Welcome to the UBBA Knowledge Center

This ecosystem panel will bring together ideas and ask critical questions that directly address how Gen 2 smart meters work on Private LTE, revealing areas of consensus and where further exploration and development is needed.

UBBA filed this letter to the Secretary of the Federal Communications Commission on December 14, 2021 regarding support for EEI’s petition and Request for Stay on 6 GHz, as filed 12/7 in the FCC’s ET Docket No. 18-295; GN Docket No. 17-183.

Newsletter from the Utility Broadband Alliance (UBBA) View as Webpage Newsletter – Fall 2021 Powering Collaboration to Accelerate Utility Broadband Success in Year One! Letter from the Executive Director As we close out the first year of UBBA’s independence, I want to take a moment to thank all of the UBBA leaders and members who…

UBBA Closes Out 2021 with Increased Interest and New Members

UBBA’s Plugfest was the culmination of collaboration and ecosystem leaders coming together to solve utility LTE challenges. “Each utility strategy is different and UBBA is the best resource for utilities to ask questions and collaborate about broadband solutions to meet the coverage, resilience, reliability, and cybersecurity requirements for their utility,” said UBBA Vice Chairman John…

UBBA’s Plugfest featured critical use cases such as FLISR (Fault Location, Isolation, and Service Restoration), Capacitor Bank Controllers, Smart Streetlighting, and next-gen smart meters, to name a few. Hosted by UBBA founding member Ameren Missouri, the test cases were identified by the UBBA Use Cases & Testbeds Working Group and led by the UBBA Plugfest…

The Utility Broadband Alliance (UBBA) held its inaugural Utility Broadband Plugfest to test LTE networks for utility use cases in St. Louis. UBBA delivered a sold-out, in-person event culminating with the first Utility Broadband Plugfest, which showcased the innovation, collaboration, and interoperability of utility use cases and devices on public and private LTE networks. The…

The 2021 UBBA Summit & Plugfest welcomed nearly 300 utility industry leaders to St. Louis for two days of thought leadership and technical testing. While in St. Louis we captured many voices of our members sharing their thoughts on the Alliance. Here is a video from Koustuv Ghoshal from Ericson. Click below to watch this…

The 2021 UBBA Summit & Plugfest welcomed nearly 300 utility industry leaders to St. Louis for two days of thought leadership and technical testing. While in St. Louis we captured many voices of our members sharing their thoughts on the Alliance. Here is a video from David Allen from UScellular. Click below to watch this…

The 2021 UBBA Summit & Plugfest welcomed nearly 300 utility industry leaders to St. Louis for two days of thought leadership and technical testing. While in St. Louis we captured many voices of our members sharing their thoughts on the Alliance. Here is one from Dr. Mauricio Subieta from Nokia. Click below to watch this…

Griselda Aldrete from Alliant Energy and one of the new UBBA Board of Directors shares her Voice of the Member. Click below to watch this UBBA Voice of the Members segment:

UBBA is opposed to efforts by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)  to expand spectrum for new technologies and consumer uses in such a way as to produce harmful interference with the critical operations of incumbent licensed spectrum service.  These licensed spectrum users, such as utilities, have frequently engaged with the FCC to educate on the…

The 2021 UBBA Summit & Plugfest welcomed nearly 300 utility industry leaders to St. Louis for two days of thought leadership and technical testing. While in St. Louis we captured many voices of our members sharing their thoughts on the Alliance. Here is one from Rob Schwartz, CEO of Anterix. Click below to watch this…

The 2021 UBBA Summit & Plugfest welcomed nearly 300 utility industry leaders to St. Louis for two days of thought leadership and technical testing. While in St. Louis we captured many voices of our members sharing their thoughts on the Alliance. Here is a video from Ron Brady of Xcel Energy. Click below to watch…

The 2021 UBBA Summit & Plugfest welcomed nearly 300 utility industry leaders to St. Louis for two days of thought leadership and technical testing. While in St. Louis we captured many voices of our members sharing their thoughts on the Alliance. Here is one from John Stafford, President of North America for CrescoNet. John is…

Watch the 2 minute video montage to experience the Leadership of UBBA!

