Swiss utility implements VoIP over power line

Commercial VoIP over power line has been successfully deployed over AMB's network, an electricity utility located in southern Switzerland.

The deployment of broadband power line communications (BPL) now means the company can offer VoIP and internet services over its existing electric grid to customers in the Ticino region.

AMB says the deployment means it can offer its Wambo (internet speeds of 300kb/s to 1,600 kb/s) and Wambotel (VoIP using standard, off-the-shelf VoIP ATAs [Analog Telephony Adapters]) services at competitive prices.

Mauro Sua, general director of AMB, said the new service would "offer internet at different speeds, and VoIP services - as well as creating the infrastructure for future implementation of Smart Grid applications".

"Using our existing electricity grid to run Wambo and Wambotel services, we can provide broadband communication services to rural areas that are not served by other technologies."

AMB said the technology allowed for transparent VoIP, IP-based technology that supports any telecommunication standards (for example: H323, SIP or MGCP) and embedded QoS and Voice priority, as well as tiered services.

Performance optimisation is enabled in accordance with CODECS and advanced features such as VLAN.