Private Wireless Utility Field RF Mesh, Wi-Fi, WiMAX, LTE, and Proprietary Wireless Networks for Integrated Distribution, Substation, and Smart Meter Applications The term field area network (FAN) is applied to a network that is used to connect various devices located in an electric utility s field of operations, including smart meters, concentrators, distribution assets, control and protection equipment, and substation equipment. Instead of running disparate and discrete networks for each type of equipment, FANs are being designed to deliver advanced applications across a common platform to allow for simpler, more unified visibility, management, and control, as well as economies of scale and resources. Utilities have realized that across the FAN, a variety of wireless transport technologies are likely to be put in place, given the wide variety of technological requirements for each application used. As a result, there has been a concerted effort on the part of vendors to reposition themselves as platform vendors and integrators, rather than as simply suppliers of a specific piece of equipment, such as smart meters or radio-module providers. The growth of private field area networks are best tracked by the growth of communication nodes being deployed in a utility s field, which includes AMI nodes, nodes used to manage the distribution network, and nodes to connect substations. Pike Research projects that shipments will reach high volumes in the early part of the forecast period, due to the initial wave of smart meter deployments, dip in the middle years as initial stimulus spending projects are completed, and then rise again as metering-mandate deadlines approach and utilities refocus on the optimization of the grid. By 2020, wireless node unit shipments will reach and surpass the levels seen in 2011 totaling just over 14 million annually. This Pike Research report examines the use of privately owned, built, and managed wireless technology infrastructure used to deploy field area networks. The report covers the range of technologies used in these networks, including RF mesh, Wi- Fi, WiMAX, LTE, and proprietary wireless systems. Profiles of 16 key industry vendors are included along with worldwide market forecasts, segmented by region and technology, for unit shipments, revenue, and average selling prices through 2020. KEY MARKET DATA AND FORECASTS: Private Wireless Communications Node Unit Shipments by Technology, Application, and Region, World Markets: Private Wireless Communications Node Unit Revenue by Technology, Application, and Region, World Markets: Private Wireless Communications Node ASP by Technology, Application, and Region, World Markets: Comparison Table of Various Private Wireless Technologies Selected Vendor Solution Profiles TECHNOLOGIES: RF Mesh FHSS (frequency-hopping spread spectrum) Multiple-Address radios Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11b/g/n) 4G LTE cellular WiMAX GEOGRAPHIES: North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East & Africa APPLICATIONS: Advanced Metering Infrastructure Neighborhood Area Networks Advanced Metering Infrastructure Wide Distribution Automation Wide Substation Automation Wide
TABLE OF CONTENTS: 1. Executive Summary 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Key Market Drivers 1.3 Technology Issues 1.4 Market Forecasts 2. Market Issues 2.1 The Field Area Network 2.2 Market Drivers for Private Wireless Field 2.2.1 Advantageous Rate Recovery Structure 2.2.2 Enhanced Operational Control 2.2.3 Grid Reliability and Security 2.2.4 Enhanced/Integrated Mobile Worker Communications 2.2.5 Avoidance of Technical Obsolescence 2.2.6 Potential Future Revenue Stream Generation 2.2.7 Growing Convergence of Applications on a Common Communications Platform 2.3 Market Opportunity and Environment 2.3.1 Market Environment and Business Structures 2.3.2 Government and Regulatory Environment 2.3.2.1 North America 2.3.2.2 Europe 2.3.2.3 Asia Pacific 2.3.2.4 Latin