Power line communication

Article By:

Latchman, Haniph A. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.

Lin, Yu-Ju Computer and Information Science Department, Charleston Southern University, Charleston, South Carolina.

Lee, Sunguk Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.

Last reviewed:January 2020

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.800470

A technology that uses electrical wiring as a medium to transmit digital signals from one device that has been rendered capable of employing this technology to another. Power line communication (PLC) enables the communication of data as well as multimedia messages by superimposing digital signals over the standard 50- or 60-Hz alternating current (AC). Low-speed power line communication has been used widely for some time in electrical utilities to provide voice communication, to control substations, and to protect high-voltage transmission lines. High-speed data transmission over power lines began in the late 1990s and was targeted to provide broadband Internet services and utility applications such as remote meter reading, as well as in home networking for data and multimedia communications. A short-range form of power line communication is also used for home automation and controls. See also: Data communications; Electric power systems; Electric power transmission; Internet

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