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By Martin F. Lasaga III
E-mail:
martlasaga66@yahoo.com
BPL Technology: Romblon’s Pride
On my table was a piece
of an unused coffee sachet. I grasped and ran my fingers on it trying to
figure out what good does it give me since I’m not a coffee-drinker.
The inscription “3 in 1”
suddenly caught my attention. Ah…, coffee, cream, and sugar. That’s it.
On the other side of the pack reads: One sachet makes one cup of rich,
creamy coffee. “ Still another eye catching lines, harmonized in blue
speaks: “Quality and Trust” and “Talk to Us”.
This coffee sachet gave
me the idea to share with you a technology integrated invention – the
BPL or the Broadband over Power Lines. But unlike the coffee which I
don’t take, I’m certain the BPL has great things to offer in this
information age.
***
Nextream Broadband, a
company based in Hallandale, Florida has formed its Philippine
counterpart chaired by retired General Pedro G. Dumol to introduce a
unique ands state-of-the-art BPL Technology.
The technology has
integrated three distinct services: internet, telephone, and cable TV
into one system. So to speak, “3 in 1”.
With the system, “the
rural folks will be connected through the powerlines and wireless
networking, even without the telephone lines and cables. It provides
Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP), videostreaming similar to cable TV
and internet gateway, said Nextream CEO Tyrone Javellana – a Filipino–
American. It is likewise capable of reaching transmission speed of up to
200 Mbps over low and medium voltage powerlines.
Manila Bulletin, citing
Javellana, reported that the BPL was tested by some 20 utility companies
in the United States in 2004 alone and more groups in Arizona, Michigan,
Idaho, Florida, South Carolina, Louisiana and other states are trying
them this year.
In the Philippines, the
invented BPL technology was launched last month in Balanga City, Bataan
in cooperation with Peninsula Electric Cooperative (Penelco) and the
Nextream Broadband Philippines. “It aims to rev up Philippine economy in
the country side and enhance people’s lives by fully wiring and
connecting rural areas or its 54,000 barangays at the least cost.”
According to the report,
there are now 28 BPL specialist who are tasked to oversee the
propagation of the technology in the rural areas.
Here’s the score. Why is
this breakthrough so significant in the history and life of Romblon? It
is because one of the key people in the top management of Nextream
Broadband is Mr. Ronald Fesalbon, the Chief Technical Officer and
spokesman, who is a native of Malilico, Odiongan, Romblon.
Mr. Fesalbon is a
graduate of Instrumentation Engineering at the Don Bosco University. He
is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jose and Elena Fesalbon.
During the launching in
Bataan, Mr. Fesalbon was quoted by Manila Bulletin saying that one way
to get out of poverty is to get oneself a good education.
When I had the
opportunity to talk with Mr. Ronald Fesalbon February 23 thru his very
accommodating parents, he said that one major aim of the BPL is to
promote education in the rural areas.
Source: Manila Bulletin
February 2, 2006 |
