July 2, 2012

Survey Sez 07/02/12

Satellite is emerging as a “viable and attractive” means of connectivity for many smart-grid applications, including substation automation, distribution automation, advanced metering infrastructure backhaul, remote monitoring and mobile workforce applications, says Pike Research. Revenue from satellite services and equipment for smart-grid apps will reach $368 million by 2020, increasing from nearly $67 million this year. Because technology has changed, satellite-based smart-grid services are more reliable than they were in the past; at 600 milliseconds, round-trip latency today “is adequate for most smart grid applications and compares favorably with many terrestrial options,” the group says. “And data rate options of up to several Mbps are commonplace, while planned systems may even be faster than some cable or 4G broadband services today.”