A leading utility infrastructure company, Sensus, has upgraded Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) and AES-256 bit encryption in its FlexNet system. This enhanced version will enable a sustainable communication network for water and gas utilities.
IPv6 enables interoperability of all applications as they communicate via the Sensus FlexNet system and helps protect requirement for future network overhauls. Absence of an inherent power supply to the battery powered water and gas utility endpoints has led to challenges for utilities in initial years. These challenges have now been overcome with two-way communication capabilities, IPv6 and encryption. This will be of immense help to water and gas utilities from real-time information that is secure.
Greg Myers, VP of Marketing at Sensus, said, “By providing the first IPv6 and encryption solution for all utility types, we are once again illustrating our dedication to sustainable technology solutions for our customers.”
Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) is a specification for the encryption of electronic data established by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in 2001. The AES-256 bit encryption will help water utilities as they launch applications that capture data on water consumption by securing management and control of meter reprogramming, valves and other distribution assets.
Myers further added that, “We combined our experience with battery power management and an understanding of the harsh conditions where water and gas endpoints often reside with our existing IPv6 and encryption solutions to provide this groundbreaking technology.”
Sensus was in news when it found Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) functionalities such as reading interval data, remote service connects and disconnects and outage alarms have all delivered significant operational savings and improved the bottom lines for many utilities. This early success of AMI is creating the need to move more data faster between distinct devices and is raising the bar for what utilities expect in an AMI communications network.
Edited by Alice Koganova