The Role of Private Wireless Networks in the Energy Industry

The energy and utility sectors occupy a unique position in the global landscape, serving as the bedrock of national infrastructures while demanding unparalleled levels of communication reliability, security, and uptime. These industries, encompassing everything from electricity and gas distribution to renewable energy generation, are characterized by critical requirements that necessitate robust communication networks. Amidst this backdrop, the deployment of private wireless networks has emerged as an essential element, reshaping how energy operations are conducted and monitored.

Navigating the Landscape of Energy Communication

Unlike many other industries, energy and utility companies have long cultivated sophisticated network infrastructure and internal expertise. With a historical focus on low latency demands and stringent reliability requirements, these sectors have often demanded 99.9999% uptime (up to six or seven nines of reliability).

Their networks can endure life cycles of 20-30 years, covering large geographical areas and even entire nations. These networks are designed to be resilient, ensuring operational continuity even in the face of adverse conditions.

The multifaceted nature of these industries, coupled with the necessity for real-time communication, has prompted the development of proprietary network infrastructures tailored to control and monitor assets, sites, and employees. Energy and utility companies are acutely aware of the need for low latency, making voice and data communication systems crucial. These networks are designed with an emphasis on redundancy, security, and resilience, with cybersecurity concerns taking center stage.

The Era of Convergence: Private Networks for Energy and Utilities

In recent years, a confluence of factors has led to the convergence of wireless networks and the energy and utility sectors. This convergence is marked by two critical shifts:

Standardization of Wireless Technologies: With the widespread adoption of 4G and 5G cellular technologies, wireless networks have become more accessible beyond traditional mobile network operators (MNOs). Energy and utility companies are increasingly inclined to establish their own private networks, giving them greater control and ownership over their communication infrastructure.
Transformation of Energy Assets: The energy landscape is undergoing a transformative shift driven by decentralization, data-driven operations, and interconnectedness. This transformation necessitates enhanced connectivity to enable real-time monitoring, control, and data collection across distributed assets.

The Value of Private Networks for Energy and Utilities

The growing demand for private networks in the energy and utility sectors is driven by a series of overarching changes, each elevating the need for enhanced connectivity, control, and information flow:

Infrastructure Modernization: Modernizing aging infrastructure with private networks facilitates real-time data collection, control, and flexibility. This allows for efficient asset management, automation, and streamlined repair and restoration processes, reducing downtime and enhancing resource allocation.
Employee Safety and Productivity: In hazardous environments, private networks significantly improve the safety of utility workers. They offer robust voice and video communication capabilities, ensuring seamless communication even in remote or challenging locations. Access to enterprise applications further enhances productivity by providing critical on-site information.
Climate Change and Decarbonization: The transition towards sustainable energy practices and the reduction of carbon emissions demands agile energy infrastructure. Private networks play a crucial role in supporting new methods of energy generation and storage, often in remote areas, by providing essential connectivity for real-time monitoring and control. This leads to optimized energy production and grid management, contributing to more sustainable operations.
Cybersecurity: Private networks come with enhanced security features and customization options. Energy and utility companies can implement stringent cybersecurity measures, ensuring the integrity of their critical operations and safeguarding sensitive data.
Adverse Weather and Disasters: With the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, private networks bolster observation capabilities, network resilience, and critical communication systems. During disasters, these networks enable quicker response times, efficient coordination of resources, and improved situational awareness, ultimately minimizing the impact of adverse events.
Cost-Efficiency: In the long run, private networks can prove cost-effective for energy and utility companies. They allow for precise resource allocation and streamlined processes, reducing operational costs and improving overall efficiency.

The Importance of Network Planning in the Energy Sector

In the energy sector, where uninterrupted operations are crucial, private wireless networks have emerged as essential communication lifelines. However, their true potential lies in tailored network design, a cornerstone of their efficacy.

Designing Networks for Energy Excellence

Customized network design holds immense value for the energy sector, delivering benefits that align with its distinct needs:

Optimized Resource Allocation: Customized network design in the energy sector allows for precise resource allocation, optimizing spectrum utilization and hardware placement. This strategic approach enhances cost-effectiveness and ensures efficient energy operations.

High reliability: Tailored network design considers challenging terrains and remote locations typical of energy facilities. Careful infrastructure planning, including access point and repeater placement, guarantees high reliability of the network functionality, even in remote areas.

Efficient Issue Resolution: Customized network design expedites issue identification by strategically placing monitoring and diagnostic tools throughout the network. This proactive approach minimizes downtime, preserving energy operations’ efficiency.

