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ITU Report - UTC IBFINAL

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ITU Report - UTC IBFINAL

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UTC INFORMATION BULLETIN

Re: ITU Radiocommunication Sector Report on Utility Radiocommunications Systems


Date: December 6, 2023

Summary:
On November 11, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU)
Radiocommunication Sector Working Party 5A approved and published a report on
“Utility radiocommunication operating in the land-mobile service.” This report describes
the different radiocommunication systems and applications used by electric, gas, and
water utilities. The report also highlights how utilities can use these systems and
applications to support the safe, secure, reliable, and efficient delivery of critical
services to their customers. Lastly, this report includes information contributions from
different international countries – including Brazil, China, Ireland, South Korea, and the
United Kingdom – about how utilities in these countries use wireless spectrum to support
their mission-critical communications.

Read the entire report HERE.

Background:
For over a decade, the Utilities Technology Council (UTC) and its international
counterparts, European Utilities Telecom Council (EUTC) and UTC America Latina
(UTCAL) have worked with the ITU to promote access to harmonized spectrum for
utilities.

ITU Report Key Points:


• System Characteristics: Utility radiocommunication systems are traditionally
characterized as having high reliability, consistent availability, and low latency;
and are built with overlapping coverage and power redundancy to maintain
reliability and resiliency during all conditions.
• Grid Modernization: With the advancement of grid modernization and the
growth of more innovative distribution networks, utilities face a growing need for
their communication systems to handle additional capacity with broader
coverage. This modernization involves implementing two-way, real-time
communication systems to enhance control and automation.
• Communication Technologies: Utility communication applications require
varying latency, security, and reliability requirements. Utilities typically operate
their own private internal communication network to ensure that these utility
networks can provide complete asset coverage with 99.9999% availability.
• Security & Durability: Utilities constantly balance the need for greater network
security with cost-effectiveness when constructing their telecommunication
networks.
• Network Architecture: Utilities use a variety of communication networks, which
include integrated networks, internet protocol services, and edge data centers
that assist with efficient data traffic management and cost reduction.
• Substation Communications & Architecture: Utility substations have become
increasingly complex. Many utilities adopt international standards such as IEC
61850 when constructing their substations and integrating applications, such as
SCADA system protections, advanced metering, distribution automation, and
wide area measurement, protection, and control. IEC 61850 also allows a utility
to aggregate the data and information gathered from various remote
substations, enabling connectivity to home area networks.
• Utility Communication Network Design: Depending on their service area and
customer base, utilities use a centralized, decentralized, or hybrid
communication network to meet their service needs, with Field Area Networks
(FANs) playing a crucial role in connecting remote utility locations to a central
hub.

UTC Discussion:
The energy grid is evolving. Energy utilities are using more grid-monitoring applications
and internet-connected devices that support the generation, transmission, and
distribution of critical energy services. UTC believes its members will need the following
to update their communication systems and improve grid reliability.

• Utility Spectrum Access: As the energy grid becomes more digitalized, utilities use
wireless devices and applications to monitor the grid and manage various
remote energy assets. To effectively manage and monitor these assets, utilities
must have access to both licensed and unlicensed wireless spectrum. This
wireless spectrum can be dedicated or jointly shared, but it should provide
additional network bandwidth to support utility operations.
• Network Security and Reliability Funding: Safety and reliability are two
fundamental prerequisites for utility communication networks. These networks
must adhere to high-reliability standards, focusing on redundancy, strengthening
interoperability, and lowering maximum application latency. As communication
networks evolve, utilities will need flexibility and funding to improve their networks
without sacrificing grid reliability.
• Network Infrastructure Funding: As communities integrate more distributed
energy resources, utilities will need additional funding to upgrade their
communications network infrastructure to maintain grid reliability. Such upgrades
include modernizing the infrastructure of their substations or investing in a private
wireless network for the safe exchange and delivery of data. Cost-effectively,
utilities must upgrade while maintaining the reliability, availability, and security of
utility services.

UTC Next Steps:


UTC will develop a draft recommendation for utility spectrum access and allocations
based on the report's information. UTC plans to present this recommendation at the
upcoming ITU Working Party 5A meeting, scheduled to take place in Geneva,
Switzerland, from May 13 to May 23, 2024.

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