Meralco planning internet over power lines in the Philippines

While the concept of channeling the internet over power lines is far from new, it has yet to be implemented in any significant manner. If a top power distributor in the Philippines has its druthers, however, all that will change in the not-too-distant future. Manila Electric Company, better known as Meralco, is gearing up to use its power lines to bring broadband internet to more of the country, which currently sees just 20 million out of its 90 million inhabitants with access. In fact, the company has already made clear that it is "set to implement the pilot test," with the results guiding it in "determining scope and coverage of the project." Come to think of it, we've got a few dollars to spend on a rural broadband initiative here in the States. Hmm...

[windblownmonkey @ Jul 13th 2009 10:52AM]

Sounds quite efficient, seeing as there are no additional lines to run. It seems like interfearance would be an issue with electrical surges though.

[jay jay @ Jul 13th 2009 12:29PM]

what speeds can people expect?

[Nikesh @ Jul 13th 2009 9:36PM]

Anywhere between molasses and constipation.

[ilovethewaggle @ Jul 13th 2009 11:12AM]

I know Comcast is Comcraptastic but i'm not sure if ConEd would really be a wiser choice.

[Giles @ Jul 13th 2009 11:36AM]

That's a great idea, if it works. Maybe this could be a viable option here in the states. Yay for the Philippines (Dare I say it? Eh, why not - Pinoy Pride).

[melvz @ Jul 13th 2009 12:20PM]

with their track record, this plan will just be a plan

[Alex @ Jul 13th 2009 11:36AM]

I went to the Philippines last year, and I had to try four different internet cafes to secure a half-decent connection. So any improvement in coverage would be better than no improvement.

[atx1980 @ Jul 13th 2009 11:42AM]

Consumers energy tried this out about 6 years ago in Michigan. It worked but nothing ever came of it!

[Flask @ Jul 13th 2009 11:45AM]

Is it me or are we getting a lot of news lately (from the Philippines, with the "PS3 slim" being the prior topic)?

Anyway, they already have bayantel DSL and SkyCable broadband (which offers up to 12mbps) under the same group of company, why would they do that? BUT if it's going to give Filipinos a cheaper ISP with faster service, then why niot?

I'm gonna ditch my pathetic mydestiny internet right away if this will yield positive reviews...

[melvz @ Jul 13th 2009 12:23PM]

you're forgetting that most of the ISPs are pathetic

[coldside @ Jul 13th 2009 2:23PM]

Exactly ISPs there are just pathetic. I've lived there for almost 4 years now and I had to change ISP 3 times already, now settling with Globe. When they install your connection, they say that the internet will be at 60% of your connection, which is true. I pay for 3mbps and I get ~1.4. Pretty sad actually.
As this is the Philippines, I'm not going to take this project very seriously.

[BratPAQ @ Jul 13th 2009 2:52PM]

you are forgetting one obvious thing why meralco would do this, coverage, yes there are barrios that are reached by meralco power lines but havent reached yet by phone lines nor cable lines.

[Flask @ Jul 13th 2009 2:53PM]

Well, let's just say that mydestiny is the leader of all the pathetic ISP's in the Philippines.

[nightstar @ Jul 13th 2009 11:58AM]

Great. Another trial of a total discredited system... As the old song goes.. When will they ever learn! Its been tried around the world and fail...

[Flask @ Jul 13th 2009 12:04PM]

You don't know the ISP's in the Philippines, dude. They'd still do it even if it is bound to fail! LOL!

[tmartind @ Jul 13th 2009 12:17PM]

The power lines acts as an antenna and radiates energy when used for internet stuff. It wipes out many forms of radio communication (At least the attempts here in the states)...

Good concept... Bad implementations.

