Information and Communications Technologies Standards Board (ICTSB)

.. to coordinate the standardization activities in the field of Information and Communications Technologies

Powerline Communications

Criteria Description
Short area title PLC
Full area title Powerline Communications
Standardization aspects 1. Functionality:
  • Voice and data services
  • Video services
  • Fast Internet access
  • Control of appliances
  • Remote meter reading
2. Interoperability:
Interoperability between access and in-home networking systems (e.g. xDSL – PLC – Cable – access and PLC in-home networking)
3. Legal context:
All aspects of public service provisioning
4. Safety:
Safety relevant applications possible 5. Environmental aspects:
  • EMC aspects
  • Radiation
6. Human factors:
Man – machine interface
7. Testing:
  • Functionality testing
  • Interoperability testing
Standardization Organizations / Technical Bodies Standards organizations
  • IEC CISPR (Interference relating to IT equipment)
  • CENELEC SC 205A (mains signalling product standards)
  • CENELEC SC 205A WG10 (High frequency emission & immunity)
  • CENELEC/ETSI JWG (EMC of conducted transm networks)
  • CEPT ERC SE 35 (Frequency allocation)
  • ETSI Project PTC (powerline communications)
  • ETSI TC ERM/EMC (EMC & radio spectrum matters)
Specification provider
  • PLCforum
  • Homeplug Alliance
National Regulators
  • DE: Reg TP à NB 30
  • UK: RA à MPT 1570
  • USA: FCC part 15
Identified work items or deliverables
  • PLC Architecture, interfaces, protocols
  • PLC Product standard
  • Various co-existence standards
  • Flexible frequency management
  • Quality of Service
  • EMC limits
  • Harmonised telecom network standard (EC mandate)
  • Radiation limits
  • Measurement methods
  • etc.
Established liaisons
  • ETSI ERM & PLT – CEPT
  • ETSI PLT – CENELEC SC 205A
Standardization gaps Standards for telecommunications network – draft EC mandate addressed to CEN/CENELEC and ETSI
Overlapping standardization activities ETSI PLT & CENELEC SC 205A are working on conflicting standards re: Access/In.-house co-existence
  • CLC pr ES 59013
  • ETSI TS 101867
Overlapping areas ETSI Project PLT has a mandate for the standardisation of higher layer protocols and CENELEC SC 205A is working on Physical and Mac layers. In the case of the definition of the usage of frequencies for the co-existence of Access/In-house systems, the OSI layer definition is insufficient
Proposal for future investigation PLC Forum has issued calls for proposals for:
  • Flexible frequency management for Access / In-house PLC systems of 2nd generation
  • In-house / In-house co-existence algorithm
ICTSB co-ordinator Not requested
Remarks Urgent co-ordination on management level required
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