Smart Grid Operations: WAN as a Service for a Successful Smart Meter Rollout
Operate reliable smart grid communications—without having to start from scratch in terms of expertise
The smart meter rollout is placing increasing demands on the communication infrastructure of metering point operators and distribution network operators. Which communication technology is the right one? How do you build and operate a reliable WAN network? At the same time, there is a shortage of personnel and the specialized knowledge needed to efficiently operate smart metering systems.
This is where Coms4Grid’s WAN as a Service comes in. As a specialized service provider, Coms4Grid handles the deployment and operation of smart grid communication networks and helps grid operators implement their rollouts securely, cost-effectively, and in a scalable manner.
The challenges of grid operation are growing
- Tens of thousands or even millions of smart meter gateways must be reliably connected.
- Various communication technologies must be integrated and operated.
- Network availability and service quality must be ensured on an ongoing basis.
- Problems must be identified and resolved quickly.
- There is a limited supply of skilled workers with experience in communications network operations on the market.
For many metering point operators and distribution system operators, this raises the question: Does a smart grid require a completely in-house WAN infrastructure—or are there more efficient ways to achieve this?
Why WAN as a Service?
WAN as a Service enables network operators to delegate responsibility for the planning, deployment, and operation of their communications network to experienced specialists.
As a result, network operators benefit from:
Your Benefits at a Glance
- Specialized Expertise in Smart Grid Communication Networks
- Support for the deployment and operation of WAN infrastructures
- Relieving the Burden on Internal Project and Operations Teams
- Mitigating the Risk of Staff Turnover Among Skilled Workers
- Accelerating the Smart Meter Rollout
- High availability and professional operational processes
- Experience from completed smart grid and BPL projects
Proven in practice
The effectiveness of WAN as a Service is particularly evident in specific rollout projects.
's Smart Grid Operations in Rhineland-Palatinate
Coms4Grid is helping numerous utility operators build a high-performance communications infrastructure for the smart meter rollout in Rhineland-Palatinate. The project demonstrates how modern BPL technology and professional grid operations can accelerate the rollout.
N-ERGIE – Smart Grid
s for Urban and Rural Areas
Through the project with N-ERGIE, Coms4Grid was able to demonstrate the effectiveness of its approach in Nuremberg and the surrounding area. The successful interim results confirm the practical viability of the communication solutions used and the importance of professional grid operation for a successful rollout.
Working Together to Advance the Smart Meter Rollout
Operating modern smart grid communication networks requires experience, specialized resources, and well-established processes. Coms4Grid’s “WAN as a Service” offering helps metering point operators and distribution system operators successfully overcome these challenges.