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A recently released special issue of Energy Central discusses how utilities are embracing cutting-edge technologies to transform how they operate and serve their customers. In turn, these benefits help utilities deliver on the vision of a resilient and affordable clean energy future. Hear the perspectives of industry experts discussing how private LTE networks are fueling a wide and growing ecosystem of products, services, devices, and applications directly focused on addressing utility operational challenges and improving the customer experience.

Join industry experts as they discuss insights on solutions driven by utility needs including smart infrastructure applications, automation, monitoring, and asset management solutions.

Ecosystem members will discuss how their solutions are helping utilities realize improved ROI, reduced power costs, and are driving overall operational efficiency.

Utilities looking to modernize communications networks with private LTE can benefit from both 900 MHz and CBRS for the capacity and coverage they need. Anterix Active Ecosystem members 4RF, GE and RAD are collaborating with Anterix and Sequans to bring to market an LTE Cat-4 multi-band communications module that supports 900 MHz, CBRS, and failovers to other networks.

Has it really been two years? We launched the Anterix Active Ecosystem program in May 2021 with 35 original members. Today there are over 100 innovative, industry-leading companies in the program, collaborating to develop and bring to market products and services to help utilities deploy and get the most out of their 900 MHz private LTE networks–all with guidance from utility executives and other industry leaders on the Anterix Utility Strategic Advisory Board (USAB).

April is Earth Month, so what better time for Industry Insights to focus on the importance of modern communications in helping utilities fight climate change by transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy resources?  Importantly, there’s a direct link between utilities’ ability to meet emissions reduction targets and their adoption of private LTE networks for grid management.

With the influx of federal infrastructure funds and ever-increasing attention to decarbonization and integrating renewable energy resources, focus on grid modernization grows ever sharper. Join a panel of accomplished utility executives as they discuss the grid modernization challenges that confront their organizations and the essential role they see for communications networks generally–and private LTE specifically–in addressing them.

As discussed in Energy Central’s recently released special issue, Utility Guide to Private LTE, now more than ever, utilities are being asked to deliver greater resilience, intelligence, and security to support grid modernization. The rapidly growing requirements for utilities to support all these changes while transforming to withstand extreme weather conditions, the adoption of DERs, and more has shifted how utilities need to think about their communication networks.

What is the value proposition for deploying a utility-controlled private LTE network? What are the key use cases it can support? How does a multi-operating company utility move forward with a transformational project like private LTE? Why is beneficial to the communities that utilities serve?

Rewatch the session with Jeff Levy, Xcel Energy’s VP of Infrastructure and Shared Services and Ryan Gerbrandt, Anterix’s COO as they discuss Xcel Energy’s 900 MHz private LTE journey, the rationale for its decision to adopt that solution, the enhanced value opportunities that it may unlock, and how its comprehensive evaluation process can help other utilities efficiently reach their own decisions.

There is growing momentum among utilities toward deploying private wireless broadband networks to support grid modernization, reliability, and resilience initiatives. That momentum is strengthened by last fall’s $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), which included substantial funds for grid modernization projects, specifically calling out those that deploy advanced communications networks to support the grid.

As we approach the close of wildfire season, this month we feature two game-changing solutions that allow utilities to safely and efficiently deliver electricity while significantly reducing the devastating risks of wildfires. LineVision’s dynamic line rating and line monitoring solution allow utilities to deliver more power over existing lines while detecting movement in lines to help prevent a potential breakage. If a line does break, SEL’s Falling Conductor Protection comes in for the save.

With the increasing cyber security threats, an ever extended wildfire season, a higher frequency of natural disasters, and aggressive decarbonization goals at the federal and state levels, a group of utility industry executives discuss how the industry is adopting digital solutions, embracing advanced technologies and developing strategic partnerships to mitigate risks and enhance grid resilience while providing reliable and secure clean energy.

