Trends in Smart Utility Network Capacity

1. Project: IEEE P802.15 Working Group for Wireless Personal Area Networks (WPANs) Submission Title: Trends in Smart Utility Network capacity Date Submitted: 27 February, 2009 Source: Emmanuel Monnerie, Landis+Gyr 30000 Mill Creek Avenue, Alpharetta, GA USA Voice: +1 678 641 1986, FAX: +1 678 258 1550 Re: [802.15.4g] TG4g Call for Preliminary Proposals, 2 February, 2009 Abstract: Looking at the speed of SUN devices over the past 20 years, we can see an increase by a ratio of 10 every 12 years. More and more data is being transferred through the SUN. For the next 5 to 10 years, this increase in speed will require the use of more modern and efficient PHY technology, such as OFDM. Purpose: Proposal to add OFDM technology in addition to SSFH as part of one of the protocols defined in 802.15.4g Notice: This document has been prepared to assist the IEEE P802.15. It is offered as a basis for discussion and is not binding on the contributing individual(s) or organization(s). The material in this document is subject to change in form and content after further study. The contributor(s) reserve(s) the right to add, amend or withdraw material contained herein. Release: The contributor acknowledges and accepts that this contribution becomes the property of IEEE and may be made publicly available by P802.15. Emmanuel Monnerie, Landis+Gyr

2. Trends in Smart Utility Network capacity IEEE 802 Plenary Session Vancouver, BC March 2009 Emmanuel Monnerie, Landis+Gyr

3. Evolution of telecom technology Illustration: Bryan Christie Design/IEEE Spectrum Wireless technology has demonstrated an increase in speed by a ratio of 10 every 12 years. Emmanuel Monnerie, Landis+Gyr

4. Data rate of utility network devices 1 Mbps 100 kbps Metering devices SCADA Other utility applications 10 kbps 1 kbps 100 bps 1990 2010 2000 Utility network capacity follows the same trend as wireless technology Emmanuel Monnerie, Landis+Gyr

5. Home gateway meter • Metering Data (Electric, Water and Gas) • ANSI C12.19 • Zigbee Smart Energy Profile • Outage Detection • On-Demand Reading • Demand Response • Remote Disconnect • Pricing • Security/Certificates • Firmware Update The electric meter is becoming a busy network gateway HAN Utility Network Emmanuel Monnerie, Landis+Gyr

6. High ratio endpoints/network device • Limited available locations • High operational costs • Tight regulations • The network devices have to cover the traffic for a high number of endpoints (high 100’s to 1000’s per network device) Emmanuel Monnerie, Landis+Gyr

7. Mass outage reporting • Millions of endpoints can report outage and restoration data at the same time. • This represents a peak data throughput well above the average traffic • A low latency outage reporting (< 5 minutes) is required from each affected meter Emmanuel Monnerie, Landis+Gyr

8. Utility network access point • Interface between the utility network and the utility host application. • Handles the traffic for a large geographical area (tens of thousands of residences each) • Relatively high operational costs • Very limited choice of locations • Could be located several miles away from the main network • The network traffic bottleneck is here • The capacity of this device is usually sized for extreme scenarios Emmanuel Monnerie, Landis+Gyr

9. Long term planning • A typical utility network is designed to operate for 20-30 years • The requirements for new applications will grow, which will require more bandwidth. • There must be availability for growth in the modulation scheme • Retrofit of older devices is the most expensive part of a Utility Network deployment. • Backwards compatibility is a must • A hardware with room for future expansion is desired • Requirement for remote firmware download and remote diagnostics and configuration • Automatic configuration and network registration • Software Defined Radio? Emmanuel Monnerie, Landis+Gyr

10. Spectrum usage issue • Limited available spectrum • Typical frequency range for utility networks in the US: 902-928MHz (license free ISM band, part 15.247). • Narrow license free spectrum in Europe • Heavily used spectrum (consumer devices, industrial applications, … and smart meters) • RF collision issue: A inefficient use of the spectrum decreases size of the unused space, which will increase the probability of RF collisions Emmanuel Monnerie, Landis+Gyr

11. A better use of the spectrum • Frequency hopping should allow increased traffic robustness • A higher number of channels is better to avoid not only jammers but also collisions between devices from within the same network • A modulation scheme with high spectrum efficiency should be included: OFDM Emmanuel Monnerie, Landis+Gyr

12. Benefits of OFDM for a SUN • Improved spectral efficiency compared to single carrier modulation • Increased robustness for wireless fixed networks: • Robustness against time synchronization error • Relatively simple channel equalization • Robustness in multipath environment (urban, suburban) • Scalability • Can be deployed today at lower speed rates and upgraded later to accommodate new needs for bandwidth. Emmanuel Monnerie, Landis+Gyr

13. Conclusion/Proposal • The requirements for a SUN PHY should consider signaling speeds above 100kbps-200kps • When looking 10/20 years ahead, the need might be around 1Mbps • The devices might need to handle different PHY to ensure backwards compatibility • Flexibility for bandwidth growth must be considered • OFDM combined with frequency hopping provides both proven operation in the ISM bands and a path for bandwidth growth into the future • We recommend that this group considers OFDM as a highly suitable option for the enhanced 802.15.4g specification Emmanuel Monnerie, Landis+Gyr

14. Thank you Emmanuel Monnerie, Landis+Gyr