EN IEC 62488-3:2021

Power line communication systems for power utility applications - Part 3: Digital Power Line Carrier (DPLC) terminals and hybrid ADPLC terminals

This part of IEC 62488 applies to power line carrier terminals and networks used to transmit information over power networks including extra high, high and medium voltage (EHV/HV/MV) power lines using both digital and optionally analogue modulation systems in a frequency range between 16 kHz and 1 MHz (see also IEC 62488-1). In many countries, power line carrier (PLC) channels represent a significant part of the utilityowned telecommunication system. A circuit normally routed via a PLC channel can also be routed via a channel using a different transmission medium such as point to point radio, optical fibre or open wire circuit. It is therefore important that the input and output interfaces that are used between terminals in the communication system are standardised. The issues requiring consideration of DPLC and/or APLC devices as parts of a telecommunication network can be found in IEC 62488-1. Figure 1 shows the correspondence between the elements needed to implement PLC systems and the related International Standards.

Systeme zur Kommunikation über Hochspannungsleitungen für Anwendungen der elektrischen Energieversorgung - Teil 3: Endgeräte für digitale Trägerfrequenzübertragung über Hochspannungsleitungen (DTFH) oder hybride ADTFH-Endgeräte

Systèmes de communication sur lignes d'énergie pour les applications des compagnies d'électricité - Partie 3: Équipements terminaux à courants porteurs sur lignes d’énergie numériques ou DPLC et équipements terminaux hybrides ADPLC

IEC 62488-3:2021 s’applique aux équipements terminaux et aux réseaux à courants porteurs sur lignes d’énergie utilisés pour transmettre des informations sur les réseaux électriques, ce qui englobe les lignes d’énergie extra haute, haute et moyenne tension (EHT/HT/MT) qui utilisent les systèmes de modulation numériques et, éventuellement, analogiques dans une plage de fréquences comprise entre 16 kHz et 1 MHz (voir aussi l’IEC 62488-1). Dans de nombreux pays, les canaux à courants porteurs sur lignes d’énergie (CPL) constituent une partie essentielle du système de télécommunication propre aux compagnies d’électricité. Un circuit normalement établi par un canal CPL peut aussi être acheminé par un canal utilisant un support de transmission différent, tel qu’une liaison radio pointe à point, une fibre optique ou une ligne filaire. Il est donc important que les interfaces d’entrée et de sortie utilisées entre les terminaux dans le système de communication soient normalisées. Les aspects qui exigent de prendre en considération les dispositifs DPLC et/ou APLC comme des composants d’un réseau de télécommunications figurent dans l’IEC 62488-1. Le domaine d’application du présent document couvre également la description des interfaces E/S et des montages d’essai nécessaires pour qualifier au niveau liaison les caractéristiques d’un terminal DPLC ou ADPLC. Cette première édition de l’IEC 62488-3 annule et remplace les parties concernées de l’IEC TR 60663 et de l’IEC 60495, qui seront retirées à l’avenir.

Sistemi komunikacij po elektroenergetskih vodih za elektroenergetska podjetja - 3. del: Priključki za digitalne (DPLC) in hibridne ADPLC komunikacijske sisteme

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 03-Jun-2021
• ICS: 33.200 - Telecontrol. Telemetering
• Technical Committee: CLC/TC 57 - Power systems management and associated information exchange
• Drafting Committee: IEC/TC 57 - IEC_TC_57
• Current Stage: 6060 - Document made available - Publishing
• Start Date: 04-Jun-2021
• Completion Date: 04-Jun-2021
• Ref Project: SIST EN IEC 62488-3:2021 - Power line communication systems for power utility applications - Part 3: Digital Power Line Carrier (DPLC) terminals and hybrid ADPLC terminals

Overview

EN IEC 62488-3:2021 specifies requirements for Digital Power Line Carrier (DPLC) terminals and hybrid ADPLC terminals used by power utilities to transmit information over extra high, high and medium voltage (EHV/HV/MV) power lines. The standard covers digital-and optionally analogue-modulation systems operating in the frequency range 16 kHz to 1 MHz. It complements IEC 62488‑1 (planning) and IEC 62488‑2 (analogue PLC terminals) and focuses on terminal interfaces, performance, testing and management to ensure safe, interoperable PLC links within utility telecommunication networks.

