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2006 ISPLC Conference March 27, 2006: 

2006 ISPLC Conference March 27, 2006 BPL / PLC A Market Perspective…

The State of BPL / PLC: 

The State of BPL / PLC Retail broadband offerings and utility applications have been implemented successfully Broadband competitive with DSL and Cable offerings Utility applications like Automatic Meter Reading, DLC, and outage detection gearing up for deployment Worldwide recognition of both applications Regulatory climate is more and more supportive Texas provided the framework for the US, California coming next FCC certification for US deployments beginning, other markets moving Commercial deployments are growing Cinergy and TXU pioneering in the US Europe and Asia growing everyday

An Ecosystem of Support for BPL / PLC: 

An Ecosystem of Support for BPL / PLC Vendors Utilities Government Strategy & Implementation Support

CURRENT Communications Group is a vertically-integrated broadband powerline (BPL) communications multi-system operator : 

CURRENT Communications Group is a vertically-integrated broadband powerline (BPL) communications multi-system operator EQUIPMENT CURRENT Technologies invents, engineers, and builds state-of-the-art BPL equipment and software that transforms electric distribution lines into a broadband network for data, voice and video. SERVICES CURRENT Communications deploys and operates BPL systems for both residential and business customers. It can also function as a complete Internet Service Provider (ISP).

BPL/PLC Market Dynamics: 

BPL/PLC Market Dynamics “BPL / PLC” is in the eye of the beholder: In-Home: LAN replacement / Broadband connection sharing In-Network: Broadband to customers / DSL and cable competitive In-Building: LAN / WAN connectivity inside or to building In-Control: Home appliance automation DSL, Cable companies driving “In-Home” Europe and Asia dominated by “In Building” US more focused on “In Network” Consumer electronics companies driving “In Control”

Current’s BPL solution for “In-Network” Architecture: 

Current’s BPL solution for “In-Network” Architecture Carrier POP CT View® Network Management System Current Node CT Coupler® & CT Backhaul-Point® Modems at Premises CT Coupler & CT Bridge® Metro Area Network Fiber or wireless backhaul Distribution-Point CT Coupler & CT Bridge Low voltage lines Low voltage lines Medium Voltage Primary Medium Voltage Primary Current Node CT Coupler & CT Backhaul-Point Current Communications Group Confidential Information

“In-Network”: The Broadband Services Component   : 

“In-Network”: The Broadband Services Component CURRENT Broadband™ for Homes & Businesses Broadband Data 10+ Mbps Truly Plug-and-play Just plug in to any electrical outlet Low-Latency + Symmetrical Quality of Service applications; Ideal for new Internet usage patterns Instant Local Area Network All electrical outlets become ports for broadband access and local-area networking; simple wireless overlay and integration Voice Voice over IP (VoIP) Video Video on Demand Video Instant Messaging IP Television Gaming On Demand & Online Features Services

“In-Network”: The Utility Applications Component   : 

“In-Network”: The Utility Applications Component CURRENT Broadband™ for Homes & Businesses Four Key Smart Grid “Data-Ecosystems”: Device Based: AMR, DLC Transformer Based: Voltage, Current, Power Grid Based: Outage, fault, vegetation, maintenance Sub-Station Based: Automation and monitoring

Slide9: 

Device Based: BPL Enabled AMR Two-way, high speed Internet-style communications over the CURRENT™ BPL infrastructure Comprehensive functionality, including 15 minute reads On demand reads Remote software upgrade capability Proactive alarming and flagging of “unusual” events TOU, CPP and RTP pricing capability Gas and water AMR functionality under development “In-Network”: The Utility Applications Component

Slide10: 

Device Based: BPL Enabled DLC DLC units concurrently installed with BPL AMR units to demonstrate real time verification and quantification of kW shed Complete two-way functionality Immediate verification that unit was contacted Systematic monitoring of unit to verify availability Systematic monitoring of unit and home usage to verify savings potential from shed event “In-Network”: The Utility Applications Component

Slide11: 

Transformer Based: Secondary Voltage Monitors both legs of the transformer Allows for user-defined data collection and analysis Proactive alarming and reporting 1% Accuracy Record by Exception (with settable parameters) “In-Network”: The Utility Applications Component

Slide12: 

Grid Based: Outage Detection All BPL devices are managed elements CURRENT BPL equipment includes “dying gasp” functionality which notifies back office systems when power has been cut Algorithms and analysis can be done to isolate and determine locality of outages Outage restoration notification automatic as devices come back on line “In-Network”: The Utility Applications Component

Slide13: 

Sub-Station Based: BPL Camera Allows utility’s security organization to monitor assets remotely as part of the NERC 1300 Cyber Security requirements BPL has plenty of bandwidth to operate camera in real time Camera gives the utility the ability to zoom in on critical assets Potential user benefits (DVR, motion sensing, zoom, infrared scanning, etc.) are limited by the choice of camera, not the BPL network “In-Network”: The Utility Applications Component

“In Network / In Building” Worldwide Deployments: 

“In Network / In Building” Worldwide Deployments Electricité de France France, Europe Endesa S.A. Spain, Europe Singapore Power Telecommunication Ltd Singapore, Asia PowerCom Network Hong Kong Ltd Hong Kong, Asia Energie Baden-Württemberg AG Germany, Europe Turku Energia Finland, Europe Lyse Kraft Norway, Europe Kuopion Energia Finland, Europe Compañia General de Electricidad Chile, South America Entreprises Electriques Fribourgeoises Switzerland, Europe Reykjavik Energy Iceland, Europe Countries with CURRENT PLC installations

“In Network” Worldwide Deployments : 

“In Network” Worldwide Deployments

“In-Building” Worldwide Deployments : 

“In-Building” Worldwide Deployments

Technology Opportunities : 

Technology Opportunities Continued support and consolidation of standards efforts IEEE P1901,1675, and 1775 efforts Homeplug, Opera, UPA Further development in fault and predictive maintenance Underground cable fault detection / signatures Vegetation management / detection Pin-pointing noise increases over baseline Continued improvement of chipset technologies to adapt to both MV and LV environments Noise dominated vs. attenuation BUZZ vs. HISS noise Ranging over 2 - 50 MHz