02 February 2004
By RICHARD WOOD

The Fiji Electricity Authority is set to trial delivering broadband internet services over its power lines following the conclusion of a technical feasibility study.

German firm Bender Information and Systemtechnology is consulting on the project.

FEA supply chain manager Brian Hardacre says the country's power lines proved good data carriers, with little interference.

Power Line Communications (PLC) technology allows high-speed broadband data communications to be carried across power lines, taking advantage of existing infrastructure.

It competes against broadband DSL services delivered over regular copper phone lines, fibre optic networks and wireless technologies.

The trial on the main island of Viti Levu is likely to include a school and a hospital and will involve a close look at customer experiences using the technology.

The authority has become a distributor of consumer power line communication products which can be used to network homes using electrical wiring.

The authority will market these to other Pacific islands.

Auckland electricity network firm Vector is trialling PLC on the North Shore. A spokesperson says the price of PLC equipment needs to drop.

Story @ Stuff.co.nz