Tropos Networks Introduces GridCom 2.0

Tropos Networks, the leader in high reliability wireless IP networks for smart grids, today introduced its GridCom 2.0 architecture and product offerings for smart grid communications. For the first time, utilities can seamlessly integrate and manage an optimal blend of high performance wireless network technologies which both meets their smart grid communication requirements and is economical.

Smart grids are comprised of a network of networks and building a communications foundation across a distribution area can be challenging as typically network requirements vary across the coverage area based upon the multiple smart grid applications and number of devices that need to connect to the network. Across large diverse utility coverage areas, which often incorporate urban, suburban, and rural areas, a single network technology typically does not meet all the utility’s communications requirements for performance and latency as well as economics. Using multiple networking technologies to meet performance and latency requirements makes management of wireless networks more complex, increasing operational complexity and costs.

To address these challenges, Tropos expanded its GridCom architecture for smart grid distribution area networks, blending high performance networking technologies and unified wireless network management to deliver the most economical and comprehensive communications solution for smart grids. With GridCom 2.0, utilities can now build a single private network across their distribution area that has high reliability, strong security, broadband performance, adaptability, and control to support applications such as distribution automation, AMI backhaul, substation automation, video security, and mobile workforce.

New Tropos Products

Tropos 1310 Distribution Automation (DA) Mesh Router - Tropos’ DA mesh router is economical for DA applications and features the high bandwidth, low latency, and Quality of Service (QoS) required by many mission critical DA applications. It easily integrates with many different vendors’ DA devices reducing operational cost and network management complexity.

Directional Radio Systems - Tropos’ Directional Radio Systems are designed for delivery of economical long range, high capacity wireless communications for sparse suburban and rural areas or as backhaul for Tropos Mesh networks. These new Point-to-Point and Point-to-Multipoint products seamlessly extend Tropos mesh networks and support 3.5 GHz WiMAX, 4.9 GHz Public Safety, or 5.4 and 5.8 GHz unlicensed bands as well as industry standard 802.16-2004 WiMAX.

In addition to these new products Tropos offerings include:

• Tropos Mesh Routers – A line of highly resilient wireless networks with high capacity for aggregating multiple smart grid applications covering broad distribution areas
• Tropos Network Management – Unified management and visibility across wireless networks, aggregating and simplifying configuration-, performance-, and network fault management
• Tropos Professional Services – Complete service offerings that ensure deployment of reliable, secure and efficient end-to-end wireless networks for customers, including network planning, design, project management, deployment, training, and integration

“With our expanded GridCom 2.0 architecture and product offerings, we now provide our utility customers with an economical communications network that meets all their requirements as a communications foundation for current and future smart grid applications,” said Tom Ayers, president and CEO of Tropos Networks.