How do utilities use radio frequency spectrum?
Utilities have traditionally made extensive use of wireless applications; this use is increasing as demand for voice and data communication capabilities increases. These applications include, but are not limited to, traditional dispatch voice operation, supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), protective relaying, advanced two‐way metering, mobile dispatched data, microwave fixed links, pump station monitoring and other telemetry. As the nation moves to the next generation of utility infrastructure, many older systems will be replaced with advanced, two-directional point-to-point and point-to-multipoint wireless networks between utilities and customers, among utility facilities and among utilities regionally. At the same time, utilities and regulators will demand more functionality and security. Thus, the need for wireless communications capacity – available bandwidth — within utilities is growing rapidly.
