Broadband-over-Powerline (BPL)

City Broadband is broadening its broadband services in Malaysia!

City Broadband is now offering Broadband-over-Powerline (BPL) internet access service in partnering with PG Communications as the BPL solution partner. City Broadband has over seven (7) years of experience in designing, implementing and operating broadband services for enterprises and residential in Cyberjaya.

About Broadband-over-Power Line (BPL)

Where There's Electricity Let There Be Broadband!

Imagine a world where high-speed Internet access could be obtained by simply plugging your computer into a electrical socket outlet equipped with a modem. BPL is a broadband technology which uses the power line (electricity cable) as the bandwidth carrier, which is also known as Power Line Communications (PLC).

By subscribing to City Broadband BPL, the users can get the internet access service at anywhere as long as there is a electrical socket outlet in the users premises (limited to BPL compound ONLY) such as at the bedrooms, hall, dining area and almost anywhere.

Advantage of BPL

BPL enables users to enjoy broadband connectivity through the normal electrical socket outlet. BPL delivers high broadband connectivity up to 200Mbps (theoretically) using the existing power line in building. With the high broadband speed, the infrastructure is capable of delivering data, voice and video services to end user without any degradation or loss in quality. The technology also ensures there is no interruption to the power supply by separating the frequency used for power and broadband.

BPL technology allows electrical power lines to be used as an IP network. Thus it allows for the delivery of IP-based services including high-speed Internet, VoIP, television and video security over existing electrical wiring.

Delivering speeds up to 200Mbps (theoretically), it is an attractive alternative to costly cabling in order to bring broadband services to residences and housing developments. 

With BPL, all a user needs is a BPL “modem” (PLC modem) that can be plugged into any electrical socket outlet in order to get Internet access and other broadband services. There’s no need to wire (or re-wire) the entire facility with cable or DSL lines in order to deliver the services, as they are delivered over the last mile via electric powerlines which are already in the building. 

BPL as Alternative Technology

BPL service is an alternative technology that is beneficial to Malaysia broadband industry while supporting MSC Malaysia and MyICMS 886 to help revolutionize the ICT industry in Malaysia and to help increase broadband penetration in Malaysia respectively.

BPL technology can offer symmetrical services with equivalent upload and download speeds. This is a major difference from existing technology that is widely deployed in Malaysia such as xDSL and cable modems which provide faster download speeds, but slower uploads. DSL speeds range between 128Kbps and 1.5Mbps, while cable modems provide approximately 3Mbps. 

The ability to plug a BPL modem into an electrical socket outlet also provides consumers with great flexibility. It is possible to deploy BPL in all rooms of a house as the service is not limited to only one plug. A single BPL modem can also support multiple computers in a household via traditional routers and wireless access points. This ease of use is seen as advantage  to  the  end  user  and  will  attract  new  customers who currently  do  not  subscribe to broadband or existing users to switch to BPL.