DV8 eyes powerline market

Johannesburg, 26 May 2009

DV8 Telecoms has entered the broadband market through its partnership with Canadian-based broadband over powerlines (BPL) technology provider Corinex Communications.

“The partnership is in providing BPL technology that will assist in bridging the digital divide by offering broadband services over the electrical infrastructure,” says DV8 executive director Karabo Tlhagwane.

While BPL technology is not new to the local market, Tlhagwane believes it is viable and will contribute to government's broadband access initiatives.

Powerline communication company Goal Technology announced plans in 2008 to build a national broadband network. The City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality has also built a fibre network - which runs WiMax, WiFi and broadband - via its electricity department.

“One of the most important benefits of BPL is the ability to offer high-speed Internet and Internet-based services, like voice over Internet Protocol and video-on-demand on the electrical lines very cost-effectively,” Tlhagwane says.

Tlhagwane says customers will have Internet access of maximum speeds of 30Mbps, at costs of between R50-R350 per month, depending on the various data packages available.

The solution is simple, he says. A computer is plugged into an electric outlet in a home and through a BPL modem, eliminating the need for communication wiring and providing homes with Internet access.

Tlhagwane comments that the value of BPL technology is that it has the potential to reach every home connected to the existing electricity delivery grid. He says the company is in discussions with Eskom and several municipalities to provide them with the latest BPL technology.

“This has a massive potential of assisting the government with the challenge of bridging the digital divide by making the Internet more accessible to the marginalised communities,” he states.

Energy concerns

Government and the industry have identified BPL as a good alternative to fibre and copper cabling for the local market. Tlhagwane says the technology also has a crucial role to play in energy efficiency.

With the current energy crunch facing the country forecast to last for many more years, and limited resources to generate more capacity, demand-side interventions have become critical, he states.

“Our technology will enable utilities, including Eskom, to implement energy saving through an efficient smart grid, where energy is delivered, monitored and managed in real-time and on demand. Technologies such as automated meter reading, real-time system monitoring, preventive maintenance, outage detection and restoration and remote surveillance can be run through BPL using the existing electrical lines.”

By implementing a smart grid, electrical utilities will be able to run an efficient and intelligent electrical grid that will be better able to meet the growing demand for electricity, without doing any more harm to the environment, Tlhagwane notes.