May 13, 2008 Iberdrola involvement leads to a Smart Grid for New York

Blogging the Smart Grid Current Comments (3) Leave a Comment BPL If BPL doesn't measure up for the communications link of ths smart grid, it's time to re-consider optical fiber, whether specially deployed by the distribution utility or shared with local telephone and cable providers. Multi-use of the communications pipe has always been the potential winner for the local distribution utility! Steven R. Rivkin - 05/13/2008 - 07:51 BPL Patti Harper-Slaboszewicz comments on BPL are probably closer to the truth than what is being said publically and my guess is that the Current project in Texas was a loss because they could not achieve the minimum number of subscribers needed to become cash positive. BPL as it stands today is roughly ten times more expensive to deploy over wireless technologies and it will always have very powerful competition from cable and DSL operators with established copper networks. New wireless RFID technologies now being integrated into BPL routers will give operators a greater chance to leverage their platforms and generate more recurring revenues beyond there current capacity, perhaps giving them the advantage. BPL may not have been ready for primetime but this is most certainly changing as we speak James Eades - 05/13/2008 - 17:15 BPL It seems BPL may not be ready for prime time in delivering competitive broadband in an urban environment, but let's be clear here that the utility is paying $90 million because it wants to own the BPL network and use it for utility applications. They told us the BPL delivered on utility expectations and we don't doubt Oncor on that count. As for broadband access, it's been a disappointing wait for robust, affordable technology but the race is far from over until the majority of American (for example) have access to FTTH (aka the holy grail). This is a long way off. The 200 mbps technology will be much more affordable when the standard is completed (we have fingers crossed this can happen this year) and more bugs are worked out. Plus the 400 mbps and 1 gbps BPL offerings that are now coming down the pipe are likely to find ample markets for decades to come. Sam Spencer - 05/16/2008 - 11:18 Leave a Comment New to this Blog? Need some help? Email: [?] We will not post or give your email address to anyone. Full Real Name: [?] Real comments need a real name. Subject: [?] Please provide a short subject for your comment. Comment:[?] PLEASE NOTE:  All HTML codes will be removed from your comment. CAPTCHA Security Code The numbers (0) and (1) are not used. [?] Please type the characters you see into the box. Remember my name? (Uncheck to forget.) You can not edit or delete your comment once it is posted. Please check for spelling now. Your IP Address is: 38.103.63.18