Key technical topics and requirements

• Scope & architecture: Generic terminal structure and how DPLC/ADPLC terminals fit into utility telecom infrastructure.
• Access-side interfaces: Digital (Ethernet IEEE 802.3, serial) and analogue interfaces plus teleprotection interfaces and requirements for signal levels, impedance and control circuits.
• HF line interface: Channeling, frequency accuracy, signal levels, nominal impedance, return loss, degree of unbalance to earth, tapping loss and spurious/in‑band emissions.
• Quality & performance: Receiver dynamic range, bit rate expectations, sensitivity, selectivity, adaptability to line conditions, BER, packet loss, latency and voice/data quality metrics.
• Testing methods: Test setups and procedures for link tests, SNR, return loss, longitudinal conversion loss, tapping loss, spurious emissions, selectivity, BER and LAN‑to‑LAN performance.
• Configuration & management: Terminal configuration, network management interfaces, alarm/event logging and lifecycle management.
• Cyber security: Requirements and considerations for payload protection and management interface security, with cross‑references to IEC/TS 62351 series.

Practical applications - who uses it

• Power utilities: Planning and operating utility-owned telecom channels for telecontrol, telemetering and teleprotection.
• Equipment manufacturers: Designing DPLC and hybrid ADPLC terminals that interoperate on EHV/HV/MV networks.
• System integrators & consultants: Implementing multi‑media telecom architectures that may combine PLC with radio, optical fiber or open‑wire circuits.
• Testing laboratories & certification bodies: Verifying EMC, performance and conformance to defined test procedures.
• Procurement and standards teams: Specifying interoperable interfaces and performance criteria in contracts and tender documents.

Related standards

• IEC 62488‑1 (planning of PLC systems)
• IEC 62488‑2 (analogue PLC terminals)
• IEC/TS 62351 series (data and communications security)
• IEC 61000 series (EMC), IEC 60529 (IP codes), IEC 60834‑1 (teleprotection)
• CISPR 32 (emission requirements)

This standard is essential for ensuring reliable, secure and interoperable power line communications in utility environments - particularly where PLC links form a core part of the utility telecom network.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-september-2021
Sistemi komunikacij po elektroenergetskih vodih za elektroenergetska podjetja - 3.
del: Priključki za digitalne (DPLC) in hibridne ADPLC komunikacijske sisteme
Power line communication systems for power utility applications - Part 3: Digital Power
Line Carrier (DPLC) terminals and hybrid ADPLC terminals
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN IEC 62488-3:2021
ICS:
29.240.01 Omrežja za prenos in Power transmission and
distribucijo električne energije distribution networks in
na splošno general
33.200 Daljinsko krmiljenje, daljinske Telecontrol. Telemetering
meritve (telemetrija)
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD EN IEC 62488-3

NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
June 2021
ICS 33.200
English Version
Power line communication systems for power utility applications
- Part 3: Digital Power Line Carrier (DPLC) terminals and hybrid
ADPLC terminals
(IEC 62488-3:2021)
Systèmes de communication sur lignes d'énergie pour les Systeme zur Kommunikation über Hochspannungsleitungen
applications des compagnies d'électricité - Partie 3: für Anwendungen der elektrischen Energieversorgung - Teil
Équipements terminaux à courants porteurs sur lignes 3: Endgeräte für digitale Trägerfrequenzübertragung über
d'énergie numériques ou DPLC et équipements terminaux Hochspannungsleitungen (DTFH) oder hybride ADTFH-
hybrides ADPLC Endgeräte
(IEC 62488-3:2021) (IEC 62488-3:2021)
This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2021-05-31. CENELEC members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC
Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.
Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre or to any CENELEC member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CENELEC member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the
same status as the official versions.
CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey and the United Kingdom.

