The government project in Brazil using HD-PLC technology is about to take a new turn. This project, which aims to optimize the electric grid and dissolve regional disparities by using HD-PLC, is drawing a lot of attention from countries and manufacturers outside of Brazil, such as Peru and Argentina. The attention is due to the fact that the current field testing in Brazil is tackling common issues also affecting other countries.

In the current project, the Brazilian government is building infrastructure, while aiming to reduce the economical disparities and living conditions (for details: past article). Electric grids will serve as networks to be used for return channels (upload) for digital broadcasting, the same system as in Japan, bringing the internet to homes. At the same time, real-time electric usage data from each home is collected; power plants can be operated optimally, stabilizing the power supply. This has drawn international attention since it is viewed as one of the first case studies for the ‘Smart Grid’, the optimization system for supplying power, which countries such as the U.S. is promoting.

HD-PLC is what supports this project. Few homes in Brazil have phones. This means using phone lines to bring internet to homes is not a realistic option. By using HD-PLC technology, power grids that spread throughout the country can be used as an internet network. The main part of the field testing has been completed, and the prototype of the power meters with HD-PLC modules, which will take place of the modems to be placed in each home, has been completed. As the project completes the technical testing phase and enters the actual application stage, more countries and manufacturers are re-evaluating the business potential of HD-PLC.