The Utility Broadband Alliance (UBBA) held its inaugural Utility Broadband Plugfest to test LTE networks for utility use cases in St. Louis. UBBA delivered a sold-out, in-person event culminating with the first Utility Broadband Plugfest, which showcased the innovation, collaboration, and interoperability of utility use cases and devices on public and private LTE networks. The…

The UBBA Business Working Group created several educational tools to help the industry learn more about the strategies and opportunities available. This is a list of more than 2000 acronyms pertaining to Broadband and LTE networks for utilities. Click Here for the UBBA Acronym List

Today’s utilities are becoming more and more dependent on data, real-time data, to operate their networks safely and efficiently. Many utilities are currently evaluating the automation and modernization of their communications systems. Utilities have a need for secure and reliable communications systems to be able to manage their networks and to continue to be able…

Enabling smarter, safer and more connected utilities requires cooperation, collaboration and partnership between device manufacturers and network infrastructure providers. This ecosystem panel of experts will discuss solutions that bring redundancy to cellular infrastructure, coordinate power generation, monitor power distribution and ensure employee safety. Thought leaders speaking on this webinar: Elisiario Cunha, VP & CTO, Ericsson…

UBBA Delivers the Inaugural Utility Broadband Plugfest to a Sold-Out Crowd in St. Louis

What is Broadband? The UBBA Business Working Group created several educational tools to help the industry learn more about the strategies and opportunities available. This is a primer document of frequently Asked Questions about Broadband and LTE networks for utilities. Click Here for the FAQ

This document provides a high-level overview of the options for utility support of broadband internet service deployment to underserved customers. While electric utilities of all types are considering or making investments in their own private wired and wireless broadband communications infrastructure primarily to enhance the reliability, security and modernization of the grid, this document is…

Speakers: Bhavani Amirthalingam (Ameren), Omar Zevallos (SDG&E), Jerry Gentry (NYPA), Joe Mellott (Evergy), and Mark Birk (Ameren) Moderator: Ryan Gerbrandt (Anterix)

Why are Alliances so critical to utility infrastructure evolution? Our industry leaders will share their experiences and vision for collaboration among associations. Speakers: Jerry Gentry (NYPA), Tim Godfrey (EPRI), John Hughes, Vice Chairman of UBBA (Ameren), Koustuv Ghoshal (Ericsson), and Mar Tarres (Anterix) Moderated by: Matt Olson (Burns & McDonnell)

UBBA delivered the first LTE Plugfest to St. Louis in October 2021, to showcase the innovation, collaboration and interoperability of utility use cases on private LTE networks. This is the recording of the first morning plugfest on Day 1 of the event. Moderated by: Matt Olson (Burns & McDonnell)

UBBA delivered the first LTE Plugfest to St. Louis in October 2021, to showcase the innovation, collaboration and interoperability of utility use cases on private LTE networks. This is the recording of the afternoon Plugfest tests on Day 1 of the event. Emcee: Matt Olson (Burns & McDonnell)

UBBA delivered the first LTE Plugfest to St. Louis in October 2021, to showcase the innovation, collaboration and interoperability of utility use cases on private LTE networks. This is the recording of the morning Plugfest tests on Day 2 of the event. Emcee: Matt Olson (Burns & McDonnell)

Ensuring home broadband internet access-particularly in rural areas-has long been a national priority, but efforts to bridge the digital divide gained increased urgency in the face of safety measures taken to combat the pandemic.  As the federal government amplifies its longstanding strategy of providing funding to entice commercial deployment of broadband service in otherwise uneconomical…

Whether Utilities want to operate their own private LTE network, use the existing mobile operator’s networks, or a hybrid approach in between, Mobile Network Operators can support a range of integrated solutions that balance the Utilities need for control, data localization and security with access to mobile networks for coverage, roaming, and fail-over capabilities. Speaker: James…

Ameren Chief Procurement Officer & VP of Supply Chain will insights on planning for innovation and procurement strategies for the future of the utility networks. Speaker: Pardeep Gill (Ameren)

Utilities are experiencing the next-generation evolution of SCADA, AMI and Smart City applications. With rising software and penetration attacks – the potential for sophisticated cyber attackers to breach and gain control of a utility’s smart grid.  This panel will build off Gill’s keynote and discuss strategies for working with supply chain partners can pull all…

Utilities are increasingly focused on the wireless broadband data communications networks necessary to enable their historic efforts to modernize the grid.  A major concern in selecting network technology and radio spectrum:  ensuring a broad, vibrant marketplace for equipment, applications, and services to support initial deployment as well as ongoing operations and maintenance.  Nobody wants to…

How to leverage technology transition to reap the massive potential of the smart utilities market. We will discuss the advantages for utilities in the new 5G world.  Intelligent communication capability built into the IoT network and layered with security that best protects utility operations. Panelists:  Jitender Vohra (Telit), Jeff Tufts (Cisco), David Allen (UScellular) and…