European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2021 CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC Members.
Ref. No. EN IEC 62488-3:2021 E

European foreword
The text of document 57/2355/FDIS, future edition 1 of IEC 62488-3, prepared by IEC/TC 57 "Power
systems management and associated information exchange" was submitted to the IEC-CENELEC
parallel vote and approved by CENELEC as EN IEC 62488-3:2021.
The following dates are fixed:
• latest date by which the document has to be implemented at national (dop) 2022-02-28
level by publication of an identical national standard or by endorsement
• latest date by which the national standards conflicting with the (dow) 2024-05-31
document have to be withdrawn
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CENELEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Endorsement notice
The text of the International Standard IEC 62488-3:2021 was approved by CENELEC as a European
Standard without any modification.
In the official version, for Bibliography, the following note has to be added for the standard indicated:
IEC 60358 NOTE Harmonized as HD 597 S1
Annex ZA
(normative)
Normative references to international publications
with their corresponding European publications
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments)
applies.
NOTE 1 Where an International Publication has been modified by common modifications, indicated by (mod), the
relevant EN/HD applies.
NOTE 2 Up-to-date information on the latest versions of the European Standards listed in this annex is available
here: www.cenelec.eu.
Publication Year Title EN/HD Year
IEC 60038 - IEC standard voltages EN 60038 -
IEC 60050-151 2001 International Electrotechnical Vocabulary - - -
Part 151: Electrical and magnetic devices
IEC 60255-27 2013 Measuring relays and protection equipment EN 60255-27 2014
- Part 27: Product safety requirements
IEC 60529 1989 Degrees of protection provided by EN 60529 1991
enclosures (IP Code)
- -  + corrigendum May 1993
IEC 61000-4-2 - Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) - Part EN 61000-4-2 -
4-2: Testing and measurement techniques
- Electrostatic discharge immunity test
IEC 61000-4-3 - Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) - Part EN IEC 61000-4-3 -
4-3 : Testing and measurement techniques
- Radiated, radio-frequency,
electromagnetic field immunity test
IEC 61000-4-4 - Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) - Part EN 61000-4-4 -
4-4: Testing and measurement techniques
- Electrical fast transient/burst immunity
test
IEC 61000-4-5 - Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) - Part EN 61000-4-5 -
4-5: Testing and measurement techniques
- Surge immunity test
IEC 61000-6-2 - Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) - Part EN IEC 61000-6-2 -
6-2: Generic standards - Immunity
standard for industrial environments
IEC 60721-3-1 1997 Classification of environmental conditions - - -
- Part 3: Classification of groups of
environmental parameters and their
severities -- Section 1: Storage
Publication Year Title EN/HD Year
IEC 60721-3-3 2002 Classification of environmental conditions - - -
Part 3-3: Classification of groups of
environmental parameters and their
severities - Stationary use at
weatherprotected locations
IEC 60834-1 1999 Teleprotection equipment of power EN 60834-1 1999
systems - Performance and testing - Part
1: Command systems
IEC 61000-6-4 2018 Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) - Part EN IEC 61000-6-4 2019
6-4: Generic standards - Emission
standard for industrial environments
IEC 61000-6-5 2015 Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) - Part EN 61000-6-5 2015
6-5: Generic standards - Immunity for
equipment used in power station and
substation environment
IEC 62488-1 2012 Power line communication systems for EN 62488-1 2013
power utility applications - Part 1: Planning
of analogue and digital power line carrier
systems operating over EHV/HV/MV
electricity grids
IEC/TS 62351-1 2007 Power systems management and - -
associated information exchange - Data
and communications security - Part 1:
Communication network and system
security - Introduction to security issues
IEC/TS 62351-8 2011 Power systems management and - -
associated information exchange - Data
and communications security - Part 8:
Role-based access control
IEC 62488-2 2017 Power line communication systems for EN 62488-2 2017
power utility applications – Part 2:
Analogue power line carrier terminals or
APLC
CISPR 32:2015/A1 2019 Electromagnetic compatibility of multimedia EN 55032/A1 2020
equipment – Emission requirements

IEC 62488-3 ®
Edition 1.0 2021-04
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
colour
inside
Power line communication systems for power utility applications –

Part 3: Digital Power Line Carrier (DPLC) Terminals and hybrid

ADPLC Terminals
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
ICS 33.200 ISBN 978-2-8322-9698-1

