Network ready streetlights

• PLC compatible street light by Topco Technologies. Light and security camera can both be set up using power lines

Of all the exhibitors, Topco Technologies Corp, a Taiwan semiconductor manufacturer stood out as the one to put out the most unique PLC compatible device. By using PLC in energy efficient LED street light, it produced a street light that can connect to the network. What benefits will this bring? Specifically, by using HD-PLC to control the electricity flow of the street lights, energy efficient control of the light will be possible.

Other ideas include setting up security cameras in street lights and controlling them from a remote location. This means that it can be used to transmit data of the security camera, sound and sensors, but will ultimately become energy efficient since LAN cables will be unnecessary. President of Topco Technogies Corp. Sunny Tsai says “that with high speed PLC, it will be possible to use high-definition cameras”. They are also considering including a taxi call function. These lamps with the feature will actually be set up in the U.K. starting in the summer, and their installation is currently being considered at international airports in Germany and in Taiwan.

HD-PLC emphasizes that it is a perfect choice for NGN

• President Eiji Kobayashi speaking at the conference

On June 4th, the second day of the exhibition, President Eiji Kobayashi of the HD-PLC Alliance lectured in one of the conference sessions regarding the Next Generation Network (NGN), the second time to speak following his speech from the previous year.

He commented on new developments of HD-PLC during the past year. He explained that the market share of HD-PLC, among various power line communication standards, reached 90% in Japan in the 3rd quarter of 2007; closer than ever in making HD-PLC the de facto standard. He also explained that because of this big gain in market share, collaboration between PLC and digital TV industry has started.

Additionally, with the development of HD-PLC module using a compact and energy efficient LSI, more manufacturers are starting to make devices with built in PLC. President Kobayashi went on to explain that with HD-PLC, there is no need to lay new copper lines, and with the new HD-PLC adaptor, electric usage will decrease. This is based on the idea of building 'a green ubiquitous society' while protecting the environment. HD-PLC will be promoted to protect the environment, said the President.

NGN, the Next Generation Network, a commercial service started by a major network carrier in Japan, was the theme of this year’s conference. It sets priorities based on the type of data transmission. One of the features of NGN is that it supports to QoS (Quality of Service), which guarantees transmission speed and quality of the data. Since HD-PLC supports QoS, it is the perfect choice for NGN. President Kobayashi emphasized its benefits, stating that “it is possible to have a stable network from entrance to exit of a house by using NGN outside of the home and using HD-PLC inside.”