[digitallysick @ Jul 13th 2009 12:01PM]

Sounds good and all, but have you guys been to the philippines? its amazing they have power at all. The dsl from PLDT is horrible , have a look at a pic I took with some powerlines in the shot

http://imgur.com/DN7IT.jpg

[Flask @ Jul 13th 2009 12:08PM]

Those are not just PLDT's dude. That's meralco + pldt + globe + bayantel + skycable + destiny and other small players. If you think PLDT is horrible, you haven't experience mydestiny yet. It crawls worse than dial-up during most parts of the day.

[nxp3 @ Jul 13th 2009 4:06PM]

Hey man, you must have been in the richer part of the country. There's actually a road a car can pass through. I went to places where the houses don't even have paved road it's just some backalley dirt road where one car can barely pass through.

[FAnchax @ Jul 13th 2009 5:47PM]

you know what, half of the philippines looks like compton or worse. I know, I was born and raised there. If you want service you gotta go to better parts.

[hypergo @ Jul 13th 2009 12:33PM]

dudes... whatever we say and show some pix... there still getting it first... that's it... period!

[marco @ Jul 13th 2009 12:45PM]

Very good Ideal, been to PI few times myself, DSL seem to be real spotty at times over friends houses, with the whole day being out sometimes. I wonder what kind of reliable speeds can you get from this sort of PoE connection. But it sounds like the Electric Company Meralco will have a monopoly on the internet access, is that fair?? I guess nothing is fair these days.

[lwhitson2 @ Jul 13th 2009 1:41PM]

Comment Test

[blackth0ughtz @ Jul 13th 2009 2:10PM]

when i went to the philippines.. the powerlines were filled with huge ass spiders ahaha
gave me goosebumps walking down the street hoping a huge spider didnt come down on me and eat my head off lol

but i hope this give them better internet connection speed over there.. when i talk to my cousins online from the philippines they always seem to have server issues.

[Yanyan @ Jul 13th 2009 3:23PM]

Its probably just another money-grabbing attempt by the Lopez's. Or they want some bragging rights as to being first. While they may push through with this plan, it would probably be unreliable. Add to that the fact that all ISP's in the Philippines are crap. It's either the connection crawls or you get disconnected everyday. And wait till you call customer service.
If this pushes through, I don't think Meralco will have a monopoly over internet access though since those USB 3G dongles are starting to be an attractive option.

[nxp3 @ Jul 13th 2009 4:06PM]

I've been to the Philippines (Cebu) and changes in the Philippines can't come quick enough. There is no system of anything there, no infrastructure. It seem to me the government are corrupted spending all the money for themselves while the majority of people live in poverty. Internet connection comes in so many different ways, but it is unreliable as the wind changing direction. I'm serious about this....you could easily lose network connection 2 or 3 times a week. So many things needs to be done there you don't even know where to begin. Road systems, dranage, communications...I don't know why they don't adopt the systems of many other countries that are successful. No one there is motivated to stay there to improve the Philippines. It seem that they get their education there and try to move out. They're probably the biggest exporter of nurses than anywhere else. My guess is internet by powerline there is not going to happen anytime soon. Heck, we haven't got internet over powerline here in the states....not where I live since I heard of it years ago. Maybe it's not feasible.

[dhanna @ Jul 13th 2009 4:11PM]

The most efficient way to Broadband here in the US for most rural ares is with wireless transmitters on cell towers. It is fast, proven (see airbaud.com) and affordable.the amount of infrastructure needed is a fraction of what it would take to hard wire and cable.

Dave

[keyboardstyli @ Jul 13th 2009 4:43PM]

But, and if it happens & if it succeeds later.. what would happen to all the negative comments here, eventually? :P

Fact is, nothing will ever succeed unless somebody gives it their best shot, and nothing really is impossible of course.. even in the Philippines!

Let's just see what happens then, alright?!

: )

[melvz @ Jul 13th 2009 5:24PM]

boy... try living there and see the reality.. the intentions are good... the bragging rights when done are good.. but in reality, it's like winning the lottery... i'm even willing to bet a lifetime salary that this project isn't even gonna take off in the next ten years.

