In the dynamic landscape of utilities, private LTE is gaining buzz. But what is fueling the intense discussions around this technology, and why is it a game-changer for today’s energy providers? Buckle up — we’re about to explore the critical facets of private LTE networks and why the time to decide is now.
The Mission: Energy Transformation
At the core of the PLTE network discussion lies a shared mission among top investor-owned utilities (IOUs): to provide innovative solutions that deliver reliable, clean, affordable, and sustainable energy. These utilities aren’t merely profit-driven; they’re stewards of our planet and are committed to reshaping the energy paradigm.
Urgency: A Collective Call to Action
Federal and state agencies, along with the investment community and corporate entities, are actively encouraging U.S. utilities to fulfill their stated objectives. These objectives encompass not only constructing an electric grid capable of withstanding increasingly extreme weather conditions while maintaining reliability, but also achieving decarbonization. This entails the electrification of transportation and other fossil fuel–dependent systems. The anticipated increase in demand for the electric grid poses significant challenges, not only for power generation but also for transmission and distribution networks, which were not originally designed to handle such loads. Additionally, there is a growing imperative to integrate customer-owned distributed energy resources (DERs), such as rooftop solar installations, to enhance overall capacity and system reliability.
Approximately 70% of the U.S. distribution grid infrastructure is more than 50 years old. The majority of this infrastructure was originally constructed during the 1960s and 1970s, a time when expectations and demand were significantly different, limited primarily to household appliances like refrigerators, televisions, and basic air conditioning. However, the current landscape demands urgent grid modernization. Utilities now are faced with the critical task of digitizing the distribution grid to facilitate data collection and to enable the necessary automation for the ongoing energy transition.
Despite investments in digitization, many existing distribution assets remain analog. To address this, utilities must adopt automated devices capable of efficiently collecting and transmitting data. Utilities can leverage this data to make informed decisions related to energy management, flexible load handling, and strategic investment planning. Notably, these changes are not limited to mere upgrades; they necessitate a substantial increase in the distribution grid’s capacity, to more than double its current capacity.
As the demands on the grid continue to grow and the integration of diverse generation sources becomes more prevalent, the modernization and resilience of our energy infrastructure necessitate a substantial influx of real-time data. This data must be collected from a multitude of end-point devices. Significant investment is essential to address these challenges and pave the way for the future distribution grid in the United States.
A Comprehensive Communications Strategy
While the fundamental aspects of grid modernization are well understood, a critical gap remains: a comprehensive communications strategy.
In order to achieve real-time or near-real-time data transmission, robust broadband service capable of reaching a vast number of data endpoints is essential. This entails deploying wireless broadband services in concert with fiber-optic networks and other communication strategies. These components collectively form an integral part of the industry’s comprehensive communications approach. A complete comprehensive communications strategy not only is crucial for the success of grid modernization and decarbonization, it also constitutes a large-scale program in its own right, requiring thoughtful investment and long-term planning.
Technology Decision Made
In the realm of communications technologies, a thorough evaluation has led to the recognition of a singular transformative solution: long-term evolution (LTE). As its name suggests, LTE is an ever-evolving technology guided by the standards set forth by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). Notably, these standards are globally applicable, aligning LTE with the technology that powers our ubiquitous cellphones. Moreover, LTE continues to enhance its capabilities within the utility sector.
Traditionally, utility communications have centered on addressing specific needs at the time they were needed, whether for SCADA, metering, or land mobile radio (LMR) systems. However, the future demands a network that combines high-speed performance with adaptability. This network must fulfill individual communication requirements and accommodate the diverse needs of utilities. Notably, ongoing developments in 5G technology are increasingly tailored to utility applications. These advancements pave the way for critical applications deployed on wireless platforms—applications that were not previously feasible. While discussions around 4G and 5G continue, the overarching goal remains clear: The utility sector is gravitating toward a technology that can evolve alongside its expanding needs. The graphic below shows the private LTE progression of the utility marketplace over the last six years (Source: Burns & McDonnell).
The Value of Control and the Importance of Risk
In the context of technology decisions, let us assume that the choice has been made, and LTE emerges as the most suitable solution to fulfill the growing wireless communication needs of the utility industry. If this is the chosen path, the complexity of decision-making is just beginning. The subsequent critical question to explore is the dichotomy of public versus private.
This debate between public and private communication networks lies at the heart of the industry’s deliberations. Does public cellular technology (including FirstNet) adequately serve utility requirements at an acceptable cost? Can the associated lack of control and inherent risks be reconciled? Let us delve deeper into this matter, recognizing that for certain utilities, public cellular networks may present a viable option.
Public Versus Private
Public cellular networks have undergone significant evolution since their initial deployment. Coverage has expanded substantially, and the frequency of failures has markedly decreased. Infrastructure redundancy has improved, bolstering the networks’ resilience in the face of natural disasters.
