ANTERIX INC. Xcel Energy to Launch Initial Deployment of 900 MHz Wireless Private Broadband. Anterix and Motorola Solutions to Assist in Evaluation of Private LTE Solution to Deliver Greater Grid Intelligence, Control and Security. Xcel Energy will use a new wireless telecommunications tool that can help the company respond more quickly to local electric outages and support advanced grid 'smart meters' that will provide more information to customers about their energy use.
The 900 MHz private wireless broadband network will be installed at two existing Xcel Energy sites in Minneapolis. In addition to helping launch advanced grid efforts, the network will allow Xcel Energy to provide cyber protection to critical infrastructure and could eventually be expanded to support automated technology throughout metro and remote rural locations. The network will be developed by Motorola Solutions using Anterix's 900 MHz spectrum.
The availability of wireless broadband spectrum in the 900 MHz band resulting from the FCC's recent actions now allows critical infrastructure providers, such as Xcel Energy, to deploy private networks that enable secure and resilient electric grids. Motorola Solutions'LXN 7900 fixed LTE 900 MHz infrastructure, in combination with its Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS)-based Nitro™ network, will enable the seamless exchange of voice and data across private LTE broadband and existing LMR networks. A future roll-out of a broader private LTE deployment could be accelerated by leveraging Xcel Energy's existing investments in LMR site locations and infrastructure to support existing and new grid-of-the-future applications.
