US satellite-TV provider DirecTV Group and Current Group announced a deal to offer high-speed Internet service over electric-power lines a UPI report said.
The UPI report said DirecTV customers, initially limited to Texas's Dallas-Fort Worth area, will be able to access the Internet by plugging a special 'broadband over power line' modem the size of a cell phone 'into virtually any outlet in their home,' the companies said.
Broadband over power line technology is capable of faster speeds than some high-speed Internet plans offered by cable and phone companies, the company said.
Under the agreement, DirecTV will market a bundled package of Current's broadband and VoIP services under the DirecTV brand, the UPI report said.
The DirecTV package of television, Internet and phone services will be available by early 2008 and be priced to compete against comparable services offered by phone companies, DirecTV said.