This standard defines medium access control (MAC) and physical layer (PHY) specifications for high-speed (>100 Mb/s at the physical layer) communication devices as well as lower speed Internet of Things communication devices. It is usable for communications on any media including, but not limited to, communications on power lines (AC or DC), coaxial cables, signal cables, optical fiber, and communications using light (visible, infrared), and radio waves. The standard applies to communication devices used for local area networks (LANs), in buildings, Smart Energy/Smart Grid applications, transportation platforms (vehicle, bike, robot) applications, underwater applications, Internet of Things applications, and other data distribution. This standard defines how to apply PHY/MAC specifications for transmission over various media (e.g., communications on power lines, coaxial cables, signal cables, underwater communication, near field communications using loop antennas). This standard uses transmission frequencies below 100 MHz for communications on power lines and transmission frequencies below 125 MHz for communications on coaxial cables, signal cables or using radio waves. The standard addresses security, privacy, authentication, and authorization to provide secure communications and network operations. Therefore, the standard supports operating security-sensitive services. The standard limits itself to the physical layer and the medium access sublayer of the data link layer, as defined by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) Basic Reference Model. The standard addresses all classes of broadband over power line (BPL) devices, including BPL devices used for the first-mile/last-mile connection (at least 1500 m to the premises) to broadband services as well as BPL devices used in buildings for LANs. This standard defines detailed mechanisms for coexistence and interoperability between different BPL devices helping to assure a balanced and efficient use of the power line communications medium by all classes of BPL devices, and that desired bandwidth and quality of service may be delivered. The standard also enables compliance with electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) limits for communications on power lines and communications using radio waves set by national regulators.
- Sponsor Committee
- COM/PLC - Power Line Communications
Learn More About COM/PLC - Power Line Communications - Status
- Active PAR
- PAR Approval
- 2024-09-26
- Superseding
- 1901-2020
Working Group Details
- Society
- IEEE Communications Society
Learn More About IEEE Communications Society - Sponsor Committee
- COM/PLC - Power Line Communications
Learn More About COM/PLC - Power Line Communications - Working Group
-
BPLPHMAC - Broadband Over Power Lines PHY/MAC Working Group
- IEEE Program Manager
- Dalisa Gonzalez
Contact Dalisa Gonzalez - Working Group Chair
- Jean Philippe Faure
Other Activities From This Working Group
Current projects that have been authorized by the IEEE SA Standards Board to develop a standard.
No Active Projects
Standards approved by the IEEE SA Standards Board that are within the 10-year lifecycle.
1901-2020
IEEE Standard for Broadband over Power Line Networks: Medium Access Control and Physical Layer Specifications
Physical (PHY) and media access control (MAC) layers of a broadband powerline communication technology for local area networks (LANs), Smart Energy, Smart Grid, Internet of Things, transportation platforms (vehicle) applications, and other data distribution are defined in this standard. The balanced and efficient use of the power line communications channel by all classes of BPL devices is the main focus of this standard, defining detailed mechanisms for coexistence and interoperability between different BPL devices, and ensuring that desired bandwidth and quality of service may be delivered. The necessary security questions are addressed to ensure the privacy of communications between users and to allow the use of BPL for security sensitive services.
1901b-2021
IEEE Standard for Broadband over Power Line Networks: Medium Access Control and Physical Layer Specifications Amendment 2: Enhancements for Authentication and Authorization
State-of-the-art authentication and authorization mechanisms for networks, especially for IoT and access devices, are integrated in this amendment. Specifications for how IEEE Std 802.1X may be utilized for authentication and authorization by IEEE 1901 networks are provided in this amendment.
1901c-2024
IEEE Standard for Broadband over Power Line Networks: Medium Access Control and Physical Layer Specifications Amendment 3: Enhanced Flexible Channel Wavelet (FCW) Physical and Media Access Control Layers for Use on Any Media
Physical (PHY) and media access control (MAC) layers of an improved flexible channel wavelet (FCW) technology to be usable for communication on any media called extended flexible channel wavelet (FCW) PHY/MAC are specified in this amendment. New communication channels are defined in low-frequency bands to extend the communication range and increase the robustness of communication, and how the IEEE Std 1588 precision time protocol (PTP) works over wavelet networks is specified to enhance network functions.
These standards have been replaced with a revised version of the standard, or by a compilation of the original active standard and all its existing amendments, corrigenda, and errata.
1901-2010
IEEE Standard for Broadband over Power Line Networks: Medium Access Control and Physical Layer Specifications
A standard for high-speed communication devices via electric power lines, so called broadband over power line (BPL) devices, is defined. Transmission frequencies below 100 MHz are used. All classes of BPL devices can use this standard, including BPL devices used for the first-mile/last-mile connection to broadband services as well as BPL devices used in buildings for local area networks (LANs), Smart Energy applications, transportation platforms (vehicle) applications, and other data distribution. The balanced and efficient use of the power line communications channel by all classes of BPL devices is the main focus of this standard, defining detailed mechanisms for coexistence and interoperability between different BPL devices, and ensuring that desired bandwidth and quality of service may be delivered. The necessary security questions are addressed to ensure the privacy of communications between users and to allow the use of BPL for security sensitive services.
These standards have been removed from active status through a ballot where the standard is made inactive as a consensus decision of a balloting group.
No Inactive-Withdrawn Standards
These standards are removed from active status through an administrative process for standards that have not undergone a revision process within 10 years.
No Inactive-Reserved Standards