– 2 – IEC 62488-3:2021 © IEC 2021
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 7
INTRODUCTION . 9
1 Scope . 10
2 Normative references . 11
3 Terms, definitions and abbreviated terms . 12
3.1 Terms and definitions . 12
3.2 Abbreviated terms . 13
4 Generic structure of DPLC and ADPLC terminals . 14
5 Access side interfaces . 17
5.1 General . 17
5.2 Digital interfaces . 17
5.2.1 Ethernet IEEE 802.3 interface. 17
5.2.2 Serial interface . 18
5.3 Analogue interfaces . 18
5.4 Teleprotection system interface . 19
5.4.1 Description . 19
5.4.2 Integrated teleprotection . 19
5.4.3 Teleprotection interface frequency band . 19
5.4.4 Teleprotection interface impedance . 19
5.4.5 Teleprotection interface reflection . 19
5.4.6 Teleprotection interface signal levels . 20
5.4.7 Teleprotection interface control circuits. 20
6 HF line interface . 20
6.1 DPLC high frequency band & channeling . 20
6.2 Frequency accuracy . 21
6.3 Signal levels . 21
6.4 In-band emissions . 21
6.5 Nominal impedance . 21
6.6 Return loss . 21
6.7 Degree of unbalance to earth . 21
6.8 Tapping loss . 21
6.9 Spurious emissions . 22
6.10 Nominal output power in the high frequency band . 23
7 Quality and performance. 23
7.1 General . 23
7.2 Dynamic range of the DPLC receiver . 24
7.3 Bit rate . 24
7.4 Start-up time . 25
7.5 Recovery time after synchronization loss . 25
7.6 Sensitivity . 25
7.7 Selectivity . 25
7.8 Adaptability to line conditions . 25
7.9 Quality of voice channels . 25
7.10 Telephone signalling transmission . 26

IEC 62488-3:2021 © IEC 2021 – 3 –
7.11 Quality on the serial DATA channels . 26
7.11.1 General . 26
7.11.2 Bit rate . 26
7.11.3 BER . 26
7.11.4 Nominal transmission link delay . 27
7.12 Quality of the frame transmission using Ethernet interfaces . 27
7.12.1 General . 27
7.12.2 LAN to LAN Speed . 27
7.12.3 LAN to LAN latency . 27
7.12.4 Packet loss on the LAN transfer . 27
8 Testing . 27
8.1 General . 27
8.2 Test setup for DPLC link tests . 28
8.3 Signal to noise ratio . 28
8.4 Return loss . 28
8.5 Degree of unbalance to earth . 30
8.5.1 General . 30
8.5.2 Longitudinal conversion loss . 30
8.5.3 Output signal balance . 31
8.6 Tapping loss . 31
8.7 Spurious and in-band emissions . 32
8.8 Selectivity . 33
8.9 Bit error rate . 35
8.10 Serial data transmission delay . 37
8.11 Dynamic range of the DPLC receiver . 38
8.12 LAN to LAN testing . 38
8.12.1 General . 38
8.12.2 Maximum LAN to LAN throughput . 39
8.12.3 LAN to LAN latency . 39
8.13 Start-up time . 39
8.14 Recovery time after synchronization loss . 39
9 Configuration and management . 40
9.1 General . 40
9.2 Configuration . 40
9.3 Network management system . 40
9.4 Local terminal alarms . 40
9.5 Event logging . 41
10 Cyber security . 41
10.1 General . 41
10.2 Transmitted payload . 41
10.3 Management interface . 41
10.3.1 General . 41
10.3.2 Legacy-style management interfaces / Manufacturer-specific
management interfaces . 42
10.3.3 LAN/WAN connected management interfaces . 42
10.3.4 Authentication and role-base model . 42

– 4 – IEC 62488-3:2021 © IEC 2021
10.4 Network management system interface . 42
10.5 Security-related event logging . 43
11 DPLC safety . 43
11.1 General . 43
11.2 Safety reference standard . 43
11.3 Classification of DPLC terminals . 43
11.4 Ingress protection . 44
11.5 Type and routine tests . 45
12 Storage and transportation, operating conditions, power supply. 47
12.1 Storage and transportation . 47
12.1.1 Climatic conditions . 47
12.1.2 Mechanical . 48
12.2 Operating conditions . 50
12.2.1 Climatic conditions . 50
12.2.2 Mechanical . 51
12.2.3 Operating conditions set of tests . 51
12.3 Power supply . 52
12.3.1 AC supply . 52
12.3.2 DC supply . 52
13 EMC . 53
13.1 Emission and immunity reference standards . 53
13.2 Emission . 53
13.2.1 Radiated and conducted emission . 53
13.2.2 Low frequency disturbance emission . 58
13.3 Immunity . 58
13.3.1 EMC environment . 58
13.3.2 Functional requirements . 60
13.3.3 Immunity test list . 60
Annex A (informative) HF modulated power signal for ADPLC . 63
A.1 General . 63
A.2 Computation model of ADPLC . 63
A.3 Distribution of E/U ratio of voice channels . 65
A.4 Distribution of E/U ratio of sinusoidal waves. 67
A.5 Example of E/U ratio of a digital signal . 68
A.6 Composite distribution of E/U ratios . 69
A.7 RMS power and load capacity of voice signals . 71
A.8 Comprehensive load capacity for ADPLC . 73
A.9 Simplified computation method for comprehensive load capacity . 74
Bibliography . 75