Enhanced Operational Performance: Tailored design optimizes network performance, ensuring consistent, high-quality connectivity. This reliability is vital for real-time energy management systems, enabling seamless monitoring and control of critical infrastructure.

iBwave: Elevating Energy Network Design

iBwave’s innovative solutions enhance energy network design by offering a range of capabilities:

Unmatched Prediction Accuracy: iBwave ensures the highest prediction accuracy, a cornerstone of reliable energy communication. You can use either iBwave Private Networks for designing Private LTE, 5G, and Wi-Fi together or our legacy best-in-class software, iBwave Design, for more complex venues and advanced features.

Versatile Network Integration: iBwave seamlessly caters to Private LTE, 5G, and Wi-Fi networks, addressing multifaceted connectivity needs in the energy industry.

Tailored Indoor/Outdoor Design for Energy Excellence: Our outdoor network planning solution, iBwave Reach, seamlessly integrates with iBwave Design to streamline campus network design, optimizing coverage for larger facilities with indoor and outdoor operational spaces that both require seamless connectivity. It leverages macro data for effective coverage planning, ensuring that all your sites are properly covered to maintain 100% uptime and operational reliability.

Seamless and Accurate On-Site Surveying: iBwave Mobile Survey, paired with the Epiq PRiSM scanner, allows you to survey and validate LTE, 5G, or Private Networks with precision and efficiency, saving you both time and costs. Unlike traditional scanners, the iBwave survey solution is lightweight, weighing under 6 ounces, and is very easy to use. There’s no need to lug around heavy, cumbersome equipment that’s difficult to operate. Just easy and cost-effective surveying.

If you want to go one step further, use iBwave Mobile Planner to start the network design on-site, using automatic access point placement to validate candidate locations as you go.

By leveraging iBwave’s solutions, energy companies elevate accuracy, streamline operations, and establish robust private networks aligned with industry-specific needs.

Conclusion

Deploying private wireless networks within the energy sector is imperative for ensuring reliable and secure communication vital to operational success. These networks offer unprecedented control, low latency, and resilience, tailored to the industry’s unique demands. Network planning and design play a pivotal role, optimizing resource allocation, ensuring uninterrupted functionality, expediting issue resolution, and enhancing overall operational performance. By combining private networks’ potential with meticulous design, the energy sector fortifies its foundation, guaranteeing efficient, secure, and uninterrupted communication vital for powering the future.

If you want to learn more about private networks for Utilities and Energy Companies, read our full eBook!

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At a Glance: What Is New in Wi-Fi 7?

	Wi-Fi 6/6E	Wi-Fi 7
Operating bands	Tri band: 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz	No change
Technology	Uplink/Downlink OFDMA	No change
MU-MIMO	Uplink/Downlink MU-MIMO	No change
Modulation	1024 QAM	4096 QAM
Spatial Streams	8	16
Bandwidth (MHz)	20, 40, 80, 160 MHz	20, 40, 80, 160, 320 MHz
Multi-Link Operation	No	Yes

Let’s break down each new feature.

Multi-link Operation

All previous Wi-Fi technologies relied on establishing a wireless connection over a single channel, be that 2.4, 5, or 6 GHz spectrum. Wi-Fi 7 allows a client to connect to all three bands simultaneously. This feature allows for duplicate transmission/reception over multiple bands/frequencies, increasing transmission/reception reliability.

Thanks to this feature, it is now easier to balance the load in the network across multiple bands. Suppose the radio conditions change, and a channel or most of the band experiences an increased ambient noise level. In that case, the client may automatically switch to a channel or band with more favorable radio conditions. Depending on the RF channel size the switch was made to, this may or may not affect the data transmission rate, as available channel sizes differ among the three spectrum bands.

Advanced Modulation

Advanced modulation choice determines spectral efficiency, which determines data rate. The higher the QAM number, the higher the spectral efficiency and the higher the data rate. Thus, it is beneficial to have as high QAM modulation as possible. The table below shows an overview of QAM modulations and their relationship to spectral efficiency, expressed in b/s/Hz:

Modulation Level (QAM)	Bits/Symbol/Hz
4 (QPSK)	2
8	3
16	4
32	5
64	6
128	7
256	8
512	9
1024	10
2048	11
4096	12

Wi-Fi 7’s highest modulation (4096 QAM) has 12 b/s/Hz, while Wi-Fi 6E has only 10 b/s/Hz. This 20% increase in spectral efficiency translates to a 20% increase in maximum achievable data rate.

However, to successfully demodulate any signal at the receiver, a minimum signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) must be achieved. The higher the modulation level, the higher the minimum SNR. For 1024 QAM, it is widely accepted that the minimum SNR = 35 dB. To illustrate coverage calculation examples, we assume 4096 QAM to be SNR = 38 dB.

