A joint demonstration of the next generation of high-speed, high-capacity Smart Grid communications at Distributech 2011 will be given by Tantalus and Alcatel-Lucent (News 
- Alert). This demonstration will include communications over a Long Term Evolution (LTE) 4G network, which provides exceptional coverage and data throughput over a wireless broadband network.
Tantalus brings to the demonstration its TUNet platform and Alcatel-Lucent contributes its optical network thermals to optimize automated meter reading, outage management and other Smart Grid applications over both fiber optic networks and an Alcatel-Lucent LTE (News - Alert) network. Increased peak data rates and scalable bandwidth capacity are provided in the wireless LTE network to support mixed voice, video, data and messaging traffic.
“Broadband – whether operating over fiber-optic cable or a wireless LTE Network – provides a future friendly backbone for the data intensive applications that are just around the corner,” said Eric Murray, president & CEO of Tantalus, in a company statement. “Not only does it deliver rich, triple play media, it ensures that network performance will not diminish as traffic skyrockets and as time of use pricing, load shedding, customer signaling and tightly coordinated distribution automation actions become more prevalent.”
Using municipally-owned fiber networks for triple-play media – VoIP, Internet and video – Tantalus and Alcatel-Lucent are working closely together on a number of precedent setting deployments. A full range of Smart Grid applications will also be provided by Tantalus.
Known as Homerun Networks, they deliver the high-speed, two-way communication and high-capacity bandwidth necessary for data transactions with millions of smart meters and smart appliances, in addition to command and control of a utility’s distribution infrastructure.
Data from the 2010 Broadband Census suggests that less than 100 municipalities currently operate a FTTH (Fiber to the Home) or FTTP (Fiber to the Premise) network. With new innovations from companies such as Tantalus and Alcatel-Lucent, that figure is expected to dramatically increase in the near future.
"As the leading provider of mission-critical communications networks to the energy sector, at Alcatel-Lucent we are also striving to quickly bring tomorrow’s technologies to the utility of today," said Mark Madden, regional vice president Power Utility Business Development. "This demonstration, and our work with utility application partners such as Tantalus, demonstrates our resolve to meet the highest standards in the industry, brings needed solutions that are useable and useful to the industry, and also demonstrate our commitment to the utility market."
The demonstration is also set to feature a Tantalus RT-4101, an electric meter collar adapter that powers Alcatel-Lucent’s 7340 ONT family of products. The Tantalus collar works with Alpha, Calix (News - Alert) and Motorola ONT devices and is considered the first device of its kind to offer system-wide safety certifications according to applicable Underwriters Laboratory standards.
Alcatel-Lucent plans to demonstrate Smart Grid functionality over LTE in booth #535 throughout Distributech in San Diego from February 1 to 3, 2011.
Susan J. Campbell is a contributing editor for TMCnet and has also written for eastbiz.com. To read more of Susan’s articles, please visit her columnist page.Edited by Patrick Barnard
