Australian Utilities Improve Processes with LTE and 5G Networks

Utility companies including power, gas, and water have vast opportunities to improve operational efficiency and customer service by upgrading infrastructure with smart devices and automated systems — and by implementing broadband connectivity solutions that maximise data and improve communications. 4G LTE and 5G securely connects power grids, smart meters, personnel, stations, and beyond.

Remote Sites

For systems and installations located in remote or difficult to reach areas, reliable wired connectivity isn’t always readily available. Sites ranging from substations to neighbourhood roof-top solar installations to remote wind farms can use highly flexible LTE and 5G solutions to keep teams, offices, and IoT connected 24x7.

Central Highlands Water (CHW) provides water and wastewater services to their customers in the Central Highlands region of Victoria. There are over 200 outstation sites across its network, spread over CHW’s area of operation and includes pumping stations. These outstation sites have Operational Technology (OT), such as sensors and controls which are used to monitor and operate critical infrastructure assets. These OT devices connect back to multiple high availability SCADA servers. The SCADA servers periodically poll the Remote Terminal Units (RTUs) located at the outstations for sensor information and can also issue commands to the RTUs, for example to adjust a valve or turn on a pumping station.

CHW is using Cradlepoint LTE solutions to enable primary and failover connectivity between their SCADA servers and their RTUs, which requires a reliable and secure network.

Failover

During network failover, standby equipment and connections automatically take over when the main network connection fails. As organisations use an increasing number of cloud-based services in their daily operations, automatic failover and uninterrupted network access have progressed from important to essential aspects of remote and branch networking. Increasing the diversity of network components and connection types help reduce the impact of any single point of failure. Adding wireless network connections to branch locations is a flexible and cost-effective method of improving uptime, application performance, and business continuity.

In-Vehicle Networks

Installation and maintenance of power, water, and gas lines involves a wide range of specialised services. Vehicles equipped with mobile routers have the wireless connectivity necessary to enable the continuous transmission of important data between field workers and headquarters.

In Australia, Cradlepoint customer, Westernport Water uses in-vehicle Wireless WAN connectivity for on-the-road monitoring, asset reporting and live site data access in the field.

Video Monitoring

Ensuring persistent oversight and security is just as critical for physical facilities as it is for the network. With surveillance cameras, sensors, and drones providing on-demand feeds — available in real-time through LTE- and 5G-enabled wireless edge routers, teams can quickly conduct video, thermal, and LiDAR-based (Light Detection and Ranging) inspections across widely distributed sites.

Edge Computing

Utilities can get closer to real-time visibility of systems and infrastructure by shifting key components of application workloads and computing to the network’s edge. Wireless edge routers connecting devices like smart meters and sensors can be monitored and managed centrally but also process analytics, run applications, and more in the field.

Predictive Maintenance

With utility systems going digital and wirelessly connected sensors and smart meters streaming real-time data, information about downed wires, faults, and grid imbalances can be collected and analysed quickly and automatically. Machine-learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI), which rely on stable connectivity, subsequently enable predictive maintenance to decrease outages and identify where investment is needed.

Private Cellular Networks

Connecting the facilities and components of a utility with a Private LTE and Private 5G network can provide significant benefits. Complete control of the network enables layers of security that aren’t possible over Wi-Fi or public networks, eliminates traffic competition, boosts performance and Quality-of-Service, and greatly reduces monthly costs.

As utility organisations rely more and more on technologies for essential monitoring and maintenance, secure and reliable connectivity with Cradlepoint Wireless WAN ensures that these vital processes are not interrupted and run efficiently at all times.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Tierney