Insights from the Business Working Group paper focused on what happens after deployment. What skills utilities need to hire for and what options are available to them. Panelists: Tom Bedics (SouthernLinc), Ron Brady (Xcel Energy), Mauricio Subieta(Nokia), and Patrick Nolan (Ameren). Moderator: Paul Anuszkiewicz (Palmetto Technology Associates)

Get the background and the latest status on the FCC’s efforts to permit unlicensed use of the entire 6GHz Licensed Microwave band for Wi-Fi.  Plus speakers will share the results of real-world testing by Southern Company, Lockard & White and EPRI of the first commercially available 6GHz Wi-Fi Access Points; Demonstrating the true interference with…

Anterix Active Ecosystem Demos during lunch at the UBBA Summit & Plugfest Moderated by: Jim Li (Anterix) Day 1 Day 2

This Board brings vast utility industry and strategic telecommunications experience to the Alliance. As evident from the sold-out crowd at the Summit & Plugfest, there is a great need for UBBA within the utilities industry,

Not since large-scale deployments of smart meters has there been as much interest and motivation to transform the utilities communications network. #LTE and #5G private networks promise to address a wide range of operational initiatives. In this session, our expert panel will address: • What makes cellular a key technology and what is the role of private vs. public…

Wireless technologies enable wide area coverage that can flex between latency and speed. This allows for diversity of use cases including slow devices like meters, quick response intelligent devices, and high throughput hungry video cameras. Please join UBBA for the free webinar to explore the new capabilities LTE/5G bring to utilities, including: • wireless portability…

UBBA Member WESCO/Anixter provide quality recovery and rebuilding assistance in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura

UBBA members Nokia and NYPA share video of PLTE test for drone inspections

Tokyo, Japan – Nokia today announced a partnership with Qtnet, INC. a subsidiary of Kyushu Electric Power utility company, to launch a local 5G private wireless network. This is the first time a local 5G network is being deployed in the region through commercial spectrum license acquisition.

UBBA member Nokia shares this short video about Converged Field Area Networks (FAN)

Utilities rely on their land mobile radios (LMR) and the communications infrastructure that connects them. When cellular carrier service becomes unavailable during or after a natural disaster, utilities need secure, ultra-reliable communications. Utilities across the country are under constant pressure to improve worker safety, be prepared for a multitude of events, and maintain continuity of business operations, all while ensuring reliable communications for operational needs.

UBBA today announced its formalization as a 501(c)(6) not-for-profit association dedicated to advancing and developing private LTE broadband as a key communications infrastructure for a secure, resilient, digital grid.

Grid digitization initiatives are driving utilities to move beyond legacy communications to advanced private broadband solutions and new Internet of Things (IoT) devices. During the webinar, panelists will describe the voluntary, recommended activities related to cybersecurity that utilities should consider before placing embedded and “IoT” devices into production. These activities can help utilities lessen the cybersecurity…

Members Anterix and Southern Company along with Guidehouse Insights were featured in a webinar with UTC on the concept of a future Grid Communications network effect and how, through standardization of private LTE networks, utilities will reap the significant benefits provided through the convergence of robust and future-proof networking technology.

Utilities rely on their land mobile radios (LMR) and the communications infrastructure that connects them. When cellular carrier service becomes unavailable during or after a natural disaster, utilities need secure, ultra-reliable communications. Utilities across the country are under constant pressure to improve worker safety, be prepared for a multitude of events, and maintain continuity of business operations, all while ensuring reliable communications for operational needs.

According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), all structures exceeding 200 feet above ground level, and under 200 feet in height when they may interfere with the flight path of an airport, must be appropriately marked with tower lights. Failure to maintain operable obstruction lighting is a finable offense at up to $1,000 per day – so utilities are serious about monitoring and maintain these safety lights.

One key component of the utility’s operations is the management of their work crews that install and maintain the grid infrastructure. The mobile network must have the appropriate capacity and coverage to serve all the crews within their area of operations. Bandwidth and reliability are critical when crews need to communicate that the damage has been repaired or if they need additional time and resources.

UBBA Members Sierra Wireless, Motorola and Anterix along with Qualcomm and Telit were featured in a webinar with UTC, discussing the available 900 MHz devices these enterprises view as most important for grid operations.

Bobbi Harris, member engagement lead for UBBA sits down with David Briesacher, Ameren’s Manager of Intelligrid Business Planning & Integration, and Kevin Malloy, VP of Customer Solutions of Anterix, to discuss the early trends from an ongoing UBBA survey, which looks at the realities that utilities face when considering private wireless broadband networks strategies.

