Technology
Technology will deliver speeds of up to 200 Mbit/s at the physical layer and 130 Mbit/s at the application layer using HomePlug AV standard (interoperable with HomePlug 1.0 or Intellon proprietary 85 Mbit/s Turbo mode, already available) or proprietary DS2 technology which is based on OFDM modulation with 1536 carriers and TDD or FDD channel access method. DS2 technology may operate between 1 and 34MHz. It provides a high dynamic range (90 dB) and offers frequency division and time division repeating capabilities. These characteristics allow the implementation of quality of service (QoS) and class of service (CoS) capabilities.


Standards
Several competing standards are evolving including the HomePlug powerline alliance, Universal Powerline Association, and the IEEE. It is unclear which standard will come out ahead. X10 is a de facto standard also used by RadioShack's Plug'n'Power system.


HomePlug Powerline Alliance
The HomePlug powerline alliance has defined a number of standards:

HomePlug 1.0 — specification for connecting devices via power lines in the home
HomePlug AV — designed for transmitting HDTV and VoIP around the home
HomePlug BPL — a working group to develop a specification for to-the-home connection

IEEE
IEEE P1901 is a working group for delivering broadband over power lines. The aim is to define medium access control and physical layer specifications that can be all classes of BPL devices - from the long distance connections to those within the home. [1]

Other related IEEE groups:

IEEE BPL — Standardization of Broadband Over Power Line Technologies [2]
IEEE P1675 — Standard for Broadband over Power Line Hardware [3]
IEEE P1775 — Another project approved by NesCom (IEEE Communications Society) on 12 May 2005 focuses on PLC equipment, electromagnetic compatibility requirements, and testing and measurement methods.

OPERA
OPERA (Open PLC European Research Alliance) is a R&D Project with funding from the European Commission. It aims to improve the existing systems, develop PLC service, and standardise systems.


Universal Powerline Association (UPA)
The Universal Powerline Association (UPA) aligns industry leaders in the global Powerline Communications (PLC) market and covers all markets and both access and an in-home PLC technology to ensure a level playing field for the deployment of interoperable and coexisting PLC products to the benefit of consumer’s worldwide.

In May 2004, the UPA interest group was established by founding members. These founding members signed a Memorandum of Understanding in September 2004, and the UPA was officially announced in December 2004. The UPA members share a vision of openness and a federated PLC world to harmonize and share standards and regulations globally.

Members of the UPA are: Ambient Corporation, Ascom Powerline Communications, Corinex Communications, DS2, EDF (Electricite de France), Ilevo - Schneider Electric Powerline Communications AB (SEPC), Itochu, Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. (SEI), and TOYOCOM.


Potential for Interference
Some groups oppose the proliferation of this technology, mostly due to its potential to interfere with radio transmissions. As power lines are typically untwisted and unshielded, they are essentially large antennas, and will broadcast large amounts of radio energy (see the American Radio Relay League's article). Because of their lack of shielding, the BPL systems are also at risk of being interfered with by outside radio signals.

Recently, power and telecommunications companies have started tests of the BPL technology, over the protests of the radio groups. After claims of interference by these groups, many of the trials were ended early and proclaimed successes, though the ARRL and other groups claimed otherwise. Some of the providers conducting those trials have now begun commercial roll-outs in limited neighborhoods in selected cities, with some level of user acceptance. There have been many documented cases of interference reported to the FCC by Amateur Radio users. A video clearly showing the interference at a site at Briarcliff Manor, NY is available on the ARRL website. Because of these continued problems, Amateur Radio operators and others filed a petition for reconsideration with the FCC in February 2005. Austria, Australia, New Zealand and other locations have also experienced BPL's spectrum pollution and raised concerns within their governing bodies. In the UK, the BBC has published the results of a number of tests to detect interference from BPL installations. They have also made a video (Real Media format), showing broadcast of data and interference from in-home BPL devices.

New FCC rules require BPL systems to be capable of remotely notching out frequencies on which interference occurs, and of shutting down remotely if necessary to resolve the interference. BPL systems operating within FCC Part 15 emissions limits may still interfere with wireless radio communications and are required to resolve interference problems. A few early trials have been shut down, though whether it was in response to complaints is debatable.

Recently, Motorola has announced a new Low Voltage Access BPL system that has a reduced potential for interference over the Amperion Inc. and Current Technologies LLC systems. The American Radio Relay League was invited by Motorola to participate with these tests, and even installed the Motorola system at their headquarters. Preliminary results were very positive with regard to interference.


FCC
On October 14, 2004, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission adopted rules to facilitate the deployment of "Access BPL" -- i.e., use of BPL to deliver broadband service to homes and businesses. The technical rules are more liberal than those advanced by ARRL and other spectrum users, but include provisions that require BPL providers to investigate and correct any interference they cause. These rules may be subject to future litigation.


Deployment
Australia, Tasmania: In September 2005 electricity retailer Aurora Energy began a commerical trial of the technology, offering BPL services to 500 homes in the suburb of Tolmans Hill near Hobart . This followed a successful technological trial earlier that year. [4]
United States, Virginia: In October 2005 the city of Manassas began the first wide-scale deployment of BPL service in the nation, offering 10 Mbit/s service for under $30 USD per month to its 35,000 city residents.
BPL vendors such as Amperion Inc., Current Technologies LLC, Corinex and InovaTech have deployed BPL systems in limited areas.

InovaTech has been particularly active throughout Asia Pacific and Oceania regions with many successful trials in Australia, China, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Philippines and Taiwan. InovaTech has recently increased its focus to include Europe, the Middle East and Africa where it has undertaken several successful field trials and is believed to readying commercial operations in several locations. InovaTech is also understood to have a long term trial running in Russia. One of the most active solution providers, InovaTech is the first vendor to develop an integrated offering which integrates telecommunications and energy management capabilities.