Figure 1 – Schematic representation of the elements needed to implement a PLC
system . 11
Figure 2 – Generic architecture of a DPLC terminal . 15
Figure 3 – Generic structure of an ADPLC terminal . 16
Figure 4 – ETH IEEE 802.3 RJ45 type connector . 17
Figure 5 – ETH IEEE 802.3 SC type connector . 18

IEC 62488-3:2021 © IEC 2021 – 5 –
Figure 6 – Tapping loss limits for DPLC terminals . 22
Figure 7 – Max level of spurious emissions outside the high frequency band . 23
Figure 8 – Reference points for measuring DPLC parameters . 24
Figure 9 – Block diagram of a serial data channel . 26
Figure 10 – Test circuit for return loss measurement . 29
Figure 11 – Test circuit for LCL measurement (transmission port) . 30
Figure 12 – Test circuit for OSB measurement (Rx port) . 31
Figure 13 – Test circuit for tapping loss measurement . 32
Figure 14 – Test circuit for spurious and in-band emissions measurement . 33
Figure 15 – Test circuit for selectivity measurement . 34
Figure 16 – Test circuit for bit error rate measurement . 36
Figure 17 – Test circuit for serial data transmission delay measurement with a data
tester . 37
Figure 18 – Test circuit for serial data transmission delay measurement . 37
Figure 19 – Test circuit for maximal throughput and latency measurement . 38
Figure 20 – LF disturbances measurement setup . 58
Figure A.1 – Calculation model of load capacity for ADPLC . 64
Figure A.2 – Cumulative distributions of E/U ratio of voice channels for positive half . 66
Figure A.3 – Probability density of combined sine waves . 67
Figure A.4 – Constellation diagram of 64 QAM . 68
Figure A.5 – Amplitude spectra of unmodulated OFDM sub-carriers . 68
Figure A.6 – Probability of constellation point power in 64 QAM . 69
Figure A.7 – Cumulative distribution of comprehensive E/U ratios . 70
Figure A.8 – Cumulative distribution of equivalent volume for N system channel . 72

Table 1 – Dependence of voice channel quality vs. DPLC capacity . 26
Table 2 – Basic insulation (Table C.6 of IEC 60255-27:2013) . 43
Table 3 – Double or reinforced insulation (Table C.10 of IEC 60255-27:2013) . 44
Table 4 – List of Type and Routine Tests (Table 12 of IEC 60255-27:2013) . 46
Table 5 – Classification of climatic conditions (Table 1 of IEC 60721-3-1:1997) . 47
Table 6 – Climatic tests for storage and transportation. 48
Table 7 – Classification of mechanical conditions for transportation (Table 5 of
IEC 60721-3-2:1997) . 49
Table 8 – Classification of climatic conditions from Table 1 of IEC 60721-3-3:2002 . 50
Table 9 – Classification of mechanical conditions from Table 6 of IEC 60721-3-3:2002 . 51
Table 10 – Climatic Tests . 51
Table 11 – Sinusoidal vibration test . 52
Table 12 – Non-repetitive shock test . 52
Table 13 – Emission – Enclosure port (Table 1 of IEC 61000-6-4:2011) . 54
Table 14 – Emission – Low voltage AC and DC mains port
(Table 2 of IEC 61000-6-4:2011) . 56
Table 15 – Emission – Telecommunications/network port
(Table 3 of IEC 61000-6-4:2011) . 57
Table 16 – Characterization of the electromagnetic phenomena
(Table 1 of IEC 61000-6-5:2015) . 59
Table 17 – Port classification . 59

