Numerous trends have come together to push more intelligence to the edge of the power system, including distributed energy resources, electrification, grid modernization and reliability expectations. As utilities are connecting more field assets, transmission and distribution grids are moving away from one-way power delivery and periodic monitoring and toward a more dynamic network that requires real-time visibility, control and coordination. Communications networks are a core part of how utilities monitor, control and coordinate critical infrastructure in real time.
Many utilities already see long-term value in private LTE. As more utilities select private LTE as part of their comprehensive utility communications strategy, the question has shifted to execution. This has become an important strategic decision point, as the complexity of deployment is fundamentally different than traditional utility communications systems and is still tied directly to critical infrastructure reliability.
