On the channel capacity of the residential power circuit used as a digital communications medium

Based on the results of an extensive measurement campaign executed in the city of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, a channel model for the residential power line channel (RPLC) used as a digital communications channel is presented. From this model bounds for the channel capacity of such a channel used under European regulations are calculated. It is concluded that it is indeed theoretically possible to use the RPLC to solve the local loop problem in a second, fixed line telephone network.