PowerViews

Conferences and Forums

October 29, 2012

Long-Range Radio Disconnects Cellular

Andy Slater
Director, Sensus

Power Channels: Communications Power, Energy Efficiency, Smart Grid Power

Within the utility sector for water, gas and electricity, M2M is expanding far beyond the introduction of smart meters, to the creation of smart homes, wider smart grids (communities) and smart cities. Almost every device now being produced has some form of communications built into it. Things that once would have not been considered “connectable” five years ago are now being made “network-ready”. Home appliances and even cars are available with wireless communication capabilities. Sometimes there’s an assumption that M2M communications is based largely on mobile and cellular networks, but whilst cellular and mobile networks may be ideally suited for devices that move, they alone cannot provide the levels of coverage and connectivity needed to reach static devices in difficult to reach locations like concrete buildings, pits under the road, or meters in cupboards under the stairs.

Real-time information from the distribution network (grid) and smart meters enables consumers to manage their consumption depending on conditions and time of day tariffs, shifting the times of their consumption. This reduces stress on the distribution network and lowers the peak demand on the generation infrastructure. This is helping reduce the need for network reinforcement and helping blend new forms of renewable generation types into the supply side. Looking specifically at the utility industry, the drive for carbon reduction and the growing issue of energy shortages means that the smart meter and smart grid revolution is only going to accelerate. But in order for things to progress, the discussion around M2M has to evolve from a focus by some in the industry on how we can re-use comms systems available today, to how we can use of the data they provide intelligently.

For a smart grid, the communications network must have low and defined latency to ensure traffic can flow securely and with ease. It is also important to have a dedicated, purpose-built utility grade network to give guaranteed network performance, all of which is difficult for mobile networks to provide. Long-range radio provides real-time, low latency, two way communication with endpoints over a ‘utility grade’ network helping it to successfully support utilities, particularly in urban areas.

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