Power-Telecom Convergence: Catalyzing Telecom Revolution

Abstract

Reliable and high capacity telecommunication networks spanning the country in its entirety reaching homes is imperative and essential pre-requisite to bridge the digital divide and the economic development of the nation. Today every policy initiative and strategy formulated by the government and private sectors, be it Broadband policy, e-governance, triple play, expanding telemedicine capabilities, distance education, computing grid for research and development or digital entertainment, assumes a robust, high speed and end- to-end connectivity infrastructure.Though there has been a considerable growth of telecom in India over the past few years and a sizeable infrastructure has already been developed, in a vast country like India this touches only a smaller proportion of the population and the geographic spread. Last miles are still a problem area for many operators owing to lack of economic viability. Therefore, Innovative and non-conventional alternatives are to be explored for infrastructure expansion. Convergence of power and telecom infrastructures is viewed, world-over, as a viable alternative to address rapid expansion and better reach.Power transmission networks being the most pervasive and readily available network, are already being exploited as ready infrastructures for overlaying telecom networks (fiber networks). While the present level of infrastructure convergence Is more on the backbone network side (use of Optical Ground Wire (OPGW) on power transmission infrastructure), innovative concepts such as Broadband over Power Line (BPL) unleashes a truly powerful convergence enabling delivery of high speed telecom bandwidth to home on existing power sockets thus promising not only a networked home but an intelligent power utility grid too. With the concept of BPL, power infrastructure provides an end-to-end infrastructure to build telecom highways and tributaries as well.This paper discusses the potential of power-telecom convergence in addressing the backbone, middle mile and last mile needs of telecom and also dwells on upcoming concept of BPL and the challenges posed.