“Bill Smith, 38 year old mechanic was found dead in his house in Manchester, UK. A neighbor reported after seeing the sparks coming out of the window. Mr. Smith  who was chatting with his friend on the internet last night, died due to a high voltage which passed on his broadband cable. His wife reported that she was sleeping after dinner. She came running after a loud cry from her husband.  It was found that the house experienced fluctuation of power due to rain and a high voltage passed on the modem while he was attempting to adjust the internet connection. “This is the 3rd accident that has happened this year and we are under thorough investigation to identify the root cause” the police said. Mrs. Smith has filed a case against the broadband company for a compensation and to take necessary actions in identifying the root cause for the problem. – Reported a UK daily newspaper. 10 Oct 20**.

But how did the power supply get in to the internet line? Yes that’s the invention yet waiting for approval of standards. Don’t worry no one is dead with the internet. **The above said news is just an imagination, do not take is seriously.

A common electric outlet might be a path for your broadband connection in the future. Broadband has been coming out with different emerging trends like satellite broadband, mobile broadband, broadband gaming and now its time for broadband over power lines(BPL). BPL is a broadband technology that is developed by Current Communications Group and Enikia along with power companies like Ameren and EPRI to get it off ground. It has been tested in many cities of the United states and United Kingdom, but still awaiting FCC and IEEE’s approval for standards.  AC power was used for data transmission by the electric companies to monitor the performance of power grids. But the method was simple and relatively slow.

We know that the phone companies haven’t laid enough fiber optic lines to facilitate all the users for a broadband service. But this is not the case of electric lines. Power from the power plant reaches the transmission sub station and then distributed to high voltage transmission lines. The first obstacle for the data traveling are, these high voltage lines (155,000 to 765,000 volts) which can drop or damage the data since its too noisy. BPL bypasses the issue by not using the high voltage power lines. Instead the data is transmitted through medium voltage power lines (7200 volts). Repeaters are installed at safer distance where there are chances for the data to drop down. Then a CT coupler is installed which by passes the transformers and converts the medium voltage of 7200v to 240v which can work in a normal household service. After reaching the CT coupler or the bridge, the data can be transmitted either through electric cables or wireless. After reaching the wall outlet a BPL modem is used to convert data using a specially developed modulation technique and sends to the computer. This modem handles power line noise at a wider spectrum.

Even though the broadband on power line technology seems to be innovative, it receives heavy opposition from American Radio Relay League (ARRL) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Both continue to say that BPL will cause severe interference issues. BPL said those issues have been solved, but the ARRL was not ready to give ears. So BPL is hoping  for slow progression. Broadband service over the power line would reach almost everyone who struggle with a dial up or have no connection. Do we have an unlimited usage on that? Caution: Electricity Bills?!?!?

Another freebie offered by the broadband provider to the new customers is a free installation, once the broadband bundle is ordered over the internet. Here, even though the rental charges of the phone line apply, the customer would not be slapped a bill for the initial two months. However, the customer will be required to pay regular rentals of GBP 19.50 per month, along with a GBP 11 per month for a phone line, after the conclusion of the free term.

The best value broadband bundle of Virgin Media is a mixed package of unlimited UK landline weekend calls (Phone M), more than 65 digital television channels (TV Size M+) and a fibre optic broadband service of up to 10Mbps access speeds (Broadband Size L). This broadband, TV & Phone package also accommodates 10GB storage, a monthly allowance of 50 free photo prints and a wireless modem and router for free.

The best value bundle from the leading cable broadband provider in the country, can also include an economy GBP 49 V+HD box that normally comes with a GBP 150 price tag. For acquiring this luxury, the customer is required to pay a monthly charge of GBP 5.

The internet service provider that is currently competing with the UK broadband giant BT in the superfast fibre optic (next generation) broadband segment, has all the information on the new offers on its website. This offer is understood to end on September 30 2009.

The WiFi mobile broadband router of Vodafone that is currently not available in the United Kingdom, is capable of allowing customers to create their own WiFi hot spot, which in its turn can connect up to five compatible devices to the wireless network at a time.

The router introduced by Vodafone is expected to allow customers to connect to the mobile broadband network, their WiFi enabled MP 3 players, mobile phones and digital cameras, besides conventional mobile broadband devices such as laptops and netbooks.

Huw Medcraft, the director for mobile broadband at Vodafone Broadband commented on the WiFi hot spot router launch that the mobile broadband hotspot from Vodafone strived to offer families, students and professionals, a single-touch connectivity solution, which turned laptops and MP3 players with WiFi into connected mobile broadband gadgets.

Initially, the Wifi mobile broadband hot spot router would only be available in Spain, Romania and Germany.

This intimidating partnership for the other three mobile operators in the UK, once realised could give life to arguably the largest mobile broadband network in the country. Even under the prevailing conditions, 3 UK is the smallest among the five with a very less market share.

Once the deal between T-Mobile and Orange is struck, the number of operators in the country will be reduced to four. Something that will be certainly worrying 3 UK will be the reality that O2 and Vodafone are already miles ahead of it in terms of market share, and the Orange-T-Mobile deal is expected to worsen things for them by virtually obliterating its minute chances for engaging in a healthy competition.

This is more than evident in the words of 3 UK’s chief executive Kevin Russel that although he supported the merger, he liked to see more reforms from the regulator that would enable his company to atract new customers by offering reduced prices to them. He had revealed his views to the newspaper the Financial Times.

Russel wanted the competition authorities to allow his company to go ahead with lowered prices to entice fresh customers, if they gave their nod for the proposed merger between T-Mobile and Orange UK. He also expected the authorities to consider cutting the connection costs between the mobile operators that existed at present, to almost zero.

3 UK had, at the beginning of the year, launched a mobile broadband package highlighting 15GB data allowance for GBP 15 per month, with a view to give itself a competitive edge in the UK mobile broadband market. The operator had also launched limited contract term dongles in March to win more customers.

For taking part in the new free online security enhancing trials, the customers will be required to evaluate its F-Secure security software’s updated version that TalkTalk presents as part of its GBP 12 per month, Super Secure Boost with a free trial for the initial thirty days. TalkTalk is renowned for its cheap business broadband packages.

TalkTalk stated on its new trials that ensuring the surfing safety of the customer was getting increasingly significant, and in case a virus or other hazardous stuff slips onto the customer’s computer, the person was more likely to loose vital bank details and passwords apart from music, photos and files.

The broadband UK provider added that their Super Secure Boost broadband security package, topped up the basic protection of their Essentials broadband package, with its accolade-winning security on up to a number of three PCs.