Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Web Access Over Power Lines

Posted by samzenpus on from the plug-in dept.

anaesthetica writes "The CSMonitor is reporting that power companies may now be able to break into the internet provider market, giving consumers a third option, outside of telephone and cable companies. From the article, "Broadband over Power Lines (BPL), with investments from big-name companies including Google and IBM, is beginning to move beyond small trial projects to deploying systems for large communities." Earthlink may offer BPL as soon as next year. Apparently, a major source of opposition to BPL is operators of ham radios."

6 of 456 comments (clear)

  1. The Trinity by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Great, now instead of the Cable companies or Telephone companies having the stranglehold over my broadband connection, I got the Power companies too!

    Its like the Trinity of Evils controlling all of the Broadband access.

  2. Third option?! by wbren · · Score: 3, Funny
    "The CSMonitor is reporting that power companies may now be able to break into the internet provider market, giving consumers a third option, outside of telephone and cable companies."
    My first and best option has always been satellite Internet service! I get blazing fast downloads at 20KBps and a low monthly bill of only $89.95. I don't need to use it on cloudy/rainy days anyway. Cable and DSL have always been a distant second and third. BPL might make it into the number four spot. Oh, and let's not forget about "Broadband over gas lines"... that's at least my fifth or sixth pick.
    --
    -William Brendel
  3. Re:Hams by imsoclever · · Score: 2, Funny

    Some, however, are definetly soft and chewey.

  4. More than Web by Nyhm · · Score: 3, Funny

    "Web Access Over Power Lines" ... why, whith an Internet Protocol (IP) packet exchange capability this technology could provide any Internet service, not just HTTP Web access! (Please mod +1 Insightful)

    Editorial note: Read with heavy sarcasm

  5. Re:Hams by ifwm · · Score: 2, Funny

    The airwaves were there before the hams, so by your logic, the hams actually belong to the airwaves.

  6. Re:Near first post by Maxite · · Score: 3, Funny

    I'm sure that under the Power Companies, you have to buy electricity off of them as well. No electricity, no internet. So yeah, you'll be suckered in by them as well by paying for a service that you may not want.

    --
    Ah, you found me!