The Wi-SUN Alliance, the global organization devoted to handling the promotion, standards compliance, and interoperability testing of Smart Utility Network devices for its member companies, announced the successful completion of its first interoperability event.
Wi-SUN has developed an interoperability test suite for IEEE 802.15.4g and related regional regulatory requirements. IEEE 802.15.4g a global standard harmonizing the physical layer of a number of historically deployed wireless systems, and standardizing power levels, data rates, modulations and other technical properties, as well as frequency bands appropriately matched to the challenging large scale, outdoor environment of Smart Utility Networks.
The recent Wi-SUN event delivered on the Alliance's commitment to be the central global organization serving the industry's need for Smart Utility Network test and certification. At the event, products from participating companies including Analog Devices, Agilent Technologies, Anritsu, EDIC Systems, Murata Manufacturing, NICT, Procubed, Renesas Electronics, Satori Electric, and Silver Spring Networks, successfully interoperated.
Related news:IBM to build fiber-optic smart grid in Vermont
The Alliance conducted extensive testing of these platforms demonstrating interoperability in sub-GHz frequency bands appropriate for Japan, North America, Australia/New Zealand, Latin America, and other regional markets. Participants also took this opportunity to demonstrate interoperability of their Media Access Control (MAC) implementations, including options specified in the IEEE 802.15.4e-2012 amendment.
Additionally, in response to the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) Smart Grid Interoperability Panel (SGIP) goals for interoperability of Smart Utility Network products, the Wi-SUN Alliance Test and Certification Group says it has moved forward expeditiously to develop requirements and test plans for conformance and interoperability testing of IEEE 802.15.4g based products.
The consortium says this announcement marks the first step in providing a rigorous testing program, and follows a significant period of effort by the Alliance in the development of a NIST SGIP compliant testing process for a range of products including radio ICs, modules and end products. The Alliance's comprehensive testing strategy is designed to ensure that products from a broad variety of vendors based on Wi-SUN profiles will be able to interoperate in cohesive Smart Utility Networks.
The Wi-SUN Alliance will shortly announce the appointment of independent test laboratories to provide test services for IEEE 802.15.4g capable products, and in the coming months will begin certification testing of end-user products based on Wi-SUN defined profiles for this key standard. Additional support may also be sought from outside certification organizations. For the convenience of its rapidly growing global membership, Wi-SUN Alliance will also expand its interoperability events and hold such events in different regions.
More coverage:A long-term perspective on intelligent buildings
"The Wi-SUN Alliance has worked hard over the past few months developing a testing strategy to ensure interoperability of Smart Utility Network products," said Phil Beecher, chairman of the Wi-SUN Alliance. "We have focused on developing an open and participatory testing and certification process and are working to ensure the rapid and successful approval of Wi-SUN products from member companies. The utility industry has deployed, and expects to deploy, tens of millions of mission-critical devices, and therefore urgently requires confidence that this investment is protected by incorporating standards-based technologies such as IEEE 802.15.4g. The Wi-SUN Alliance was created to provide this confidence – specific guidance that utilities can use in validating historical system selection decisions, and in making future ones. "
The Wi-SUN Alliance says it will continue to develop and make widely available a certification program for testing end products, such as Smart Meters and other Smart Utility Network devices. In the initial phase, the Wi-SUN Alliance will require members to test their end product devices at one of the appointed test houses and to participate in an Alliance sponsored interoperability testing event to confirm interoperability with other similar products in a Wi-SUN capable network. A device must successfully complete both steps to meet the requirements for Wi-SUN certification.
Additional information can be found at www.wi-sun.org.