The plasma display panel (PDP) cells are defined at the cross points of the electrodes and sustain discharges are provided in the cells by changing electrical potential of the sustain/scan and sustain electrodes with respect to one another. The sustain/scan and sustain electrodes are driven simultaneously substantially at opposite phase and between low and high electrical potentials with respect to one another thereby substantially eliminating electrical potential pulses from being induced on the data electrodes. Preferably, the PDP is divided into a plurality of display areas which are electronically independently controlled. Because electrical potential pulses are not induced in the data electrodes, in operation, while one display area is being addressed the remaining panel display areas are in sustain mode providing discharge pulses and producing light emissions.