[keyboardstyli @ Jul 13th 2009 9:51PM]

Believe me (though that's going to be always subjective of course), because I do actually live (born & raised) there.. I am here (though my location is irrelevant) and that's why I really meant what I've said earlier!

[hckrs2k3 @ Jul 13th 2009 7:37PM]

They must be prepared in complaints like computer exploding due to power surge. Inaccurate bill computations and internet connection JUMPERS (illegal connection).

Susme... kung service nga njila sa kuryente di maayos internet pa? Ipaubaya nlng nila sa PLDT...

[Flask @ Jul 13th 2009 10:56PM]

I don't have any problems with my power connection over meralco and they've always been responsive thru outages and maintenance, atleast on my area.

[Jam. @ Jul 13th 2009 7:53PM]

Almost all ISPs here in the philippines is a crap. If MERALCO can give a cheaper price and good service, I will definitely switch to this one.

[raph2001 @ Jul 13th 2009 9:53PM]

They have teh internets in teh Philippines?? Hehehe, havent been back since I left 16 years ago...

[Nico @ Jul 13th 2009 10:13PM]

Uhmmm, what are you guys talking about? Just because were in the Philippines doesn't mean that we are outdated. Hello, we were the first ones who made technologies using SMS popular. Twitter is even based on text messaging. I don't understand the whole hullabaloo over internet connection here. Okay, wi-fi over 3G is not so great but the HSDPA connections are good. I only pay 1500 PhP (around $30) for unlimited internet access (from BayanTel) and I could do facebook, twitter and surf, while downloading 20 files of around 1gb each. And I'm not even living in Makati City.

[melvz @ Jul 14th 2009 8:04AM]

internet services are outdated in the philippines! Much as so with their reliability! you maybe able to download 20 files (roughly 1GB each) but with the slow services there, I'm pretty sure that it takes you days to download them!

With a fiber optic in the US (like Fios), it takes about 45 mins to 1.5hrs to download a 700Mb movie file

With an average DSL connection in the Phil, it takes about 6 to 8 hrs to download a 300Mb file.


The Philippines maybe ahead in SMS tech but it is years behind internet tech and services!

[steel_icon @ Jul 13th 2009 10:39PM]

Apparently this has got something to do with it:

PLDT buys 20% of Meralco from Lopez group
By Anette Jönsson, | 16 March 2009
Read this article online at:
http://www.financeasia.com/article.aspx?CIID=139975

The telecom operator appears as a white knight to prevent the San Miguel group from gaining control of one of the Lopez family's long-term assets.
Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) has bought 20% in Manila Electric Company (Meralco) from the Lopez group, which increases its stake to 30% and effectively prevents San Miguel from taking control of the power distributor.

[steel_icon @ Jul 13th 2009 10:55PM]

Imagine what could have happened when San Miguel took over instead of PLDT? c",

[Flask @ Jul 13th 2009 11:04PM]

Didn't San Miguel also have plans of putting up their own internet services (Liberty WiMax?) though Globe already has WiMax available in certain areas.

PLDT won't be a strategic partner I guess (or a cooperative one) since the Lopezes have Bayantel to begin with.

[techpinas @ Jul 14th 2009 3:30AM]

Way to go Philippines! :) Mabuhay!

This will definitely open doors for a lot of e-commerce initiatives in the country and will surely help in strengthening the education system.

www.techpinas.com - TechPinas: The Philippine Technology Blog

[Jeffrey @ Jul 14th 2009 7:06AM]

Meralco only covers Manila and some parts of the provinces in Luzon.

[Rams @ Jul 14th 2009 9:31AM]

In India University students already acheived great internet speeds through power lines and soon they are going to implement in Delhi and other cities of India.

[Wwhat @ Jul 16th 2009 12:13PM]

Here's an idea: Let's keep the philippines off the internet, think about it before getting outraged, thanks.