Grid Net and Sprint team up to offer utilities 4G smart grid solutions

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Grid Net and Sprint have partnered to give utilities a smart grid solution that will allow

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Grid Net's platforms to connect smart meters and smart routers using Sprint's 4G network. The two companies say their solution provides "outstanding security, powerful capabilities and compelling economics for utilities and their customers today." In other words, utilities can seriously beef up their smart grid programs relatively cheaply. Grid Net's software is designed to integrate substation and distribution automation, smart meters, demand response, energy efficiency, renewables and customer satisfaction. Sprint says it's the first national wireless carrier to embed WiMAX connectivity into smart meters and routers and put them to work on a 4G network. Grid Net founder and CEO Ray Bell said, "We are delighted to collaborate with Sprint, as it will accelerate the availability of truly secure, scalable, reliable, standards-based smart grid and smart home solutions for utilities and end consumers."

Jesse Berst's Take: It is very interesting to see a cellular company talking about WiMAX. Most observers have assumed that cellular companies would promote LTE for meters over WiMAX, since LTE is the technology they will be using for their next generation for 4G cell phones. The presumption has been that LTE chips would come down in price more quickly than WiMAX chips, giving LTE a cost advantage.

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