Fig. 1 - Diagram of the model to be developed for testing the compliance of a PLC modem to the low voltage distribution network

IV. COEXISTENCE STANDARDS

These standards are needed to provide :

-interoperability of products of different manu-facturers;

-the coexistence in the same network of products from different manufacturers.

These standards should define the signal modula-tion in case of a beacon concept and the data transmis-sion protocols.

Several entities are preparing such standards for 2006, the most active are the WG of PHY/MAC (PHY de physical layers) of IEEE, HOMEPLUG, ETSI PLT as well as the CEPCA (Consumer Electronics PLC Alli-ance) [11].

Concerning IEEE; a specification for in-home/inhome and inhome/access PLC is waited for 2007. ETSI PLT has planned a draft ETSI PLT WI-20, about the coexistence mechanism for PLC modems.

V. REGULATION OF IN-HOUSE PLC

The PLC equipment is a telecommunication equip-ment and is regulated in Europe according to the RTTE Directive (1999/5/EC). The RTTE directive refers to the EMC Directive (fig. 2) [12].

Fig. 2 – Certification process of a PLC equipment

The CE certificate signed by a notified body proves that the equipment passed the test procedure according to the RTTE directive.

VI. REGULATION OF ACCESS PLC

A neutral regulation implies that PLC is treated equally to other telecommunication products operating on telecommunication wiring. PLC networks and equipments are installations in the sense of the EMC Di-rective - subject to limits established by the EMC Direc-tive. The European Union regulatory framework for pub-lic telecommunications is contained in the article 95 of the Framework Directive (2002/21/EC). The possibility to put on the market a PLC network (access from trans-former substation to houses or buildings), is submitted to the requirements of the EMC Directive (first version from 19, second from December 2004).

The EMC Directive defines that the equipment in the network must comply with the European harmonized product standards. In the absence of an European har-monized standard (as in e.g. in the case of EMC) certifi-cation by a Competent Body is required. When installing the products in the network, that good engineering prac-tice should be observed.

The new Directive gives more room for a self decla-ration of the industry.

VII. CONCLUSION

The decisions taken in 2004 and 2005 by the FCC in the US and by the European Commission in Europe, re-spectively, in favour of Access PLC have created a large increase in the interest for PLC at least in US and to a certain extent also in Europe.

Even if in Europe there was no substantial progress of the PLC deployment in 2006, the technology seems to remain attractive and utilities/operators, as well as manu-facturers, remain involved in this business.

A large interest for PLC continues to be present in China, where a research program is going on at the North China Electric Power University.

There was only little progress in the standardization work. Small steps have been achieved in CISPR/I/ and the ETSI/CENELEC JWG has frozen the project of a network standard for the moment. As a result of the very slow progress in the previous two standardization bodies, WG10 of CENELEC SC205A has taken new initiatives. Next year should tell if these promising new proposals will be productive or not.

REFERENCES

[1] M. Ianoz and N.V. Korovkin, “ Progress in the PLC development during the years 2003 – 2004”, VI th Int. Symp. On Electromagnetic Compatibility and Elec-tromagnetic Ecology, St. Petersburg, June 21-24, 2005.

[2]

IEC CISPR/I/145/NP, “Amendment to CISPR22. Limits and method of measurement of broad-received his degree in electrical en-gineering (Dipl.-Ing.) from the Technical University in Darmstadt/Germany in 1991 and his PhD in electrical engineering (Dr.-Ing.) at University of Duisburg-Essen/Germany in 2006 He worked for the Public Com-munication Network Group of Siemens in Munich from 19991 till 2001. He is working as Vice President Strat-egy and Regulatory Affairs for Power PLUS Communi-cations AG (PPC), Mannheim/Germany, since 2001. Be-side his company responsibilities, he is holding various management positions in standardisation organisations and industry organisations for lobbying. Besides this work, he studied politics at the university in Munich.

Holger Hirsch is head of the chair for Electrical Power Transmission of the University of Duisburg-Essen (Germany) involved in research activities such as EMC of vehicle electronic, Power line Communications, High Voltage Engineering and Energy storage. He received his diploma and PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Dortmund (1988 and 1991). After some years as chief engineer at the University of Dortmund he was managing director of the accredited EMC test lab of EMC Test NRW in Dortmund (1995-1998). In 1998 he was called as Professor to the chair "Theory of EMC" at the University of Dortmund, before he changed to the University of Duisburg-Essen in 2003.

Michel Ianoz has been teaching EMC as a Profes-sor of the Electrical Department of the Swiss Federal In-stitute of Technology of Lausanne until 2001 and is now a Honorary Professor. He was engaged in research on calculation of electromagnetic fields, transient phenom-ena, lightning and EMP effects on power and telecom-munication networks. He is co-author of two books and about 150 scientific papers (60 in referenced journals). Prof. Ianoz was Chairman of the Subcommittee 77B (HF phenomena) of the International Electrotechnical Com-mission (IEC) between 1997 and 2006. He is an EMP Fellow, IEEE Fellow, Consultant Professor of the North China Electric Power University and Doctor Honoris Causa of the Technical University of Saint-Petersburg.下载本文