Private Radio

Proprietary communications networks, such as licensed radio devices, have been the leading wireless technology for electric utilities and will continue to play a major role in the years to come. Boasting extensive field-tested reliability, licensed radios have many benefits contributing to the Smart Grid. Building redundancy into a private network through backup power or additional sites can help ensure availability during bad weather or peak traffic times. And, private operators maintain control over traffic, helping to ensure there’s always enough capacity.

Coverage is another significant advantage, especially in remote monitoring applications. Real-time data becomes crucial in emergency situations, for example with major power outages. A private network also has an inherent level of security, maintaining basic protections by limiting access to the network to select individuals at the device or application level. For the Smart Grid, utilities are using radio modems for various secure, backhaul applications. And with advancements in available frequencies, faster throughputs and IP router capabilities, radio technology is an important foundation for Smart Grid applications.