By Jesse Berst

It has chosen an "industrial-strength" technology with which to expand its communications offerings, which now span the gamut for any kind of distribution automation or AMI backhaul. Although not covered in the release (see page 2), the company is also making great progress in reclosers, in "layered intelligence" and in distribution automation. And in growing a services business to help utilities pull all these things together.

Said Ken Monro, S&C Vice President-Communication Systems.: "As a consultative integrator of communication systems specific to the needs of electric utilities, our job is to identify and integrate the best platform within each class of products and, without question, Cambium's line of licensed and licensed-free point-to-point technology outshines the rest of the industry.

Jesse Berst is the founder and chief analyst of Smart Grid News.com, the industry's oldest and largest smart grid site. A frequent keynoter at industry events in the U.S. and abroad, he also serves on advisory committees for Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the Institute for Electric Efficiency. He often provides strategic consulting to large corporations and venture-backed startups. He is a member of the advisory boards of GridGlo and Calico Energy Services.