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BPL nears commercialization despite interference claims

13.04.2006
Claims by amateur wireless operators that signals from TasTel's Hobart high speed Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) trial are transmitting on marine distress and safety channels have been dismissed by the telco, instead saying its service is compliant with regulations, so much so that a full commercial rollout may be possible later this year.

Monitoring of the TasTel, a subsidiary of electricity distributor Aurora Energy in Australia, BPL trial by a local amateur radio operator has revealed that the system is radiating signals on the 2, 6, 8, 12 and 16 MHz radio-telephone and DSC (digital selective calling) distress and safety channels.

These channels are used by ships to send and receive distress alerts, said Glenn Dunstan, director of the WIA.

"If the BPL enabled power lines pass by a marine radio station (they don't at the moment), the interference from the BPL signals will block reception of distress messages from ships.

"The point is that it appears Aurora are in breach of the ACMA BPL trial guidelines, which specifically prohibit BPL from radiating signals on marine distress and safety channels."

Aurora Energy business development manager, Piero Peroni, dismissed the latest findings as "rubbish".