Wifi Revolution

When Verizon (News - Alert) Wireless executives say they expect wireless penetration of 300 to 400 percent, this is an example of why they think that: Verizon Wireless and Ambient (News - Alert) Corporation have teamed to deploy a host of smart grid projects around the country.

 

The projects will allow utilities to transmit data from both residential and commercial meters using wireless links, and are an example of machine-to-machine communications apps Verizon believes might become even more prevalent than people-oriented communications.

 

Mark Bartolomeo, vice president enterprise data sales for Verizon Wireless, the company’s Evolution-Data Optimized 3G network provides a secure, high-speed path for carrying data today and as the demand increases in the future.

 

“We’ve seen significant interest and growth in the utility sector for smart technologies,” says Verizon Wireless VP Mark Bartolomeo.

 

As TMCnet Senior Contributing Editor Brendan B (News - Alert). Read reports, smart grids are networks of sensors attached to electrical distributions system that determine whether the power is flowing as it should and feed the data to software that can analyze whether there are problems and correct them. And smart grids could hold a key to improving electrical system efficiency and environmental footprint while making the system more reliable, with fewer outages.

 

“That is what CURRENT Group Chief Executive Officer Tom Casey had told the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming today,” Read reports. “A smart grid would have a substantial and immediate impact on the U.S. electricity system and deliver immense environmental benefits by reducing the nation’s carbon emissions. By allowing a utility to manage its distribution grid more efficiently, less power would need to be generated, create fewer emissions, and reduce the frequency and duration of outages.”

 

While much of the smart grid public discussion has focused on additions to the transmission (or long distance) grid and smart meters, both of which are components, automating the electric distribution (local) grid is an essential element to achieving these objectives, he said.

 

Ambient’s X-3000 node, running on Verizon Wireless’ network, provides the communications platform that enables data from residential and commercial smart meters, appliances and other applications to be transported via IP-based technologies over a utility’s smart grid system. This platform allows for two-way efficient collection, analysis and management of energy data to promote more reliable, affordable and environmentally friendly operations.

 

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