González-Ramos, JonUribe-Pérez, NoeliaSendin, AlbertoGil, Davidde la Vega, DavidFernández, IgorNúñez, Ignacio JavierGonzález‐ramos, Jon2022-06-08González-Ramos , J , Uribe-Pérez , N , Sendin , A , Gil , D , de la Vega , D , Fernández , I , Núñez , I J & González‐ramos , J 2022 , ' Upgrading the Power Grid Functionalities with Broadband Power Line Communications: Basis, Applications, Current Trends and Challenges : Basis, Applications, Current Trends and Challenges ' , Sensors , vol. 22 , no. 12 , 4348 , pp. 4348 . https://doi.org/10.3390/s221243481424-3210researchoutputwizard: 11556/1404Publisher Copyright: © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.This article reviews the basis and the main aspects of the recent evolution of Broadband Power Line Communications (BB-PLC or, more commonly, BPL) technologies. The article starts describing the organizations and alliances involved in the development and evolution of BPL systems, as well as the standardization institutions working on PLC technologies. Then, a short description of the technical foundation of the recent proposed technologies and a comparison of the main specifications are presented; the regulatory activities related to the limits of emissions and immunity are also addressed. Finally, some representative applications of BPL and some selected use cases enabled by these technologies are summarized, together with the main challenges to be faced.11381037enginfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessjournal article10.3390/s22124348Power Line CommunicationsBPLSmart GridsSmart CitiesBroadband communicationsElectrical gridData transmissionPropagationCommunication standardsEMIPower Line CommunicationsBPLSmart GridsSmart CitiesBroadband communicationsElectrical gridData transmissionPropagationCommunication standardsEMIAnalytical ChemistryInformation SystemsAtomic and Molecular Physics, and OpticsBiochemistryInstrumentationElectrical and Electronic EngineeringSDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and CommunitiesFunding InfoThis work was financially supported in part by the Basque Government under the grants IT1426-22, PRE_2021_1_0006, and PRE_2021_1_0051, and by the Spanish Government under the grants PID2021-124706OB-I00 and RTI2018-099162-B-I00 (MCIU/AEI/FEDER, UE, funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by “ERDF A way of making Europe”).This work was financially supported in part by the Basque Government under the grants IT1426-22, PRE_2021_1_0006, and PRE_2021_1_0051, and by the Spanish Government under the grants PID2021-124706OB-I00 and RTI2018-099162-B-I00 (MCIU/AEI/FEDER, UE, funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by “ERDF A way of making Europe”).http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85131603027&partnerID=8YFLogxK