Broadband over Gas Lines?
Ok so this is really out there. You might have heard how broadband Internet can be provided using electric power lines (BPL). Now that I can see as a possibility, even with the inherent issues regarding interference etc, but I am not too sure about this one…
Nethercomm claim that they have the technology to deliver Broadband In Gas (BIG); now that is natural gas for the Americans reading this not the stuff you put in the car. The claim goes further to say that they can deliver:
"…a Terabit wireless link to the last mile of today’s broadband networks without interfering with FCC regulated spectrums"
But I know what you are thinking… what about the inevitable explosions, which I might add I was think as well. But they have that covered too apparently:
"…due to the isolated, contained environment, the natural gas flow and radio signals co-exist uninterrupted and cannot blow up!"
If this is actually even possible I am interested, the claimed speed is 1,000 times faster than cable currently is capable of and blows what I am using out of the water. Expect the installation cost to be about $200 bucks (I assume US$), which is good, but don’t expect the technology within the next 3 to 5 years. So I hope you are not in a hurry.
Apparently the receiver would be built into the meter at the user end point, I was wondering about that and how it could be done, and not surprisingly no one could be found that has done it or could demonstrate proof of concept.
Three to five years is a long time and it would be safe to say that it might never get off the ground. Who knows what might come of age in that time. Good to see companies out there looking outside the box, but looking in explosive gas pipes, that is left field as you can get… I am willing to be surprised again though.