Drivers for utilities to deploy mission-critical mobile networks

Drivers for utilities to deploy mission-critical networks

Utilities depend on connectivity for various devices in the smart grid, with some requiring low latency and instant response. In contrast, smart meters can tolerate more delay, transmitting data at intervals. To manage the diverse requirements for latency, speed, and response in various use cases, utilities use multiple proprietary non-LTE networks tailored to specific devices. While this approach ensures that each network operates with the desired performance, it results in a complex and decentralized web of networks.

With mission-critical networks, utilities can now deploy a single, multipurpose network that supports broadband and narrowband connectivity, addressing all use cases regardless of latency, throughput, or coverage needs. Utilities prefer privately owned networks, as these allow control over communications during power outages and flexibility for network upgrades. Public Communication Service Provider (CSP) networks, however, pose challenges, as they often lack backup during outages. Additionally, the device ecosystem for utilities is robust in established technologies like LTE, while public CSPs tend to prioritize 5G. This has led utilities to build their own LTE networks while waiting for the 5G device ecosystem to mature.

Utilities are transforming their power grids to address major challenges, with mobile communication networks playing a key role in some of the following areas:

• OpEx reductions with consolidation of multiple communications networks: A single, multipurpose 3GPP standards-based network with a well-established, diverse ecosystem of devices enables utilities to streamline their operations.
• Grid security: As cyber and physical threats grow, mobile networks offer secure and reliable communication channels, ensuring grid stability and providing backup options during disruptions
• Workforce challenges: With a shortage of skilled workers, utilities are exploring  technologies like augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), digital twins, and AI. Mobile communications enable these technologies, enhancing support for field staff and improving operational efficiency.
• Digitalization and decentralization: Mobile networks can support grid optimization, reduce outages, and enhance performance by enabling new digital services that improve grid resilience, stability, and cost-efficiency.
• Sustainability with renewable energy sources (RES): Utilities are shifting to decentralized grid architectures to integrate more RES. This requires robust mobile communications like Mission-Critical (MC) LTE and 5G for real-time monitoring, control, and management of distributed power generation. While sustainability is a strong driver globally, Europe has been more consistent and focused on sustainability in power grids.

General benefits of Mission-Critical LTE solutions for utilities

MC private LTE networks offer greater communication resilience compared to standard LTE, which is crucial for utilities as critical infrastructure providers need highly reliable and secure networks. Public LTE networks already cover most areas, including remote regions and continue to be important. They are integrated with MC private LTE networks as a fallback option from private to public networks, ensuring continuous coverage.

Moreover, MC LTE networks enable the creation of secure networks that meet business and mission-critical application requirements. This technology is standardized and scalable, and emerging as  the mainstream solution for IoT, especially when enhanced with support for Narrow Band-Internet of Things (NB-IoT) and Long Term Evolution for Machines (LTE-M). Security measures such as encryption, access control, and user and device authentication are integral to the LTE standard, with 5G offering even greater security improvements over LTE.

LTE unifies different communication systems in utilities 

LTE enables a more flexible and functional solution across the business by providing the flexibility to support simultaneous implementations, including CAT-4, CAT-1, NB-IoT, and CAT-M1 devices. Broadband implementations (such as LTE support for CAT-4 and CAT-1) within LTE offer high throughput and speed across wider LTE channels, usually for fixed wireless or mobile applications. Narrowband implementations like NB-IoT and CAT-M1 deliver a deeper coverage with higher latency and slower speeds.

Even if existing 3GPP end-to-end connectivity is not feasible, cellular LTE/5G technology can still provide key benefits when used as a bridging option. Capillary networks enable the reuse of cellular functions and assets, such as security, device management, billing, and quality of service (QoS) without requiring each end device to be cellular-enabled.

Utilities use case communications requirements

High reliability and strong communications security are critical requirements in all utility use cases. Four-nines availability is typically required, meaning the maximum allowed communications system downtime per month is 4 minutes and 23 seconds.

Sensors and actuators, the essential devices for distribution grid automation services, are deployed across wide geographical areas. The geographic area where communication services are available can range from several square kilometers to as much as 100 sq km. The density of these devices in power networks varies depending on the specific use case and deployment architecture. Generally, the density of devices is relatively low from the perspective of mobile network deployment, sometimes less than 10 devices per sq km. In most utility use cases, more devices are used in distribution networks compared to transmission networks. In the future, as use cases evolve, the density of devices will increase.

Table 2‑1 below highlights some of the considerations in four major classes of use cases.  It is expected that use case classes requiring high or medium latency will be addressed by Private LTE (PLTE), while low latency use cases will require innovations in PLTE or 5G technology (or could alternatively be addressed by wireless transport solutions like microwave).

Table 2‑1 Power grid communications parameter matrix (Source: ITU-R M.2533-0)

Table 2‑2 shows that the volume of the transmitted data in majority of data-oriented use cases is relatively small, and speeds are in kilobits per sec (kbps). Measurement data takes several hundred bits of the overall message size. As use cases evolve, the collection of higher volumes of data at increasingly shorter time intervals is expected to drive real time improvements in the power grid.  The only use case that uses megabits per sec (Mbps) would be voice related – using traditional devices like smartphones or voice oriented devices.