Let’s assume that both the 6E and 7 protocols are active in a 160 MHz channel. The thermal noise level in such a channel is -174 + 10*log10(160,000,000) = – 92 dBm. A typical noise figure at a Wi-Fi receiver is NF = 6 dB and has to be added to thermal noise. Thus, the noise level at the receiver is -86 dBm. If the minimum SNR for 1024 QAM is SNR = 35, the minimum signal level at the receiver is -86 + 35 = – 51 dBm. For 4096 QAM, we assume SNR = 38 dB, so the minimum signal level at the receiver is -86 + 38 = -48 dBm. From this example, we see that the receiver needs a higher input signal to receive the highest modulation. This means that the receiver must be closer to the transmitter to be able to decode 4096 QAM than 1024 QAM.

How far can a client be from an AP before the signal at the client is less than -48 dBm? It all depends on AP transmit power and antenna gain. There are online tools that can calculate path loss; one example is Free Space Path Loss Calculator.

If we assume transmit power = 0 dBi, transmit antenna gain = 3 dBi, frequency of operation = 5.7 GHz, and receive antenna = 0 dBi, then path loss is 48 dBm, and the distance between AP and client is 1.5 meters. This is the maximum distance at which a 4096 QAM signal can be demodulated. By comparison, a 1024 QAM can be demodulated at a distance of 2.1 meters.

Maximum Channel Bandwidth

Wi-Fi 7 doubles the Wi-Fi 6E channel width from 160 to 320 MHz. This doubles the maximum achievable data rate. However, this does not come without a penalty. The thermal noise level increases by 3 dB every time we double the channel bandwidth. Thus, the noise level for a 320 MHz channel is -83 dBm, and, using the example above, the minimum signal level at the receiver for a 4096 QAM demodulation is -45 dBm. Using a path loss calculator above, we see that the maximum distance between the AP and client at which 4096 QAM demodulation is possible in a 320 MHz channel is 1.05 meters.

Maximum Spatial Streams

The maximum number of spatial streams doubles in Wi-Fi 7, from 8 to 16. In theory, all 16 streams can be active at the same time, each serving a unique client. If the streams do not overlap, SNR at each client will be high, and the compounded data rate delivered to the clients will be double that of 8 streams. However, this may happen only in specific deployment scenarios.

One such scenario is mounting an omnidirectional AP in the middle of the cafeteria. When the cafeteria is full, and clients are equally spaced throughout, AP has a 360-degree view of the clients in range. In that case, it is possible to have all 16 spatial streams active, non-overlapping, and serving clients. Another deployment scenario that can fully take advantage of this feature is an AP in a stadium, a convention center, or an office boardroom. In a general case, the clients would not be equally spaced, and 16 streams would rarely transmit all at once. In general, the higher the number of advertised spatial streams, the lesser the chance that the highest number of streams can be seen in most deployment scenarios.

Tying It All Together

If we only look at the specifications on paper, we expect that doubling the channel size will double the maximum data rate per stream. We also expect another data rate doubling when all 16 streams are active. Then, we expect a modest 20% gain from using higher-order modulation to get a total of a 420% increase in the maximum achievable data rate. In reality, this astounding improvement can only be experienced if we happen to have clients standing in a circle directly below an AP, about a meter away.

In reality, most of the APs will be deployed in such a manner that clients will be positioned asymmetrically around it, and will be more than 1 meter away. Having said that, the effects of higher modulation and wider channels should be noticeable in home office/small office environments, but also in large public venues where transmit power and transmit antenna gain are larger than what was assumed in the example we have shown. We expect to see better reliability and latency at all venues and in all deployment scenarios, thanks to the multi-link features.

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Surveying Industrial and Logistical Private LTE & 5G Networks: All You Need to Know

Private LTE and 5G networks have become indispensable for industries seeking to enhance operational efficiency, safety, and connectivity across diverse environments. These networks offer tailored solutions that ensure reliability, security, and high performance, providing dedicated, high-speed communication channels specifically designed to meet industrial needs. This blog explores critical aspects of surveying these networks, including their benefits, challenges, diverse use cases, and effective surveying techniques, sourced from recent insights and advancements in the field.

Benefits of Deploying Private Networks

Deploying private LTE and 5G networks offers substantial advantages tailored to industrial requirements:

Enhanced Security: Private networks employ robust encryption and authentication protocols, ensuring secure transmission of sensitive data crucial in industries such as healthcare, finance, and manufacturing.
Reliability: With dedicated bandwidth and Quality of Service (QoS) guarantees, private networks deliver consistent connectivity essential for real-time applications like remote monitoring and control systems.
Customized Performance: Industries can prioritize critical applications with stringent latency requirements, optimizing operational processes and responsiveness to dynamic demands.
Scalability: Designed for scalability, these networks support future growth and technological advancements without compromising performance, making them ideal for long-term industrial deployments.