America 2.3.2.5 Middle East and Africa 2.4 Market Challenges and Risks 2.4.1 Funding Challenges 2.4.2 Interoperability and Standards 2.4.2.1 International Standards 2.4.3 Security Concerns 2.4.3.1 Access Control 2.4.3.2 Data Integrity, Confidentiality, and Privacy 2.4.3.3 Data Separation 2.4.4 Market Shifts and Changes 3. Technology Issues 3.1 Private Wireless Networking Requirements 3.1.1 AMI-NAN Networks 3.1.1.1 Data Requirements 3.1.1.2 Speed & Latency 3.1.1.3 Cost Issues 3.1.1.4 Networking Requirements 3.1.2 AMI-WAN Networks 3.1.2.1 Data Requirements 3.1.2.2 Speed & Latency 3.1.2.3 Cost Issues 3.1.2.4 Networking Requirements 3.1.3 DA-WAN Networks 3.1.3.1 Data Requirements 3.1.3.2 Speed & Latency 3.1.3.3 Cost Issues 3.1.3.4 Networking Requirements 3.1.4 SA-WAN Networks 3.1.4.1 Data Requirements 3.1.4.2 Speed & Latency 3.1.4.3 Cost Issues 3.1.4.4 Networking Requirements 3.1.5 Mobile Workforce Communications Networks 3.1.5.1 Data Requirements 3.1.5.2 Speed & Latency 3.1.5.3 Cost Issues 3.1.5.4 Networking Requirements 3.2 Smart Grid Private Wireless Communications 3.2.1 Private Versus Public Networks 3.2.2 Key Benefits and Challenges of Private Networks 3.2.3 Frequency Allocations 3.2.4 Licensed Versus Unlicensed Spectrum 3.2.5 Current and Future Utilization of Private Networks by Utilities 3.2.6 Comparison Table of Various Private Wireless Technologies 3.2.7 Private RF Mesh Technologies 3.2.7.1 Performance 3.2.7.2 End-to-end Bandwidth 3.2.7.3 Latency 3.2.7.4 Robustness 3.2.7.5 Range 3.2.7.6 Reliability & Survivability 3.2.7.7 Security 3.2.7.8 Costs 3.2.7.9 Vendor Capability Summary 3.2.8 Proprietary Pt2MPt 3.2.8.1 Performance 3.2.8.2 End-to-end Bandwidth 3.2.8.3 Latency 3.2.8.4 Robustness 3.2.8.5 Range 3.2.8.6 Reliability & Survivability 3.2.8.7 Security 3.2.8.8 Costs 3.2.8.9 Vendor Capability Summary 3.2.9 Private Wi-Fi 3.2.9.1 Performance 3.2.9.2 End-to-end Bandwidth 3.2.9.3 Latency 3.2.9.4 Robustness 3.2.9.5 Range 3.2.9.6 Reliability & Survivability 3.2.9.7 Security 3.2.9.8 Costs 3.2.9.9 Vendor Capability Summary 3.2.10 Private LTE 3.2.10.1 Performance 3.2.10.2 End-to-end Bandwidth 3.2.10.3 Latency 3.2.10.4 Robustness 3.2.10.5 Range 3.2.10.6 Reliability & Survivability 3.2.10.7 Security 3.2.10.8 Costs 3.2.10.9 Vendor Capability Summary 3.2.11 Private WiMAX 3.2.11.1 Performance 3.2.11.2 End-to-end Bandwidth 3.2.11.3 Latency 3.2.11.4 Robustness in Face of Interference 3.2.11.5 Range (Either Single-hop Distance or Overall Network Diameter) 3.2.11.6 Reliability & Survivability 3.2.11.7 Security 3.2.11.8 Costs 3.2.11.9 Vendor Capability Summary 3.2.12 Other Proprietary Solutions 3.3 Primary Opportunities and Challenges for Private Wireless Technology 3.3.1 Technical Issues 3.3.2 Operational Issues 3.3.3 Regulatory Issues
4. Key Industry Players 4.1 Airspan Networks 4.2 Cisco Systems 4.3 Elster Group 4.4 FreeWave Technologies 4.5 GE Energy 4.6 Itron 4.7 Landis+Gyr 4.8 Motorola Solutions, Inc. 4.9 On-Ramp Wireless 4.10 RuggedCom 4.11 S&C Electric Company 4.12 Sensus 4.13 Silver Spring Networks 4.14 Tait Communications 4.15 Trilliant 4.16 Tropos Networks (ABB) 5. Market Forecasts 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Forecast Methodology 5.2.1 Unit Forecasts, Revenue Forecasts, and Average Selling Prices 5.3 Private Wireless Communications Forecasts: Global 5.4 Private Wireless Communications Forecasts: North America 5.5 Private Wireless Communications Forecasts: Europe 5.6 Private Wireless Communications Forecasts: Asia Pacific 5.7 Private Wireless Communications Forecasts: Latin America 5.8 Private Wireless Communications Shipment and Revenue Forecasts: Middle East and Africa 6. Company Directory 7. Acronym and Abbreviation List 8. Table of Contents 9. Table of Charts and Figures 10. Scope of Study, Sources and Methodology, Notes LIST OF TABLES: FAN Applications, Objectives, and Benefits Smart Grid Functionalities and Communications Needs Technology Comparisons Range, Link Speeds, Interference Rejection, and