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IEEE P1901 and the HomePlug AllianceConsumers win with the publication and Sponsor Ballot Approval of the IEEE 1901 global powerline standard Since the inception of the IEEE P1901 workgroup in 2005 (see timeline below), industry leaders from around the world have worked tirelessly to drive the development of a global high-speed powerline communication (PLC) standard. This is the The results of the first Sponsor Ballot, held in April 2010, showed 81% voted in favor of the 1901 standard -- an unprecedented show of industry support for a technology of such complexity. New Technologies Conquer Old ProblemsThe idea of pressing power lines into performing double-duty (as both a provider of electric current and a carrier of communications signaling) has been attempted with varying success for over one hundred years. Early PLC systems were used for remote meter reading, and to monitor voltages in telegraph systems. The primary issue has been to overcome the challenging environment on power lines. Scientific American said that using power lines for data communication is “like trying to transcribe the exact score of a symphony—as it is played over the loudspeakers at a packed football stadium, on a windy night, during the final minutes of a tied Super Bowl game, while wearing earmuffs.” 2 Hair dryers, dimmers, vacuums, and other appliances cause unpredictable noise, and due to the number of switches on the network, its size and characteristics can change at a moment’s notice. What makes it all work is a complex amalgam of signal processing technologies and new modulation techniques that exceeds anything previously attempted. Additionally, advances in semiconductor geometries helps reduce the cost of implementing products. Setting the Goals for a Robust PLC TechnologyThe P1901 workgroup set a goal: to define a MAC/PHY standard for PLC devices delivering over 100Mbps. The standard would apply to all classes of devices, such as those used in LANs, Smart Energy, transportation platforms (vehicles), and in data distribution applications. Other important goals included a balanced and efficient use of the PLC channel, mechanisms for coexistence and interoperability, security and privacy, and ensuring the delivery of desired bandwidth and quality of service.3 In December 2008, the P1901 workgroup voted to include OFDM-based PHY options based on both FFT and Wavelet PHYs. This made 1901 standard interoperable with the world’s market-leading PLC technologies, and helped ensure it reflects the best available technology, serving the growing needs of the industry as a whole. Developing the IEEE 1901 Global Standard
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first such standard coming from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers – the same organization that created standards for 802.3 Ethernet and 802.11 Wireless technologies.
By nature, the powerline medium is open, and shared by multiple devices. By being independent and openly defined, the IEEE 1901 standard avoids problems by ensuring that PLC devices offer the best service possible, even when the medium is serving multiple applications. Full implementations of 1901 provide interoperability among PLC devices and other networking protocols (such as seamless interconnection via 802.1), while partial implementations ensure fair coexistence. Also, the standard complies with EMC limits set by national regulators to ensure coexistence with wireless and telecom systems.