cost of installing copper wires or short-haul
satellites for broadband communication is very costly. The provision of connectivity over
power lines therefore carries a huge commitment to eliminate problems such as the problems
of digital divide in rural regions. The main problem of interference in the United Kingdom is
still unknown due to the absence of strict governance policies. The fragile organizations have
protested strongly against its application, but even in the lack of such legislative
interventions, BPL is also acquiring traction in communication technology. The severe
financial constraints exist as a massive expenditure to be created in copper wiring laying and
satellite assembly as a result ultimate broadband transmission would be worthwhile by
offering BPL severe thought and significance. It offers less installation time and low
maintenance costs result in increased awareness of broadband technology making BPL a

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technology worthwhile. BPL maintains the backhaul for cellular interaction by placing
mobile phone base towers or Wi-Fi entry points on towers. It therefore enables end
consumers to link within a certain scope to the easily accessible equipment.
Using OFDM encoding method, the BPL uses full information streaming that divides
at distinct wavelengths across several narrowband lines to decrease disturbance and cross-
discussion. It is a technique that allows by superimposing it to transmit high amounts of
electronic information over the radio stream.
However, there are several drawbacks in implementing BPL in aspects of signal
attenuation and frequent noise boosting at each phase and safety issues but at the same time it
eliminates a major issue of digital divide.

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