Table 2‑2 Common PLTE use cases today and communications requirements

As 3GPP cellular networks are deployed over time to achieve the utilities’ goal of wireless grid modernization, Table 2‑3 shows an increased set of considerations that are Utilities application driven – like positioning and device power consumption for device and application lifecycle management.

Table 2‑3 Communication requirements for utility use cases

An analysis of key drivers 

To understand the impact of the key drivers of grid digitalization, decentralization, and modernization, here are some considerations (see Figure 2‑2 below). 

• OpEx reductions through network consolidation: The consolidation of individual proprietary, unlicensed/mesh networks simplifies equipment lifecycle management and consolidates operations and maintenance of the communications network.  This paves the way for 3GPP wireless deployments as PLTE/5G are multipurpose in the use cases they serve and enable such consolidation and simplification. 3GPP networks drive innovation in remote monitoring, fixes, and network optimization, reducing truck rolls and ensuring OpEx reductions.  
• Grid security: 3GPP-based PLTE/5G networks have multiple levels of security as shown in Figure 2-1: 3GPP and application layer security. Encryption and integrity of data during connection setup and information sent over the network ensure that the critical power grid is secure from attack. Standardized security protocols and rapidly implementing best practices allow the utility to keep up with evolving cyber threats.

Figure 2‑1: 3GPP and Application Layer Security

• Workforce Challenges: PLTE/5G is designed for mobility and easy scalability in terms of capacity and latency/responsiveness.  This allows for the rapid adoption of remote technologies like AR/VR and AI-driven innovation – easily applicable to a technologically advanced workforce.  A combination of wireless technology delivers a real-time experience while ensuring a secure, reliable, and resilient network.

• Digitalization and Decentralization: As the aging power grid evolves, 3GPP wireless technology facilitates the bridging and migration of non-IP-based analog/digital communication networks to IP-enabled systems. Decentralization of grid devices with the new architecture allows for a reduced number of single-point failures and enhances end-device user experience.  This ensures increased grid resilience, stability, and cost-efficiency.

• Sustainability with renewable energy sources (RES): Wireless networks enable cost-efficient integration and utilization of RES in power grids by facilitating near real-time communication. This capability supports the full penetration and effective utilization of RES, contributing to the development of sustainable energy systems.Enhanced wireless communications allow utilities to use distributed energy resources (DER) in real-time to enhance grid capacity with sustainable power sources.

Figure 2‑2 Utilities key drivers supported by Mission-Critical Networks

MCN operational experience 

As utility networks are deployed by Ericsson globally, here are some insights, trends, and drivers from an operational perspective:

• Multipurpose 3GPP wireless increases smart grid reliability: The immediate need in deployments, that also help prove the viability of multipurpose 3GPP cellular networks, is bringing reliability, capacity, and diversity to smart grid device connections.  These have been achieved by using routers with SIMs in them to establish cellular connectivity to more legacy devices still driven by MODBUS, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), and non-IP-based protocols.  These include SIMs in advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) collectors/gateways that connect cellular networks to existing proprietary smart meter mesh networks.  These are described in Table 2 2.
• Migration of smart meters from mesh to private mobile networks: As smart meters and AMI 1.0 systems evolve into communication hubs for DER, RES systems, SIMs are being integrated into smart meters, enhancing capacity and addressing the use case diversity in AMI 2.0. The inclusion of SIMs into smart meters will enable the migration of traffic from mesh networks to PLTE/5G networks to facilitate smart meter transformation.
• Allowing the device to fall back from private to public mobile networks: As PLTE/5G becomes a primary wireless communication method for the power grid, using dual IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity) technologies is crucial for ensuring uninterrupted connectivity.  This is achieved with dual SIM technology and roaming-on-demand between private and public networks.  This enables any device on the power grid to switch from private to public networks and return to the private network as soon as it’s available. We will discuss this further in our next blog!

Conclusion

The LTE mission-critical network is a cost-effective solution that addresses many challenges faced by power grids today. It also supports use cases that will evolve over time, demanding more stringent communication requirements. 5G networks address some of the current challenges in power grids, which demand stricter standards for latency and bandwidth. Once the 5G ecosystem is sufficiently developed, it will support use cases such as protection systems requiring instant response, as well as video surveillance and drone-based maintenance. The migration from LTE to 5G is already underway, based on 3GPP standards and supported by mobile network providers.

Integrating mobile networks into utility power grids, from frequency allocation to installing mobile communication networks as complex systems, is a long process that often requires a 10-year commitment. The usage of private mobile networks, offering critical capabilities demanded by utilities—namely, full control over the network in terms of security and management—is a global trend. Utilities prefer private mobile networks as their primary means of communication, with the option of using public networks as a backup solution. Private LTE networks are already deployed in some parts of the world, while in others, they are in progress or in the planning stage. A wealth of experience has been gained in this process, where communication vendors have closely collaborated with utilities from day one, resulting in the creation of optimal solutions for the sector. Experiences from this process and practical solutions will be discussed in detail in upcoming blog posts.

Further readings:

• Ericsson’s smart grid report
• Connected energy utilities
• Utilities need secure, fast, flexible, and adaptable connectivity solutions
• How 5G will bring increased capabilities to the grid
• Intelligent energy distribution with 5G
• How wireless will evolve for utilities over the next five years