A powerline based communication system includes a powerline termination module, a plurality of powerline gateways, and a plurality of powerline nodes. The powerline termination module manages data for local area networks within the powerline based communication system. The plurality of powerline gateways is arranged in sets of powerline gateways, wherein each set of powerline gateways constitutes a local area network. Each of the plurality of powerline nodes is operably coupled to the powerline termination module via a high-speed communication path. In addition, each powerline node is operably coupled to set of powerline gateways, i.e., to a local area network, via powerlines of a local transformer. Each of the powerline nodes receives data for its respective LAN from the powerline termination module and provides the data to the powerline gateways of its LAN via the powerlines of the local transformer.