Redline and Hydro One use WiMAX to modernise electricity grid operations

Redline Communications and Ontario electricity provider Hydro One have signed an agreement to trial the vendor’s ‘RedMAX’ 802.16e WiMAX-based equipment to provide wireless communications to smart meters and other devices, supporting tasks including remote meter reading and outage monitoring. The planned broadband wireless network connecting the Hydro One smart meters is the first phase of a project consisting of a series of Redline WiMAX base stations that connect wirelessly to outdoor customer premise equipment (CPE). Data generated by smart meters is backhauled over the network to Hydro One’s operations centre.