UBBA and members Burns & McDonnell and General Electric join Dots & Bridges in an Anterix webinar on creating a smart connected grid of the future is imperative for utilities.

Members Anterix and Motorola along with Dots & Bridges, Brattle Consulting, and Black & Veatch participated in an Anterix roundtable on how they would “visioneer” the intersection of smart communications and smart grids, as well as all the benefits that will flow from the integration of the two.

Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) meters generate vast amounts of data that can help utilities optimize their services delivery and network. A connected digital grid can help increase efficiencies and cut costs. The AMI infrastructure requires reliable communication between thousands of devices and a centralized data management system cost supports the case for wireless infrastructure.

Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) including demand response, efficiency programs and Distributed Generation (DG) from solar and wind help keep the electric grid balanced and reliable. Volt VAR Optimization (VVO) technology optimizes power factor control in combination with flattening the voltage profile of an electric distribution feeder by applying intelligent controls to capacitors and voltage regulators on the line.

The latest urgent issue for electric utilities is fire prevention. Powerline-caused wildfires puts a utility and their customers at a tremendous risk both financially and more importantly threatens their safety and security. Using a combination of fault indicators that report status, and remote controlled reclosers and sectionalizers, a utility can quickly isolate and de-energize the damaged circuits, thus minimizing the chances of creating a fire.

On May 13th, the FCC unanimously confirmed the Report & Order to move forward with process of realigning the 900 MHz spectrum to enable utility broadband. This webinar brings the perspective of key utility industry technology experts to discuss what their organizations are doing to support utilities during this transition. Hear from technology leaders Motorola Solutions, Sierra Wireless, Ericsson, Nokia and Anterix.

On May 13, 2020 the FCC approved the use of the 900 MHz band by utility companies for private LTE. Five utility members of the Utility Broadband Alliance (UBBA) will share their thoughts on this decision in a panel discussion. The UBBA is dedicated to assisting its members in planning, designing and deploying secure, reliable and resilient private broadband networks.

In support of America’s transforming critical infrastructure, the members of the Utility Broadband Alliance (UBBA) appreciate Chairman Pai and the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) decision to make spectrum available for utilities to maintain critical infrastructure.

This short podcast includes highlights of Tami’s Keynote, which covered areas such as Southern Linc’s needs that brought them to the decision to stand up a Private Network and their experience doing so.

This webinar, sponsored by UBBA, brings together utility and technology leaders to share their experiences and knowledge on considerations for utility private broadband infrastructure. This discussion will include the key technological considerations for a private utility broadband initiative, focusing on areas of infrastructure, spectrum, devices and standards. Speakers include: Alan McIntyre (Southern Linc), Kreg Christoff (Motorola Solutions), Warren Westrup (Sierra Wireless), and Mark Poulin (Anterix).

See The Whitepaper Utilities and their customers have been focused on electric service reliability since the first systems were installed. Today, the electric grid is growing more complex as we add electrical loads and generation in places not anticipated in the original grid designs. Our very own Cybersecurity working group that is comprised of thought…

In support of America’s transforming critical infrastructure, the Utility Broadband Alliance (UBBA) is dedicated to advancing and developing private LTE broadband as key communications infrastructure for a secure, resilient, digital grid. Launched as a utility member-driven organization in February 2019, UBBA founding member Southern Linc hosted UBBA’s first annual summit in Birmingham, Alabama earlier this month where utility executives,…

In support of America’s transforming critical infrastructure, the Utility Broadband Alliance (UBBA) has been advancing and developing private long-term evolution (LTE) broadband as a key communications infrastructure for a secure, resilient, digital grid. UBBA founding member Southern Linc hosted the UBBA’s first annual summit in Birmingham, Alabama early October, where utility executives, industry technology leaders along with representatives from…

The Utility Broadband Alliance (UBBA) hosted a two-day summit for utility executives and industry technology leaders to explore key challenges facing electric utilities. The summit, which was held in Birmingham, Ala., focused on a range of topics, including resiliency and cybersecurity in the digital utility grid of the future, broadband spectrum options, and vendor technologies…

In support of America’s transforming critical infrastructure, the Utility Broadband Alliance (UBBA) is dedicated to advancing and developing private LTE broadband as key communications infrastructure for a secure, resilient, digital grid.

This webinar, sponsored by UBBA, brings together utility and technology leaders to share their experiences on broadband infrastructure and looks at the following key areas: understanding the business opportunities and industry challenges that utilities must take into consideration; real utility drivers and solutions for private broadband; technology, spectrum and use cases.