– 6 – IEC 62488-3:2021 © IEC 2021
Table 18 – Performance criteria . 60
Table 19 – Immunity test list . 61
Table A.1 – Approximation formula for E/U cumulative distribution of speech . 66
Table A.2 – PDF of constellation point power in 64 QAM constellation diagram . 69
Table A.3 – Calculation of P (1 %) and load capacity . 73
RMS
IEC 62488-3:2021 © IEC 2021 – 7 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
POWER LINE COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS
FOR POWER UTILITY APPLICATIONS –

Part 3: Digital Power Line Carrier (DPLC) Terminals
and hybrid ADPLC Terminals
FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
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8) Attention is drawn to the normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced publications is
indispensable for the correct application of this publication.
9) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this IEC Publication may be the subject of patent
rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This International Standard has been prepared by IEC technical committee 57: Power systems
management and associated information exchange.
This first edition of IEC 62488-3 cancels and replaces the relevant parts of IEC TR 60663 and
IEC 60495, which will be withdrawn at a later date.
The text of this standard is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
57/2355/FDIS 57/2372/RVD
Full information on the voting for the approval of this standard can be found in the report on
voting indicated in the above table.
This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.

– 8 – IEC 62488-3:2021 © IEC 2021
A list of all the parts in the IEC 62488 series, published under the general title Power line
communication systems for power utility applications can be found on the IEC website
The committee has decided that the contents of this publication will remain unchanged until the
stability date indicated on the IEC website under "http://webstore.iec.ch" in the data related to
the specific document. At this date, the document will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
IMPORTANT – The 'colour inside' logo on the cover page of this publication indicates
that it contains colours which are considered to be useful for the correct understanding
of its contents. Users should therefore print this document using a colour printer.

IEC 62488-3:2021 © IEC 2021 – 9 –
INTRODUCTION
Since the first introduction of power line carrier communications in the power systems industry
this form of communication has become widely spread throughout the world. This worldwide
development will be covered by new standards reflecting the current state of the art in digital
PLC communications.
The communication services offered by modern digital power line carrier links and networks
enable a high efficiency of data transmission and therefore a low level of operational costs of
automation equipment especially for long high-voltage power transmission lines.
Analogue and digital PLC terminals may co-exist using principles of frequency division
multiplexing, allowing a successive digitalization of PLC based communications.
Digital PLC terminals may also be combined with traditional analogue PLC transmission paths
as hybrid analog & digital PLC equipment, offering reliable and seamless communication for
control and/or protection operating at extra high-, high- and medium-voltage levels of the
electrical transmission networks and at high-voltage electrical distribution networks.
IEC 62488 consists of four parts dealing with all aspects of power line communication systems
operating over electricity power lines.
IEC 62488 applies to power line carrier terminals and systems (PLC) used to transmit
information over power networks including extra high, high and medium voltage (EHV/HV/MV)
power lines.
Currently this standard series is organised as follows:
• IEC 62488-1, Planning of analogue and digital power line carrier systems operating over
EHV/HV/MV electricity grids
• IEC 62488-2, Analogue Power Line Carrier terminals or APLC
• IEC 62488-3, Digital Power Line Carrier terminals or DPLC and hybrid ADPLC Terminals
• IEC 62488-4, Broadband Power Line systems or BPL
NOTE IEC 62488-4 has not yet been published.
This document is the third part of IEC 62488 and is composed of the following Clauses:
• Clause 1 – Scope of IEC 62488-3
• Clause 2 – Normative references
• Clause 3 – Terms, definitions and abbreviation contains newly introduce in this document
additionally to IEC 62488-1 and IEC 62488-2
• Clause 4 – Introduces generic architectures of DPLC and hybrid ADPLC terminals.
• Clause 5 – Defines access side interfaces of DPLC and hybrid ADPLC terminals.
• Clause 6 – Describes transmission line side high frequency interface and defines related
parameters
• Clause 7 – Gives several requirements concerning quality and performance of a single or a
couple of interconnected DPLC terminals
• Clause 8 – Defines test setup and describes testing methodology
• Clause 9 – Describes configuration and management requirements for DPLC terminals
• Clause 10 – Describes general requirements regarding cyber security
• Clause 11 – Specifies safety requirements
• Clause 12 – Specifies requirements for storage and transportation, operating conditions,
power supply
• Clause 13 – Specifies EMC requirements

