Review of EMC aspects in recent European PLC development

Due to recent deregulations in the EU market, It is tempting for utility companies to compete now with classical telecom providers in new areas like power line data transmission for broadband Internet access, mostly in residential areas. PLC (power line communications, sometimes called PLT, standing for telecommunications) uses unshielded, 230 V/50 Hz low voltage distribution cables inside and outside of buildings (mostly buried) as transmission medium for Mbits/s data rates. This requires mains injected radio frequency levels (mW, 1-30 MHz) that are EMC critical. Aside from the international standards making process, there are new German regulations in place (RegTP, NB 30-07/01) presently controlling radiated emissions below 30 MHz, in the short wave user spectrum. This includes sensitive monitoring/communication services in both military and government. The latest developments with pro and cons are analyzed, simulations discussed and compared to first, EMC critical measurement results from available real wide-spread PLC systems.