If you’re responsible for operations at a utility, you know that having a reliable communications network in place is no longer a nice-to-have - it’s a must. Every day, you are running mission-critical operations, where lives are on the line and critical resources are at stake. There is no wiggle room when it comes to outages or disruptions in service. Without accessible electricity, water, and sanitation, modern society as we know it will come screeching to a halt.
And the utility industry today isn’t what it used to be. After decades of relative stability, factors such as renewable energy integration, rising energy demand, extreme weather, distributed energy resource generation (DERs), and aging infrastructure have reshaped the grid into something far more dynamic and complex to maintain and manage—a smarter grid, if you will. To keep the lights on and water running, modern utilities and smart grids rely on real-time data from across the grid to make quick, efficient decisions. Without an advanced wireless connectivity network to support the flow of critical data, utilities will struggle to keep up, face performance issues, and fail to meet their operational needs.
To ensure your communications networks can handle real-time operations, withstand hazards, thwart cyber threats, scale with future growth, carry massive data streams, and be deployed with agility, we’ve broken down the top six must-have features for your wireless network.
Real-time data is essential for modern grid operations. Traditional communication methods, such as 5- or 10-minute SCADA polling sequences, are too slow. As you face new challenges in demand and generation, such as solar output swings or EV charging spikes, you will need continuous, sub-second data to make quick, efficient decisions—only accessible with low-latency transmission. High latency can lead to delays, inefficiencies, and outages.
Modern wireless systems can deliver sub-5 millisecond latencies, making them ideal for critical power grid applications like adaptive protection and voltage regulation. These wireless solutions often outperform fiber by avoiding the complex paths, routing, and switches that can add to latency. Technologies such as private LTE/5G and microwave enable the real-time response times needed for critical grid functions like protective relaying and fast load shedding. This allows distribution automation schemes (like FLISR) to isolate faults and restore power in seconds.
Use case: Consider an advanced distribution management system (ADMS) coordinating capacitor banks and voltage regulators on a feeder. With a low-latency wireless network, the ADMS can send control signals and get feedback from sensors virtually instantly, keeping voltage within bounds as solar generation fluctuates. Similarly, substation relay coordination between sites requires near-immediate exchange of trip signals – something a <5 ms latency link can facilitate. This real-time responsiveness directly translates to improved reliability and power quality on the grid.
Grid resilience goes beyond physical infrastructure to include reliable communications. During storms or cyber incidents, it's crucial for networks to stay online to arm grid operators with situational awareness and control. Carrier-grade reliability often targeted as 99.999% uptime—or less than 5.3 minutes of downtime annually—is often required to meet mission-critical needs.
Microwave and millimeter wave technologies offer distinct resilience advantages. Unlike physical fiber, which is vulnerable to construction cuts or falling trees, wireless links travel through the air, often withstanding conditions that damage wired lines. To take resilience further, utilities can use wireless ring or mesh topologies, allowing traffic to reroute automatically if one link fails. Private LTE/5G networks prioritize crucial utility traffic with redundancy across cellular sites, while microwave radios can switch instantly to standby units if needed, supporting quick failovers and smart management. Some utilities also use hybrid setups combining fiber and wireless for enhanced availability. This ensures that even under duress, grid operators retain visibility and control over their systems.
Use case: During a hurricane, several distribution poles and the fiber lines on them are damaged. Seamlessly, the utility’s critical field devices switch to a microwave backhaul link. The control center’s SCADA visibility to reclosers and switches remains intact, allowing the team to remotely isolate downed segments and prevent a wider outage. Such grid resilience is only possible when the communications network has no single point of failure.
As utilities increasingly digitalize and connect their grids, they become more vulnerable to cyberattacks. According to data from Check Point Research, in 2024, U.S. utilities experienced a 70% increase in attacks compared to 2023. Threats from bad actors target utilities to disrupt services or steal data. To counter this, strict cybersecurity standards require robust security measures for critical networks. Modern connectivity solutions must integrate cybersecurity from the ground up. Essential security features include:
Use case: An electric utility deploys a private 4G LTE network for field communications. Each smart meter or controller on this network uses a SIM card that authenticates to the utility’s own core network. All data from these devices is encrypted over the air. The utility configures the network so that field device traffic can only reach control center systems, not the wider corporate network or internet. When a contractor needs to access a substation camera feed, they must VPN into the network with multi-factor authentication. These measures, combined with continuous monitoring, mean the utility’s critical infrastructure remains secure even as connectivity expands.