– 10 – IEC 62488-3:2021 © IEC 2021
POWER LINE COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS
FOR POWER UTILITY APPLICATIONS –

Part 3: Digital Power Line Carrier (DPLC) Terminals
and hybrid ADPLC Terminals
1 Scope
This part of IEC 62488 applies to power line carrier terminals and networks used to transmit
information over power networks including extra high, high and medium voltage (EHV/HV/MV)
power lines using both digital and optionally analogue modulation systems in a frequency range
between 16 kHz and 1 MHz (see also IEC 62488-1).
In many countries, power line carrier (PLC) channels represent a significant part of the utility-
owned telecommunication system. A circuit normally routed via a PLC channel can also be
routed via a channel using a different transmission medium such as point to point radio, optical
fibre or open wire circuit.
It is therefore important that the input and output interfaces that are used between terminals in
the communication system are standardised.
The issues requiring consideration of DPLC and/or APLC devices as parts of a
telecommunication network can be found in IEC 62488-1.
Figure 1 shows the correspondence between the elements needed to implement PLC systems
and the related International Standards.

IEC 62488-3:2021 © IEC 2021 – 11 –

Figure 1 – Schematic representation of the elements needed to implement a PLC system
The scope of this document also includes the description of I/O interfaces and test set-ups that
are necessary to qualify characteristics of DPLC or ADPLC terminal at link level.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies.
For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any
amendments) applies.
IEC 60038, IEC standard voltages
IEC 60050-151:2001, International Electrotechnical Vocabulary (IEV) – Part 151: Electrical and
magnetic devices
IEC 60255-27:2013, Measuring relays and protection equipment – Part 27: Product safety
requirements
IEC 60529:1989, Degrees of protection provided by enclosures (IP Code)
IEC 61000-4-2, Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) – Part 4-2: Testing and measurement
techniques – Electrostatic discharge immunity test

– 12 – IEC 62488-3:2021 © IEC 2021
IEC 61000-4-3, Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) – Part 4-3: Testing and measurement
techniques – Radiated, radio-frequency, electromagnetic field immunity test
IEC 61000-4-4, Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) – Part 4-4: Testing and measurement
techniques – Electrical fast transient/burst immunity test
IEC 61000-4-5, Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) – Part 4-5: Testing and measurement
techniques – Surge immunity test
IEC 61000-6-2, Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) – Part 6-2: Generic standards – Immunity
standard for industrial environments
IEC 60721-3-1:1997, Classification of environmental conditions – Part 3-1: Classification of
groups of environmental parameters and their severities – Storage
IEC 60721-3-3:2002, Classification of environmental conditions – Part 3: Classification of
groups of environmental parameters and their severities – Stationary use at weather protected
locations
IEC 60834-1:1999, Teleprotection equipment of power systems – Performance and testing –
Part 1: Command systems
IEC 61000-6-4:2018, Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) – Part 6-4: Generic standards –
Emission standard for industrial environments
IEC 61000-6-5:2015, Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) – Part 6-5: Generic standards –
Immunity for equipment used in power station and substation environment
IEC TS 62351-1:2007, Power systems management and associated information exchange –
Data and communications security – Part 1: Communication network and system security –
Introduction to security issues
IEC TS 62351-8:2011, Power systems management and associated information exchange –
Data and communications security – Part 8: Role-based access control
IEC 62488-1:2012, Power line communication systems for power utility applications – Part 1:
Planning of analogue and digital power line carrier systems operating over EHV/HV/MV
electricity grids
IEC 62488-2:2017, Power line communication systems for power utility applications – Part 2:
Analogue power line carrier terminals or APLC
CISPR 32:2015/AMD1:2019, Electromagnetic compatibility of multimedia equipment – Emission
requirements
3 Terms, definitions and abbreviated terms
3.1 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in IEC 62488-1, IEC 62488-2
and the following apply.
IEC 62488-3:2021 © IEC 2021 – 13 –
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following
addresses:
• IEC Electropedia: available at http://www.electropedia.org/
• ISO Online browsing platform: available at http://www.iso.org/obp
3.1.1
DPLC equipment
...