Why Survey Private LTE & 5G Networks?

Surveying private LTE and 5G networks is pivotal for optimizing deployment and ensuring ongoing performance excellence:

Identifying Coverage Gaps: Comprehensive site surveys pinpoint areas with inadequate signal coverage, crucial for seamless connectivity across operational zones within industrial facilities.
Analyzing Network Performance: Detailed surveys measure Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) such as signal strength, throughput, and latency, enabling precise network optimization and proactive maintenance.
Mitigating Interference: Early detection of potential interference sources allows preemptive measures to mitigate issues that could compromise network reliability and performance.

Challenges in Surveying Private LTE & 5G Networks

Surveying private LTE and 5G networks in industrial settings presents specific challenges that require tailored solutions:

Complex Environments: Variations in building materials, machinery, and operational dynamics necessitate customized survey approaches to accurately predict network coverage and performance outcomes.
Signal Propagation: Factors such as signal attenuation due to physical barriers and electromagnetic interference demand meticulous planning and analysis during network design to ensure optimal performance across all operational areas.
Cumbersome Traditional Solutions: Traditional network survey solutions are often complex, heavy, and expensive, making the process complicated and costly for field technicians and RF engineers.

Various Use Cases for Industrial and Logistical Private LTE & 5G Networks

Private LTE and 5G networks cater to diverse industrial and logistical applications, integrating advanced surveying capabilities to meet specific sectoral needs:

Mining Operations: Surveys in mining operations extend coverage to remote environments, enhancing safety and productivity. Challenges such as harsh environmental conditions, terrain variations, and limited infrastructure require specialized surveying techniques to ensure comprehensive network coverage.
Manufacturing Plants: In manufacturing environments, private LTE and 5G networks facilitate automation, machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, and quality control processes. Surveys ensure robust connectivity for seamless integration of IoT devices and smart manufacturing solutions. Accurate surveys identify potential coverage gaps and interference sources, crucial for maintaining continuous and efficient operations.
Warehouses: Warehouses rely on network connectivity for inventory management and logistics operations. Surveys in warehouses focus on optimizing coverage and capacity to support real-time tracking, inventory control, and supply chain management.
Hospitals: In healthcare facilities, robust networks are vital for supporting critical healthcare applications and patient care. Surveys in hospitals prioritize coverage, reliability, and data security to ensure seamless communication between medical devices and systems.

How to Survey Private Networks Effectively

Effective surveying of private LTE and 5G networks requires strategic planning and utilization of advanced tools:

Comprehensive Data Collection: Thorough site surveys capture critical KPIs such as signal strength, carrier information, and frequency details essential for optimizing network performance and ensuring seamless connectivity across industrial environments.
Advanced Survey Tools: Integration with GPS facilitates accurate mapping and supports continuous and stop-and-go survey modes. Detailed reporting capabilities from Survey Tools enable informed decision-making in the field for network design and deployment, ensuring optimal performance.

How iBwave Helps with Network Surveys

iBwave offers advanced solutions tailored for efficient surveying of private LTE and 5G networks:

Integration Capabilities: iBwave integrates seamlessly with the Epiq PRiSM scanner and various third-party data collection tools, enhancing survey accuracy and efficiency. This integration provides comprehensive insights into network performance across diverse industrial environments.
Ease of Use and Cost Effectiveness: iBwave Mobile Survey with the Epiq PRiSM scanner provides the simplest and most cost-effective way to survey wireless networks. With its user-friendly interface and scanner weighing only 6 ounces, this compact and affordable solution makes wireless surveying a breeze.
Streamlined Data Collection: iBwave Mobile Survey solution automates data collection processes and eliminates post-processing hurdles, ensuring real-time analysis and accurate coverage mapping crucial for precise network planning and optimization.
Reporting and Analysis: iBwave generates detailed reports on network performance metrics, facilitating informed decision-making in network design and deployment. These capabilities support continuous improvement and future scalability in wireless communication technologies.

Conclusion

Surveying industrial private LTE and 5G networks is instrumental in enhancing connectivity, operational efficiency, and innovation across various sectors. By leveraging the benefits, understanding the challenges, and implementing effective surveying techniques with advanced tools like iBwave Mobile Survey, industries can optimize network deployment and harness the full potential of these transformative technologies.

Watch our on-demand webinar on Surveying Private LTE & 5G Networks, where we explore industrial and logistical use cases with our customer George Stefanick from Active Expert to learn more!

Check out our blog for more tips and topics to learn more about wireless networks and their planning!