In December, we launched the Anterix Security Collective bringing together an expert team of cyber-physical technology providers to contribute sector-specific knowledge and collaborate to deliver secure solutions for those deploying private networks at 900 MHz. In this episode of Industry Insights, you’ll hear directly from these experts on the unique capabilities each member of the Anterix Security Collective offers.

As our nation looks to re-invest in our country’s infrastructure, we have a compelling opportunity not just to improve upon it but also ensure it is secure and resilient. Private networks coupled with a robust and evolving set of security practices, standards and solutions can play a key role in safeguarding our critical infrastructure.

The smart grid is “smart” because it includes sensors, applications, and devices that use telecommunications, and computer intelligence to create, collect, analyze, and act upon data. The many exciting innovations coming on the market—innovations that are driving utilities’ digital transformations—depend upon these critical elements.

This session featured experts from the companies behind some of those innovations—Atomation, Hitachi, and LineVision— as they discussed the importance of these underlying elements that enable their game-changing products and services.

As utilities modernize their infrastructure to digitalize the grid, they become increasingly reliant upon digital technologies and devices. The device ecosystem must possess the depth, sophistication, and advanced capabilities necessary to support utility requirements.

This discussion featured experts from 4RF, Telit and General Electric and their conversation addressed how devices are evolving to meet utilities’ new communications needs, and how federal device certification is an important element of that evolution.

As utilities work to deploy the next-generation of industrial-strength wireless connectivity based on LTE and 5G technologies, they will need to create private, secure, reliable, and resilient networks to support their grid modernization plans. Such transformation requires openness to new approaches, technologies and platforms supported by an ecosystem of vendors and products focused on utilities’ particular goals and challenges.

Ericsson, Motorola Solutions and Nokia have shown standards-based communications technologies previously reserved for major carrier deployments can be scaled to fit private utility networks.

For Women’s History Month 2021, Industry Insights will feature several trailblazing women whose work is advancing energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. Join us for the discussion where female leaders will gather to discuss grid modernization challenges facing the U.S. utility industry, and explore industry trends and mission critical innovations needed in response to an ever evolving grid.

If 2020 taught us anything, it is how difficult it can be to predict the future! Looking back at the Energy Central’s 2020 Special Issue Series we certainly didn’t see anyone sharing predictions on an evolving remote work environment, utility shutoff moratoriums, and digital experiences replacing in-person visits to customers. That said, thought leaders and experts in the industry did share plenty that came to fruition: from customer-driven technologies to decarbonization of the grid to digital technologies taking a leap forward and more.

Listen to three critical infrastructure experts explore how to architect a reliable, secure, and resilient Power Grid, while addressing sustainability and affordability in today’s climate.

Creating a smart connected grid of the future is imperative as utilities try to keep up with the demands of an increasingly sophisticated customer in a world of new technologies. In an Energy Central Special Issue, industry experts from utilities, manufacturing and other sectors share their visions for how 900 MHz licensed spectrum could support the grid of the future and the intersection of smart communications and smart grids.

With 900 MHz spectrum for private LTE wireless broadband networks now approved for use, and auctioning of the shared CBRS spectrum, the nation’s electric utilities have an unprecedented opportunity to accelerate and advance their grid modernization and resiliency programs. Listen to industry experts discuss “visioneering” the intersection of smart communications and smart grids and the benefits that will flow from the integration of the two.

Private wireless broadband has been a critical unmet need for electric utilities for years. With the upcoming CBRS auction and FCC Ruling on 900 MHz, spectrum will be available for utilities to build private LTE networks and expand their broadband to the edge of the grid. Hear industry experts share their perspectives on how utilities can navigate these uncharted waters.

Utilities have been forced adapt to a new operating model created by social distancing. We know yesterday’s grid won’t meet the dynamic challenges of today or into the future. Join us as we look deeper into these operational challenges that utilities face in light of all these events, explore industry trends, and identify mission critical innovations needed.

In this inaugural chapter of the Industry Insights series, watch industry experts discuss how the FCC’s decision to make 900 MHz spectrum available for private broadband networks will revolutionize grid modernization and unlock cyber security and reliability benefits for utility companies.