EPISODE SUMMARY

For a long time, communications ran quietly in the background at most utilities. But that has changed. Today’s grid depends on secure, real-time data from millions of devices, and as Bobbi puts it, “Comms is the mission-critical backbone of all utility and energy delivery operations.”

Some in the industry call utility communications the “third grid.” Bobbi argues it’s the “first grid,” because every other part of the grid depends on it. She compares it to the body’s nervous system: if communications fail, utilities lose visibility, control, and safety, along with the ability to securely manage the grid. She also explains how private LTE and other wireless broadband networks help utilities automate the grid, integrate distributed energy resources (DERs), keep field crews and control centers connected, and protect substations with video and other physical security tools

Fiber is common at substations, but running it everywhere a utility operates would cost too much. Bobbi explains why wireless broadband has to extend fiber at the same service levels, and why utilities should plan their networks for the use cases they expect five to ten years from now. She also covers AMI 2.0, waveform analytics, AI, and cybersecurity, and closes with practical advice for utilities just getting started: begin with the business problem, not the technology.

This episode is ideal for utility executives, grid modernization and operations leaders, utility telecom and IT/OT teams, network planners, and anyone interested in the future of critical infrastructure.

ABOUT

Bobbi Harris is Executive Director of the Utility Broadband Alliance (UBBA), which she helped create and launch. She has spent more than 25 years working where utilities and technology meet, starting with SCADA, advanced metering, and distribution automation before turning her focus to utility telecommunications. At UBBA, she works with electric, water, and gas utilities across North America to share what’s working and solve common challenges. Bobbi chairs the communications track on the DTECH planning committee, was named one of the ESI 2019 Global Smart Energy Elites, and is a longtime advocate for private broadband as the foundation of the digital grid.

Dori Erann - is a marketing executive with 25+ years of experience in the B2B technology space. She thrives at the intersection of strategy and creativity, driving brand growth and business success. Dori has successfully led high-performing teams in developing and executing data-driven marketing strategies that blend insight and storytelling to enhance customer engagement and deliver measurable results. Known for her empathetic leadership style, she creates an inclusive, supportive environment where people and ideas thrive.

About Ceragon Connects - Ceragon Connects explores the ideas, technologies, and industry shifts shaping the future of global connectivity across telecoms, utilities, energy, transportation, public safety, and enterprise networks.
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TAKEAWAYS

• Communications is now the foundation of utility operations, because grid automation, DER integration, and safety all depend on it.
• Utilities need secure, real-time, low-latency data from millions of endpoints, with less manual work.
• Wireless broadband extends fiber to sites where fiber alone would cost too much, and it must deliver the same service levels.
• Utility networks should be built for the use cases expected five to ten years out, not just today’s.
• Grid modernization should start with business requirements and use cases, then the technology.
• No utility can modernize alone. Industry groups like UBBA, trusted partners, and interoperable multi-vendor systems help manage the complexity.