Bobbi Harris, member engagement and operations lead at the Utility Broadband Alliance (UBBA), discusses how her organisation came to be and what’s next for it and its members.

Following a soft launch in February at DISTRIBUTECH, membership of the Utility Broadband Alliance (UBBA) has grown to 19 member organisations, all working hard to formulate the Alliance working groups and overall Alliance focus.

Founded back in January, the Utility Broadband Alliance (UBBA) is a US-centric organization that is pursuing private wireless broadband, specifically LTE, for utility applications.

5G is certainly all the rage right now, so it’s no surprise that some of the nation’s biggest utility companies are working to figure out whether they have a role to play in the space. However, it’s unclear whether that role will position utilities as 5G operators, customers or both.

I started my career working at Motorola installing wireless systems as a field engineer/project leader, and I later returned to serve as a systems engineer manager for worldwide deployments. I also worked at Southern Linc as a senior engineer and later as Manager of Technology Development. Between these Southern Linc roles, I worked at Sprint as a network design manager and for the past 10 years, I worked at Duke Energy in a variety of roles, the last of which was a technology evaluation manager. Now, I’m at Xcel Energy as a Senior Manager over network strategy and planning in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

I am a Senior Product Manager, within GE’s industrial communications product line, working for the MDS wireless group. My education is in electrical engineering at Geneva College, and I’ve spent 21 years executing software design and firmware development. Most of that was here at MDS doing wireless product design and development focused on the energy and industrial industries.

The Utilities Broadband Alliance (UBBA), formed earlier this year and spearheaded by founding member Anterix, formerly pdvWireless, is addressing the business case for private Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks for utilities, along with use cases and technology considerations.

More than 3,000 electric utilities across the US are each managing multiple—sometimes more than a dozen—wireless networks in support of grid operations, workforce management, and customer service. Typically, these networks have been developed in an ad hoc manner for application-centric purposes.

The electric utility business is fundamentally more complex today than it was even five years ago: once primarily the supplier of centrally-produced power, the utility is now the master orchestrator of a multitude of distributed energy resources. Enabling the modern grid requires a solid foundation of certain strategic technologies, including private wireless broadband communications.

The number of devices featuring cellular or satellite connectivity deployed in oil and gas applications is expected to reach 1.9 million units by 2023 from 1.3 million at the end of 2018.

A case study of how Southern Linc, the wireless communications network backed by the strength and reliability of Southern Company, transitioned to a highly reliable LTE network while meeting strict security requirements.

We’re on the verge of a very different world for utilities as they face a dramatic business and technological transformation. Power, communications, transportation, infrastructure and even public safety are becoming interconnected and interdependent as utilities develop the intelligent grid.

According to a new research report from the M2M/IoT analyst firm Berg Insight, the number of devices featuring cellular or satellite connectivity deployed in oil and gas applications amounted to 1.3 million at the end of 2018.

United in advancing the development and adoption of dedicated wireless broadband networks for utilities, a diverse group of power providers, technology innovators and industry leaders are establishing the Utility Broadband Alliance.

A group of companies representing telecom equipment vendors, spectrum licensees and utilities have formed an alliance to advance the development of private broadband networks for energy providers. The Utility Broadband Alliance (UBBA) includes 13 founding companies that want to drive modernization efforts in the nation’s grid and other industrial IoT applications.

Morgan O’Brien’s pdvWireless continues to evolve with an updated business model that includes leasing the company’s 900 MHz spectrum and consulting on private Long Term Evolution (LTE) as it continues to await an FCC decision on its more than four-year-old plan to realign the 900 MHz band for broadband operations.

Utility Broadband Alliance (UBBA) to become hub of information sharing, collaboration and planning to advance dedicated wireless connectivity for an increasingly interconnected and distributed grid.

pdvWireless has announced that Southern Linc will serve as a founding member of an alliance of utilities and vendors that will become a hub of information sharing, collaboration and planning. The aim is to assist the development of private wireless broadband networks owned by and dedicated to utilities.

pdvWireless, Inc. announced that Southern Company subsidiary Southern Linc will serve as a founding member of an alliance of utilities and vendors that will become a hub of information sharing, collaboration and planning to assist the development of private wireless broadband networks owned by and dedicated to utilities.

pdvWireless and Southern Linc partnered to form an alliance of utilities and vendors that will become a hub of information sharing, collaboration and planning to assist the development of private wireless broadband networks owned by and dedicated to utilities.