LONDON — The 26-partner OPERA 2 powerline communications consortium is entering its next, crucial phase as the EU-backed group tries to convince operators to deploy the technology it has developed in a meaningful way in different grid topologies.

OPERA #151; for Open PLC Research Alliance — has been devising broadband over powerline technology for over four years and its system has been tested and deployed for broadband access, utility-oriented smart grid and tele-surveillance applications and home networking for operator services at several locations.

It has also been at the forefront of developments to standardize power line communications for access and smart grid applications, and is participating in efforts by standardization bodies, such as the IEEE P1901, ETSI, and CISPR.

In IEEE P1901 OPERA has worked with all the major companies representing access power line applications in support of including specific requirements in the baseline specification. "The breadth and scope of the research and technical validation undertaken by the OPERA 2 consortium is an important source for future PLC standardization wor," said Javier Areola, OPERA 2 Coordinator and a senior technologist at Iberdola.

However, the group now concedes that over the next six months, the consortium needs to disseminate carefully the results achieved. "The most important period starts now to ensure that the result of the development undertaken is given as wide an audience as possible," stresses Arriola.

The OPERA 2 PLC system has been tested and deployed by CELG Brazil, a Brazilian subsidiary utility; Iberdrola, Spain's largest energy supplier and one of the leading utilities in the world; LINZ AG, Austria's multi-utility supplier including power and telecommunication services; and ONI, Portugal's leading alternative fixed line operator.

Running in parallel with these trials, the consortium has developed a full set of devices and features, including advanced Head End equipment, improved customer premise gear, and OPERA-enabled equipment for Smart Grid applications.

Berthold Haberler, head of innovation management at LINZ AG in Austria, stated: "The main reason for extending our involvement in OPERA has been to benefit from the increase in technology performance that has occurred in recent years. We were looking for a technology to upgrade our commercial BPL service for data and to be able to add on other services, including client side VoIP telesurveillance, telecontrol, and home automation as well as utility-side Smart Grid applications, including AMR. Opera has exceeded our expectations."

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