The number of connected devices on the grid is rapidly increasing. Advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) is rolling out millions of smart meters and there's a rise in intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) in substations, sensors, and EV charging stations. To manage this surge, utility communication networks must scale significantly to accommodate more endpoints and data.
Wireless connectivity excels in scalability compared to wired options. Private LTE/5G networks can support thousands of devices per cell site and cover large areas with fewer base stations. Cellular technology handles high-density environments well, allowing numerous devices to transmit data simultaneously.
Moreover, a flexible wireless solution should support multiple applications - AMI, SCADA, voice, video, and IoT—on a single network. Modern networks allow for Quality of Service (QoS) configurations to prioritize critical control messages. This integration simplifies operations and improves efficiency, eliminating the need for separate networks for different functions. By consolidating on a scalable wireless platform, utilities can adapt and grow according to their needs.
Use case: Imagine: a utility preparing for large-scale DER adoption needs to deploy hundreds of new line sensors and controllers on feeders over the next five years. Instead of provisioning a new point-to-point radio for each device (which would be unmanageable), they extend their private LTE coverage across the service territory. The LTE network easily onboards new devices – each sensor is fitted with a rugged LTE modem – and the utility can monitor and control all of them through the centralized network management. As data volumes increase, the utility can add spectrum or upgrade base station equipment to increase capacity. The scalable architecture means the communications will not be a bottleneck to grid expansion. The network is also future-proof to adopt 5G enhancements, ensuring it remains ahead of demand.
Modern utility communications need to handle bandwidth-intensive data beyond just connecting devices:
Wireless technology can easily provide fiber-like speeds. E-band mmWave links (70/80 GHz) can offer multi-gigabit capacity over 1–3 kilometers, with some configurations achieving 10-20 Gbps over shorter distances. Microwave links (6–42 GHz) can provide hundreds of Mbps to 1 Gbps, with multi-carrier bonding enhancing capacity. Private LTE/5G networks can also deliver broadband access, serving devices at several hundred Mbps, with potential speeds nearing 1 Gbps under optimal conditions.
Use case: A transmission operator wants to install IP cameras at 50 remote substations for security and operational monitoring. Rather than leasing expensive fiber circuits, they deploy a combination of microwave and mmWave radios in a daisy-chain configuration along the transmission lines. Each high-capacity wireless hop can transport the live video feeds (several tens of Mbps per substation) back to the control center, along with SCADA and teleprotection data. The gigabit capacity of these links ensures video is smooth and low-latency, and there is plenty of headroom for future needs (such as adding LiDAR sensors or additional cameras). The operator gets fiber-like performance without the fiber, proving that wireless can handle the most data-heavy utility applications.
Utility operators are under pressure to modernize quickly to meet regulatory deadlines, improve reliability, and integrate new energy resources. Speed of deployment for communications is crucial. While fiber optic installations can take months or even years, wireless connectivity can be set up in days or weeks. Wireless links, like microwave or cellular base stations, typically require just mounting and antenna alignment, avoiding the lengthy trenching and installation processes associated with fiber. This agility allows for faster connections, accelerating project timelines and revenue realization.
Cost is another significant factor. Wireless connectivity can often be deployed at one-tenth the cost per mile. This includes savings from reduced construction costs and lower maintenance needs over time, leading to a faster return on investment.
For temporary sites, such as mobile substations or restoration camps, wireless is often the only viable solution. Portable microwave units or a deployable LTE cell on wheels (COW) can establish critical connectivity rapidly, responding effectively to urgent needs.
Use case: A utility in a mountainous region needs to upgrade communications for dozens of substations to enable smart grid functions. Running fiber through the mountains would require tunneling and many miles of cable, at enormous expense and multi-year timelines. Instead, the utility opts for a wireless mesh network using microwave links over mountaintops. Crews equip each substation with a microwave terminal and within a few months, all sites are interconnected at high speeds. The project costs a fraction of fiber and meets regulatory deadlines. In daily operation, the new wireless network is easier to maintain, and if a path becomes inadequate, the utility can simply add another radio link or reroute traffic.
These six features form the blueprint of a modern wireless communication network for utilities. Ceragon Networks, offers an array of wireless connectivity (private LTE/5G networks, microwave, mmWave, and more) that deliver all these capabilities as critical enablers for the smart grid. Such solutions provide <5 ms latency, multi-gigabit throughput, 99.999% reliability, and rapid rollout, all while adhering to stringent security standards and keeping OPEX low.
The result is a communications infrastructure aligned with utility operational demands: one that ensures real-time visibility and control, withstands hazards, protects against cyber threats, scales with growth, carries the flood of data, and saves time and money in deployment.
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