Project AirGig: Broadband Power Line Access
Internet connection in some cases is not possible for residents of a number of regions. These can be localities located far from the main infrastructure facilities. The Internet in such places is either expensive or slow, or both. Now several large technology companies are engaged in projects to connect remote and hard-to-reach areas to the global network. Google launches balloons with access points, Facebook does the same with drones. Some companies offer to launch into Earth orbit many small and relatively inexpensive communications satellites that would provide the inhabitants of the entire planet with Internet.
AT & T Labs offers a slightly different way, which is also an interesting solution to the problem. The specialists of this company are now engaged in a project that will allow turning power lines into wide communication channels. And since the power lines are almost everywhere, then the global network will become more accessible to millions of people around the world.
')
The developers claim that the technology can work anywhere in the world where there are power lines. AT & T says it does not need to license frequencies for this technology. Its advantage is that it opens up the possibility of obtaining a super-fast communication channel for any connected user. And since the ready infrastructure is used here, it will be much easier to deploy such a network than, for example, optical fiber.
The technology allows you to quickly provide network connectivity for remote regions where previously there was no possibility of using fast Internet connection. The first network of this type, according to the representative of AT & T, will begin work in 2020. For the operation of such a network, additional equipment is needed, so that new network operators will incur some costs. But these costs are significantly less than what companies usually spend in the process of deploying a new network infrastructure.
This project was named Project AirGig. To implement it, the company had to develop a number of new methods and technologies that are now being patented. Among other developments Project AirGig - cheap plastic antennas and devices, repeaters, transmitting the signal along the entire grid. The performance of such networks is similar to 4G LTE networks.
The technology is quite flexible, which allows the use of distributed antenna systems or small cells. In order to build new communication channels in this case it is not necessary to dig the ground or build cell towers. On power lines (or telephone poles) you need to install special miniature stations that transmit a signal in the millimeter range, and only from station to station. The range of such a station is only a few meters.
While the project is in the testing phase, the company is trying to understand how attractive a new type of communication will be for users and business.
Share experience:
Source: https://habr.com/ru/post/312808/
All Articles