Power lines win German support
By Reuters
March 30, 2001, 11:05 a.m. PT
FRANKFURT--Germany's Bundesrat upper house of parliament on Friday
cleared
regulatory hurdles for the so-called power-line technology for fast
Internet
access via electricity lines. A statement issued by the economics
ministry
in Berlin said three laws setting out the conditions for power-line
operations had been approved, clearing the way for nationwide
implementation
in the 16 states in due course.

The move gives power line the chance of competing with other established

communications channels such as cable television and telephone networks.

Analysts say that by delivering high-speed Internet connections through
residential wall sockets, utilities could break the phone companies'
grip on
Internet access while also offsetting recent losses due to shrinking
retail
power margins.

Story Copyright © 2001 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.