Intel plans Net over power lines

With most of the technical problems in delivering Internet connectivity over the electric power lines addressed, Intel Corporation is planning to start the user trials of the technology in India in the next few months.

"Most of the technical issues that were coming in the way of delivering Internet over power lines have been largely addressed. We will link up with our India team in the next eight weeks to begin the trials of the technology," Intel Corporation vice president and general manager (digital home group) Donald J MacDonald said at the Intel Developer Forum in Bangalore.

He said till date the trials of the Home Plug Technology have been confined to the US and it would expand to other geographies including India.

If the technology proves itself in the Indian environment, it would go a long way in addressing the goal of taking connectivity to remotest of areas in the country.

Apart from Intel, other partners in the Home Plug Powerline Alliance are Cisco, Comsat, General Electric, Sony and Sharp.

The concept of Internet over power lines has been there for over a decade but there are practical difficulties coming in the way of its implementation. Those hindrances have now been addressed.

Earlier in his keynote on Enabling Digital Lifestyle, MacDonald outlined the business potential of the concept of digital home and said that Intel's chip designed for home entertainment segment would be available on the personal.

MacDonald said that research and development team in India was contributing in a big way on the digital home vision of Intel.

The team in India is providing platform support for hardware and software. Large portion of the client software part is being done in India, he said.

Apart from providing technology that enables digital home vision possible, Intel is also working with stakeholders like owners of copyright for music and movies to make theenvironment suitable for adoption of this vision.

In India too, we have started talks with content and Internet service companies to make them comfortable with new technology and make them aware of the new business models it brings with it, MacDonald said.