Utilities Implement New Wireless Technologies to Prepare for "Next-Generation" Applications

September 25, 2007

For More Information
Kristy Weinshel
202.833.6815
kristy.weinshel@utc.org [1]

Utilities Implement New Wireless Technologies to
Prepare for "Next-Generation" Applications

Washington, D.C. – Not only must future utility communications systems do more at lower cost, they must use limited spectrum more efficiently. Despite the challenges that come with upgrading a wireless system, substantial cost and operational improvements can be achieved by investing in wireless technologies that support new applications while simplifying network and application integration.

"Utilities need to weigh wireless options carefully to pick technologies that best fit their needs," said William R. Moroney, president and CEO of Utilities Telecom Council. "Our study examines those options and helps utilities better understand how they will play an important part of their wireless technology mix."

UTC's newest research paper, New Wireless Technologies for Utilities, builds on past UTC research to look more closely at three advanced wireless technologies - WiMAX, Radio-IP, and mesh networking. Some of the key findings in New Wireless Technologies for Utilities include:

Continued utility investment in private, mission-critical voice and data networks is unavoidable as public and commercial offerings do not meet utility coverage and reliability needs.

Utilities likely will increasingly use converged, hand-held, multi-carrier radios that perform nearly seamlessly on public and private networks and take advantage of the most efficient broadband access technologies available.

Utilities worldwide continue to build mobile capabilities as electric, natural gas and water companies integrate computing capabilities across their organizations and into the field.

WiMAX could be useful to utilities perhaps as a core-communications technology, or in partnership with commercial carriers, including future 700 MHz licensees.

Radio-over-IP RoIP) upgrades provide a number of benefits to utilities, including cost savings, increased redundancy, better interoperability and the ability to use common, off-the-shelf equipment and software.

Mesh networking - a design topology that utilities are studying primarily for AMR and control telemetry, offers the advantage of being simple to set up while being very resilient and reliable.

The New Wireless Technologies for Utilities report has been released and is available to order on the Research portal of the UTC Web site at www.utc.org [2]. For more information, please contact research@utc.org [3] or call 202.833.6805.

Utilities Telecom Council
The Utilities Telecom Council (UTC) is a global trade association dedicated to creating a favorable business, regulatory, and technological environment for entities that own, manage, or provide critical telecommunications systems in support of core services. Founded in 1948, UTC has evolved into a dynamic organization that represents the broad communications interests of electric, gas, and water utilities; natural gas pipelines; other critical infrastructure entities; and other industry stakeholders. UTC’s new UtiliSite Council affiliate serves the interest of utilities involved in the carrier support market by helping utilities to develop best practices and procedures to speed market responsiveness. Visit www.utc.org [4] for more information on the UTC or its affiliate, the UtiliSite Council.

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