When’s Broadband Over Powerline, or BPL coming? We get asked that question by many inquisitive and broadband hungry powerusers. Broadbandfocus.com recently read an interview with an expert in the field. Here’s what he had to say about this powerline technology.

‘“Utilities have been slow to grasp this,” says Chano Gomez, vice president of technology and strategic partnerships at DS2 (Design of Systems on Silicon), which supplies high-speed powerline chips to device makers such as NETGEAR. “They are waiting for the pioneers.”

Those pioneers smell a market. That’s because as service providers continue to invest in network upgrades that promise faster connections to the home, they are faced with the quagmire of how to distribute that fat pipe throughout the residence. “The problem providers have is they know how to bring broadband to the home, but they can’t distribute the signals inside,” says Gomez.’

How long it will take to solve that problem is anyone’s guess. In the world of technology, and especially in the field of Broadband Over Powerline the going is sometimes slow.

What is BPL? Simply enough, BPL or broadband over power line, is a technology that allows data from the Internet to be pushed through utility power lines. Currently, the Internet provider arena is dominated by three major players. DSL, cable, and satellite Internet providers rule the field. DSL data is pushed through phone lines. Cable Internet is transmitted through the cable companies’ fiber lines. While satellite Internet data is sent through airwaves.

Broadband over power line data is capable of being provided to anyone around the world connected to a utility grid. This is especially good news to those Internet surfers residing in rural areas who may not have access to cable or DSL connections. BPL would give them another option. Very little modification is needed by the power companies to transmit BPL service. Imagine plugging a modem into any outlet and having instant Internet access.

The future of BPL is coming. The Federal Communications Commission is working on guidelines for broadband over power line service in the United States. Some cities in the United States are already testing the technology.

Who’ll be the major players? When will you be able to get broadband over power line Internet access in your area? How much will your BPL provider charge? How fast is broadband over power line service? Broadbandfocus.com will delve into these questions and more.