Critical networking using mesh Wi-SUN technology

© 2017 Silver Spring Networks. All rights reserved. 1

Critical networking using mesh Wi-SUN technology

Dr Simon Dunkley


• Critical infrastructure requirements

• Wi-SUN Mesh architecture

• Wi-SUN technology

• Case studies

Content


Critical infrastructure requirements


Critical Infrastructure Has Critical Requirements

Reliable

Secure

Extensible

High

Performance

Scalable

Open

Standards

Cost Effective

Ubiquity

• Packet confirmation

• Authentication

• Broad coverage

• Heterogeneous terrain

• Availability of “Plan B”

• Authentication

• Privacy

• Integrity of packet

• Capex/opex flexbility

• Competitive £ per-bit

• SLA commitment

• Peer-to-peer

• Maturity of standards

• Range, capacity, coverage

• Flexible delivery model

• Proven scale – technical

and solution capabilities

• API support


Wi-SUN mesh architecture


What is a mesh? (1)


Charts show 5,000 nodes forming two

optimal networks within 45 minutes

Topology: urban and suburban

Florida, USA

What is a mesh? (2)


Smart Grid Example #1: Smart Metering -- Scale

Rule of thumb: 5000 meters per

access point.

Visibility to many, many neighbors

means diverse ingress/egress.

Resiliency: IPv6 Multi-Homing

across multiple access points.

Smart Meter Communications Can Create The Foundation For Smart Grid

http://www.fpl.com/index.shtml

© 2017 Silver Spring Networks. All rights reserved. 9 9

Rule of thumb: 5000 meters per

access point.

Visibility to many, many neighbors

means diverse ingress/egress.

Resiliency: IPv6 Multi-Homing

across multiple access points.

Smart Meter Communications Can Create The Foundation For Smart Grid

Smart Grid Example #1: Smart Metering -- Scale

http://www.fpl.com/index.shtml


Proven Real World Performance

10

1480m

930m

1900m575m

Wi-SUN FAN characteristics:

• Massive scale, high data rates

• Sub-second end to end latency

• Long range, excellent penetration

• Standards-based security

• Multiple-vendor support

• Network management & provisioning


Where Mesh Fits

High reliability

Ubiquitous coverage, unlimited range

Usable latency

Good speed & capacity

Scalability

Affordability

Security

Peer-to-peer connectivity

Things that move a lot

Super high bandwidth

applications (e.g. HD video

streaming)

Sparse, isolated end points

Low value and near-zero cost

Broadcasting as a primary mode*

Great when you need: Less well suited for:

Mesh is best suited for connecting critical infrastructure at scale

* Short-term limitation


1. Based on publicly available data and known awards

2. Europe, for historical reasons, have high PLC deployments, all of which have performed poorly for wide-area coverage

3. Includes fiber, WiMax, & etc.

Mesh Architecture Proven as Dominant Networking for Smart Meters

Number of Electric AMI Awarded Endpoints Through Q1 2015, Millions1

3

North America

Mesh PLC Cellular Tower Other

ROW, excluding Europe2

Mesh PLC Cellular Tower Other3


Spectrum availability in Europe

86

5

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8

87

0

87

6

91

5

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4 c

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28

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86

5

86

8

87

0

87

6

91

5

92

1

4 c

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els

28

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1 c

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Harmonised spectrumNational release

Spectrum availability in Europe


Wi-SUN technology


Wi-SUN: PHY and MAC options (1)

PHY (within 200kHz channel)

- DSSS

– 6.25kbps

- GMSK

– 50, 100, 150, 200kbps

- OFDM

– 50, 100, 150, 200, 300kbps

MAC

- Frequency agile (not spread spectrum)



Time

Frequency

400ms max

MAC 1MAC 2




Wi-SUN features

• Spectrum efficiency

• RTS + CTS + Data ACK

– Avoids long wasted transmissions

• Sufficiently high rates allows meaningful data to be transmitted sub 1s

• APC

– Minimises radius of interference

– Able to achieve longer ranges when necessary

– Link history is persisted

• ‘Gear shifting’ minimises on-air transmission time

• Channel sensing and deferral for polite coexistence (Listen Before Talk)

• Edge computing

• Security


• Proven, universal security algorithms and protocols

• Authentication, authorization, encryption

• Hardware protection and acceleration

• Role-based controls and policies

WAN Backhaul

Multi-level, End-to-End Security

Silver Spring network

IPsecSecurity

Layers

• 20+ year protection

• Reduce “wholesale attacks”

to “retail attacks”

• Mitigate physical threats

• Protect against insider threats

Comms Module

Cryptographic

Identity

20

© 2012 Silver Spring Networks. All rights reserved.

Application Layer

Link Layer

Firmware Upgrades

Back

Office

Only Provider of True End-to-end Security

20

© 2012 Silver Spring Networks. All rights reserved.


Case studies


Value Added Insights Leveraging AMI Data

• Restoration assessment

- Assess network performance through outage reports

- Analysis, report and briefing on network and process

optimization

• Voltage assessment

- Assess network performance and adherence to acceptable

voltage levels

- Identify potential equipment failure

- Monitor equipment and configuration errors

- Analysis, report and briefing on network and process

optimization


• Increase energy efficiency and customer

satisfaction

- Automated system with no need for customer behavior

change

• Achieve energy efficiency cost savings while

ensuring regulatory compliance

- Fast, reliable meter information improves accuracy of

voltage optimization

• Proven reduction in energy spend

- Reliably reduce voltage levels within regulated levels

Towards the Smart Grid


Case Study: Enabling renewable energy sources

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRw&url=http://pureenergycentre.com/50kw-to-mw-wind-turbine/&ei=CJWBVfzGC8zTUezhgqAF&bvm=bv.96041959,d.d24&psig=AFQjCNFhtCgaV65G7Jx1rdc7suuByh8IfA&ust=1434642054176796


Smart Grid to Smart City…..

Time

10s of

Millions

Millions

Smart

Grid

Networks

Smart City

Infrastructure

Networks

Devices

Open, standards-based, secure, reliable network platform


Case Study: Smart Lighting and Transportation

• Smart city deployment

- NaaS across initial 20K lights within

City of Copenhagen

- Smart street lighting, transportation

and environmental sensors


Case Study: Glasgow City Council

• Smart streetlight control

- Lights rolled out in three areas of the city

centre

- Combined with sensors to gather data and

modify dimming operation:

• Pedestrian footfall

• Vehicular traffic and

• Noise measurements

• Environmental sensors

• Results

- Light control linked into the city’s new

urban control centre

- Sensor data has been made available via

the city’s data portal

- Streetlight levels modified by street level

activity


Case Study: Bristol Is Open

• Smart City services over lighting

infrastructure

- Mesh network rolled out using streetlight

infrastructure

- Services offered to City Council and trials to

third parties

- Control of 300 lights in prime areas

• Results

- ‘Traditional’ control of lights rolled out with

ease

- Excellent network coverage across city and

into buildings


[email protected]

Technology

Critical networking using mesh Wi-SUN technology