Satellite-based smart grid communications node shipment to soar by 2020

SUBNET Solutions Inc | Wednesday, November 21, 2012

The smart grid market is maturing at an astounding rate, and applications like substation automation, network redundancy, remote monitoring and mobile workforce applications are becoming more desired by utilities as their benefits are felt.

All of these applications can be run across various communication platforms, however, many utilities have noted that satellite communications are becoming an increasingly attractive option. This move toward satcoms, according to Pike Research, will lead to a huge surge in shipment of satellite-based communications nodes.

By 2020, the group says, the shipments could quadruple from 11,500 in 2012 to as many as 48,000 in 2020.

"In order to bring smart grid functionality and all of its benefits to sparsely populated geographies, satellite communications represent a clear path forward," said research director Carol Stimmel. "What's more, as a non-terrestrial-based network, satellite communications may be the only solution to keep the grid connected or bring it back online rapidly in cases of natural (or manmade) disasters."

SUBNET's Unified Grid Intelligence solution will help utilities take advantage of using satellite communications by enabling grid data from any intelligent electronic device to be sent across any communications platform - including satellites - and analyzes on any business IT system. 

Tags: Substation Automation & Remote Access