Belkin Gigabit Powerline HD Starter Kit

Yesterday morning Belkin published a press release detailing a new product that allows consumers to transform their home electrical power lines into an Internet network. Similar products already exist on the market, but currently they can only achieve up to 200 Mbps speeds. The “Gigabit Powerline HD Starter Kit” is the first product on the market that allows speeds up to 1000 Mbps.

The Gigabit Powerline HD Starter Kit has been made available in the US for $149.99, and will be available in Europe from the beginning of August 2009, with local pricing yet to be confirmed.

The way the product works is by connecting a “modem” to the power outlet which transmits your internet connection to your power lines. An adaptor is then plugged into the end location where you wish to use the internet connection. A sample setup would be to have the main modem where the internet line comes into the property and then to have an adaptor downstairs to connect devices such as a PS3 or Xbox 360. This product allows the use of a “wired” connection instead of wireless, which will improve network speed and reduce latency.

Read the official press release. Please be advised that your internet connection (broadband) will be a limiting factor to the maximum download speed from the internet.