However, risks persist. Carriers must strike a delicate balance between customer experience and profitability. While this principle seems intuitive, carriers occasionally face trade-offs in reliability and security, weighing these against the considerable costs of additional redundancy measures. Profitability considerations often lead to centralization and funneling of traffic through large data centers—a practice that introduces potential single points of failure. Recent outages within major carrier networks highlight the consequences of such vulnerabilities, stemming from failed upgrades or software issues.
Notably, an incident involving an AT&T facility in Nashville disrupted communications across a significant portion of the eastern United States. These disruptions must not jeopardize the operation of our power grid, an essential national asset critical for public safety. As the saying goes, “Without power, chaos ensues.”
Consider the attractiveness of public cellular options:
- Complexity Reduction: Public cellular eliminates the operational complexity of managing an LTE network, which is no trivial task.
- Dedicated Data Delivery: Public cellular can provide utilities with dedicated data delivery over specialized infrastructure.
- Cost-Effective IoT Strategies: Public cellular offers cost-effective strategies for Internet of Things (IoT) applications.
- Spectrum Elimination: Public cellular removes the need to purchase or lease a dedicated band of 3GPP spectrum.
- Capital Expenditure Reduction: Public cellular avoids the high capital expenditure required for deploying a private LTE network.
Comparatively, let’s look at private network benefits and concerns:
- Operational Control: If the utility isn’t the operator, it lacks operational control over the network. For the carriers, decisions related to operational administration and maintenance, network configuration, and disaster recovery prioritization favor public users. A private network allows the utility to tailor decisions to its own needs.
- Security Risks: Dedicated data delivery is no guarantee against interruptions or cyberattacks. In a private network, the utility can architect security measures and must take responsibility for mitigations.
- IoT Considerations: Public cellular can be cost-effective for noncritical IoT applications, but some applications would benefit from being on private networks for better control and security. Given limited capacity in a private network, decisions about where to base different applications should be made based on the functional requirements of the use case, not cost alone.
- Spectrum Investment and Availability: Deploying a private LTE network demands substantial investment in the spectrum. Whether through long-term leases or outright purchases, the cost is significant and continues to influence decision-making. Spectrum serves as carriers’ lifeblood — they invest heavily to secure this asset, as their business viability hinges on robust user offerings. For utilities, spectrum is essential. To build on this technology, adherence to worldwide standard 3GPP spectrum allocations is crucial. Utilities need to understand that spectrum is the most critical component of a private LTE network. It defines the network design, coverage, capabilities, capacities, and endpoint device availability. Clearly understanding the importance of spectrum will help utilities select, procure, and justify the investment, providing the pathway to meet their needs today and into the future. While no definitive answer exists regarding spectrum availability and costs, ongoing efforts in this space have yielded encouraging developments.
Building a “smart grid” hinges on abundant data, and every data point necessitates communication. The decision to utilize public cellular isn’t linear; rather, it’s another tool in the utility’s arsenal. A comprehensive communications strategy should encompass both public and private options. Furthermore, private networks should have failover capabilities to public networks, maintaining redundancy and reliability. Properly weighing risks and considering mitigations for each option is essential. Ultimately, if the utility requires full control over its communications network for grid management and decision-making, a private network becomes not just desirable but mandatory.
Factors to Consider When Deploying a Private Network
As organizations prepare to deploy private networks, critical decisions come to the forefront. Instead of relying on carriers to configure and design the network, the responsibility now falls squarely on the utility. However, utility personnel may lack the training and experience needed to assess and design this technology effectively. Each decision point significantly impacts the network’s future performance and capabilities. Let’s delve into some high-level considerations:
- 4G versus 5G: Choosing between 4G and 5G deployment strategies depends on use cases and the most appropriate path forward. Spectrum availability and the device ecosystem play pivotal roles in this decision.
- Device Ecosystem: Assessing the device ecosystem for the chosen spectrum is crucial. Will suitable devices and chipsets be available for the selected spectrum and deployment type? While thousands of devices won’t be necessary until widespread network deployment, which takes some time, the focus should shift to what will be available once the network is ready. Informed decision-making involves a deep dive into the manufacturing and supply of devices as part of this journey.
- Land Mobile Radio (LMR) Replacement with MC-PTT: The decision to replace the LMR network (the voice communications radio solution used by most critical infrastructure and first response entities today) with mission-critical push-to-talk over LTE (MC-PTT) hinges on need and timing. Deploying a full-coverage private LTE network overnight isn’t feasible. If LMR replacement or upgrade is anticipated within three to five years, planning should begin now. Understanding network deployment timelines is critical for adding this additional service. LMR serves a vital role for utility field crews, and the private LTE network must be fully deployed and functional, complete with redundancy and capability, before transitioning critical services. Delaying this decision isn’t an option; it must be an integral part of the decision-making process.
In summary, deploying a private network is another tool in the utility’s arsenal. A comprehensive communications strategy should encompass both wired and wireless networks, and both public and private options. Properly weighing risks and considering mitigations for each option is essential, and partnering with the right resources to make these decisions is critical to the success of the overall strategy. Ultimately, if the utility desires full control over its communications network for grid management and real-time decision-making, which will likely be a consensus decision across most of the utility marketplace, then a private network becomes essential.