Another energy company is making a charge into the nascent broadband over power line (BPL) market.
Cinergy Corp. today announced its subsidiary, Cinergy Broadband, LLC, and BPL equipment maker Current Communications Group, LLC are beginning to deliver broadband service over power lines in the greater Cincinnati area. An expansion is planned in Northern Kentucky and Indiana, Cinergy disclosed.
Cinergy and Current Communications have formed a joint venture to provide broadband access under the name Current Communications. Cinergy says the venture will eventually bundle broadband access with Internet-based phone service, or voice over IP.
Current Communications, a privately held company based in Germantown, Md., will manage the venture, operating the network and providing marketing, customer support and back office functionality.
Cinergy and Current Communications also have formed a second joint venture to market the broadband technology to municipal-owned power companies and rural electric cooperatives. Cinergy Broadband will manage the venture.
Cinergy also disclosed making an investment in Current Communications as part of a large round of financing. Cinergy and Current Communications investors Liberty Associated Partners, LP and EnerTech Capital, LP have invested $70 million in the equipment maker.
Cinergy says it made the decision to offer broadband access over power lines following a trial in the Hyde Park area of Cincinnati.
