Motorola Wins WiMAX Based Smart Metering Contract

­Motorola says that it has won a contract to supply the first WiMAX based smart metering hardware. The contract has been awarded by the Australian energy utility, SP AusNet, covering around 680,000 customers in Victoria.

Smart metering is a full measurement and collection system that includes customer meters, communication networks and data management systems.

Motorola will supply and deploy WiMAX WAP 650 base stations operating at 2.3GHz, Access Service Network (ASN) Gateway and new microwave systems to extend the wide area network (WAN) to new coverage areas. The system will facilitate communication with SP AusNet's smart meters embedded with WiMAX chipsets, collecting measurements and sending instructions in real time, supporting the analysis of usage patterns and power generation needs.

The project spans a four-year period, and Motorola will start shipping and installing products by the end of 2009.

"This is the first time WiMAX technology will be used in smart metering for an electrical utility company. The WiMAX technology supports high-speed data communications and hundreds of thousands of smart metering connections that are capable of covering large geographical areas, providing a solid foundation to build a reliable and cost-effective communications network for smart metering," said Eric Starnes, vice president of sales and operations for Motorola's Home & Networks Mobility business in Asia. "Motorola's WiMAX solution will deliver a standards-based, carrier-grade solution that is secure, reliable and flexible to meet SP AusNet's smart metering requirements while delivering an unmatched quality of services. The contract win demonstrates our commitment to help customers like SP AusNet expand their capabilities."

Victoria is the first state in Australia to implement the extensive roll-out of smart meters. The government-led initiative will enable more than 2.2 million homes and 300,000 businesses to better manage their energy needs, cut carbon emissions and help increase retail competition.

Utility companies with smart metering systems will be able to provide innovative pricing structures such as discounted rates during non-peak hours.  The WiMAX-based system also can support a series of new functions such as remote connection and disconnection, outage detection and notification, power quality control and asset optimization.

Posted to the site on 22nd October 2009