FAQs
- What is Powerline Communications (PLC)?
Powerline Communications (PLC) is a technology that utilizes existing electrical distribution lines, whether in a home or a building or out in the utility’s distribution system, for delivering high-speed communications services. The types of services that can be provided using PLC include home area networking for Data, Voice, Gaming, Music, HD video distribution. Broadband Internet services, and Smart Grid utility appplications for intelligence, communication and control.
- What is the Universal Powerline Association (UPA)?
The Universal Powerline Association (UPA) is an International not-for-profit trade association working to promote Powerline Communications technology globally across all applications and to harmonize global standards and regulations in the fast developing Powerline communications market. The UPA is a group of leading companies united in the aim of delivering UPA certified products which comply with agreed specifications to achieve time-to-market, guarantee high performance and maximize usage of the spectrum for all PLC applications to the benefit of all players in the PLC value chain.
The UPA already boasts an impressive membership of some of the world’s most significant Powerline players. The full ist of members can be accessed on our members page.
- What deliverables will UPA provide?
The UPA has produced technical specifications appropriate for all PLC stakeholders as a basis for industry standardization. The Association has submitted, supports and enhances these specifications within the appropriate standard making bodies, including ITU-T, IEEE, ETSI, CENELEC, NIST and CISPR. It is the intention of all UPA members to deliver, to the market, products that comply with the defined specification and ultimately with the recognized open standards.
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Where does the UPA fit among the other PLC industry groups?
The UPA is not a standards-setting body such as the ITU-T, NIST, IEEE, ETSI, CENELEC or CISPR. The UPA develops specifications, which are submitted to these standards setting bodies for consideration as the basis for standards. - How does the UPA differ from existing PLC organizations?
The UPA is the only truly open organization that covers all global markets and all applications of PLC technologies. Unlike other organizations, the UPA will participate in the technical and the regulator arenas.
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What is “coexistence”?
Coexistence is defined as the operation of two or more PLC technologies or applications sharing the same common medium to provide communications services. However, the differing technologies will not communicate between each other.
An example of coexistence is in-premise devices that can recognize that there is an Access service network that is sharing the same power lines medium. The two technologies recognize that the other exists and therefore do not hinder the communications of the other. Instead, through time or frequency domain, the medium is shared by the two technologies. - What is “interoperability”?
Interoperability is defined as differing technologies or applications that can not only recognize a different technology sharing the same wire but can also communicate with the differing technology.
An example of interoperability is an in-premise device that can communicate with an Access network service provider’s equipment.
- How does a company join the UPA?
Companies interested in receiving more information about the UPA are invited to contact the UPA's permanent secretary.
- What are the membership costs to join the UPA?
There are four levels of memberships in the UPA; Associate, Ordinary, Contributor and Board Membership. Ordinary membership fees are 3K Euros and Contributor membership fees are 6K Euros per annum and Board level membership dues are 10K Euros per annum.
- What are the benefits of membership in the UPA?
The Universal Powerline Association invites all interested companies and organizations to join and contribute to the development of global PLC standards and regulations. The UPA provides the forum to strengthen international cooperation for the emerging PLC market.
Membership in the UPA gives a company the opportunity to contribute to the advancement of Powerline Communications and UPA technology as well as to participate in technical standardization working groups, compliance workshops and certification events.
- When was UPA formed and when do meetings take place?
The founding members established an interest group in May 2004. The founding members signed a Memorandum of Understanding in September and the UPA was officially announced in December 2004. Working Groups and other groups, within the organization will meet as necessary to accomplish their goals and tasks.
- When will we see UPA certified products on the market?
UPA plugtested and interoperable products are currently available.
- What is UPA certification?
UPA certification ensures that a product has been tested and proven to comply with the UPA specifications. Products certified by the UPA bear the UPA label, the customer’s guarantee of reliability, on all UPA certified Powerline products and applications.
