Internet traffic may find an alternate route soon in Korea as Korea Electric Power Corporation begins testing broadband services transmitted via power lines.
The Korean Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy announced earlier this year its initiative to invest US$17.8 million to develop a 2 Mbps power line communication modem by 2001. Authorities claim the power line communications would deliver speeds about 40 times faster than 56k modems.
About 100 households in the Cheju province will be used as a testbed for the service.
Partners in the project include: Korea Electric Power Research Institute, Keyin Telecom, Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute and Seoul National University Automation and Systems Research Institute.
Keyin has already developed a 1 Mbps pilot modem for power line communications and managed to transfer voice and data. The venture company is currently negotiating to supply the modems to Germany, Singapore and Canada.
Seoul's National University Automation and Systems Research Institute estimates the returns from commercializing the project will reap US$5 billion over the next five years.
In Singapore power line communication testing has begun at the Singapore Polytechnic campus, which includes a teaching and business block and two high-rise residential buildings.
Ascom Powerline Communications, a subsidiary of the ASCOM Group in Switzerland, is supplying the power line communications equipment, while Singapore Telecom will install necessary equipment. The trial includes about 40 Singapore Polytechnic staff.
When the hell are we in the country going to get a desent broadband service, i want PLC NOW