Power line communication is the use of electricity lines to convey electronic communications. Though there are technical difficulties, the potential benefits are enormous. Instead of rolling out separate telecoms infrastructure, PLC means remote places already connected to the electricity grid might quickly and easily be connected. In addition, the power lines within a house mean that you could communicate with virtually any device plugged into the wall. As well as making 1950’s “house of tomorrow” predictions come true – imagine your fridge going on-line and ordering you food from the supermarket – that would have immediate and significant benefits in terms of metering electricity use, balancing load, and hence reducing electricity consumption and carbon emissions. The potential benefits for the developing world are also great. Whilst they are leapfrogging to mobile technology, and hence seeing huge growth in the wireless sector, internet penetration is not growing as fast. If the internet could be supplied via existing power lines, then even remote parts of the developing world would have access to all the information resources that the internet has to offer. Look here for an excellent overview of the status and potential of PLC, written by a Kenyan author.
The Commsrisk Global Fraud Dashboard
Our Global Fraud Dashboard uses AI-powered search to collate, update and visualize data about scams and other network abuses from around the world. New charts are added each month. See it here.
