Japan plans to launch a debate on lifting a ban on using power lines for data communications, enabling people get access to the Internet at high speed, an official said today. “We are preparing to hold talks of a study group early next year,” said an official at the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. If the study group finds no technical problem with the new service, the ministry will move for the deregulation as early as in 2006. Data communications based on power lines would enable users to build local area networks at home or access the Internet and control air conditioners and other home appliances from remote places. The ministry currently bans such use of power lines due to concerns that the 2-30MHz frequency spectrum, which is expected to be used for the new services, may interfere with existing radio services.