Potential Applications Selected Vendor Solution Profiles Selected Vendor Solution Profiles Continued Application, World Markets: Region, World Markets: Private Wireless Communications ASP by Application, World Markets: Application, World Markets: Region, World Markets: Technology, World Markets: Technology, World Markets: Without AMI-NAN, by Technology, World Markets: Application, North America: Private Wireless Communications ASP by Application, North America: Application, North America: Technology, Broken Out by Application, North America: Technology, North America: Broken Out by Application, North America: North America: Technology, North America: Without AMI-NAN, by Technology, North America: Application, Europe: Private Wireless Communications ASP by Application, Europe: Application, Europe: Technology, Broken Out by Application, Europe: Technology, Europe: Broken Out by Application, Europe: Europe: Technology, Europe: Without AMI-NAN, by Technology, Europe: Application, Asia Pacific: Private Wireless Communications ASP by Application, Asia Pacific: Application, Asia Pacific:
Technology, Broken Out by Application, Asia Pacific: Technology, Asia Pacific: Broken Out by Application, Asia Pacific: Asia Pacific: Technology, Asia Pacific: Without AMI-NAN, by Technology, Asia Pacific: Application, Latin America: Private Wireless Communications ASP by Application, Latin America: Application, Latin America: Technology, Broken Out by Application, Latin America: Technology, Latin America: Broken Out by Application, Latin America: Latin America: Technology, Latin America: Without AMI-NAN, by Technology, Latin America: Application, Middle East & Africa: Private Wireless Communications ASP by Application, Middle East & Africa: Application, Middle East & Africa: Technology, Broken Out by Application, Middle East & Africa: Technology, Middle East & Africa: Broken Out by Application, Middle East & Africa: Middle East & Africa: Technology, Middle East & Africa: Without AMI-NAN, by Technology, Middle East & Africa: LIST OF CHARTS & FIGURES: Application, World Markets: Region, World Markets: Technology, World Markets: Private Wireless Communications Node Unit Shipments Mix by Technology, World Markets: 2020 Application, World Markets: Region, World Markets: Technology, World Markets: Without AMI-NAN, by Technology, World Markets: Application, North America: Technology, North America: Without AMI-NAN, by Technology, North America: Application, Europe: Technology, Europe: Application, Asia Pacific: Without AMI-NAN, by Technology, Asia Pacific: Application, Latin America: Application, Middle East & Africa: Smart Grid Networking Architectural Model Mesh Network Configurations Star Network Configuration
Technology, World Markets: 16,000 14,000 12,000 (Thousands) 10,000 8,000 6,000 4,000 LTE Wi-Fi RF Mesh (802.15.4) WiMAX Pt2MPt RF Mesh (Proprietary) 2,000-2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 (Source: Pike Research) KEY QUESTIONS ADDRESSED: What are field area networks? What are the wireless technologies that are currently used in FANs today? Who are the key vendors involved in the market, and how do their offerings compare against each other? How are various governments around the world acting to create utilityonly spectrum for field area networks? In which geographic regions is the majority of field area network spending occurring? What are the key drivers and barriers to growth in the wireless FAN market? What technology issues are facing vendors of these technologies, and how are they being overcome? REPORT DETAILS: Price: Pages: Tables, Charts, Figures: Release Date: $3900 108 79 3Q 2012 WHO NEEDS THIS REPORT? Utilities Smart grid hardware and software vendors Smart meter manufacturers Wireless module makers (LTE, WiMAX, Wi-Fi, RF wireless) Wireless communication solution/platform vendors Wireless networking providers Government agencies Investor community TO ORDER THIS REPORT: Phone: +1.303.997.7609 Email: sales@pikeresearch.com