Whitepapers

3 CONNECTING UTILITY ASSETS USING LORAWAN www.abiresearch.com LoRaWAN's Key Value Proposition for Utilities In a majority of the use cases mentioned above, the communication network requires small payloads of data in the tens of kilobits and low monthly data throughputs. In addition, most applications for metering on the utility network have a greater tolerance for latency. Only specific use cases—like breakers for electricity, prepayment systems, or valve control—can justify a need for low latency. As a leading LPWA technology, the LoRaWAN™ protocol offers some of the best capabilities for addressing current and future smart utility distribution and automation system requirements. • Low Network Total Cost of Ownership (TCO): Traditionally, cash-rich energy utilities have deployed their own private communication networks to monitor the grid; however, they have more recently started to open up to public networks that are managed professionally by network operators. In comparison to other competing network technologies, such as IEEE 802.15.4–based mesh networks, PLCs, and other licensed LPWA network solutions, LoRaWAN has the lowest cost for network infrastructure deployment and maintenance. In addition, the high link budget and long range of LoRaWAN simplifies network deployment and requires less network infrastructure equipment while enabling good redundancy and ease for scaling densification. • Flexibility in Network Deployment Models: Utilities have the choice to either use their own private LoRaWAN networks or leverage existing public LoRaWAN networks that are deployed by a referenced LoRa Alliance network operator. According to the LoRa Alliance, there are over 96 LoRaWAN operators globally. • Fast-Growing Open Ecosystem of Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs): The LoRaWAN communication protocol is being adopted by a growing ecosystem of smart meter OEMs, such as Aiut, Arad, Axioma, Baylan, Diehl, Honeywell ELSTER, Itron, Kaifa Metering, Hanbit Solutions, Holley Meters, LIERDA, Maddalena, Mueller, Neptune Technology Group, Sagemcom, Sunray, Zenner, and ZTE. With the growing ecosystem of LoRaWAN communication service providers and OEMs, utilities have the flexibility to integrate devices from multiple vendors and benefit from interoperability at the network level with end devices certified for LoRaWAN protocol. • Battery Life Optimization: LoRaWAN applications for water and gas meters claim to be optimized for a battery life of 15-plus years when communicating once per day. While higher data transmission frequency or bigger payloads may be required and would obviously reduce battery life, LoRaWAN offers one of the best options for mitigating battery life issues through addition of more gateways and picocells. Network densification allows increasing total data transmissions by decreasing the time on air, consequently reducing battery consumption. • Security: Electricity, gas, and water distribution networks are categorized as critical national infrastructure and hence require the highest level of security in adhering to a framework decided by regional regulators. The LoRaWAN specification uses 128-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) algorithms to provide end-to-end encryption for both public and private deployments using two keys: one for the utilities, for protection of payload content; another for operators, for network authentication security. Summary The digital transformation of energy and water utilities is providing these utilities with an extensive choice in new technologies. As public authorities are demanding greater efficiency, and as dense urbanization provides the rationale for cities to combine smart metering with other city applications, utilities are choosing LPWA network technologies more and more. LoRaWAN offers a strong value proposition to the utilities with the flexibility to deploy and/or leverage private and public networks in a cost-efficient manner, along with interoperability at the network and device levels. With the backing of the fast-growing LoRa Alliance ecosystem of solution providers, utilities should strongly consider LoRaWAN as the connectivity technology that will help achieve their goals of smarter distribution networks.

• Editing
• _GoBack