Itron Inc. (NASDAQ:ITRI) and Tropos Networks announced an agreement to jointly develop products for the utility market including a network solution that will allow utilities to extend their smart grid initiatives into privately owned broadband networks.
The companies said broadband systems like these–already in use by some utilities–will allow extensibility, reliability, longevity and system availability necessary for smart grids to become reality.
Tropos specializes in IP broadband mesh networks. Founded in 2000, the company is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California and has more than 750 customers in 30 countries.
Philip Mezey, Itron North America senior vice president and chief operating officer said the collaboration with Tropos allows Itron to extend the functionality of its smart grid platform to the next wave of applications.
Both companies’ products are standards-based and designed for ease-of-integration with third-party vendors and customization.
The joint network offering includes Itron’s OpenWay Cell Relay and Tropos’ mesh router and wireless management software. The cell relay, acting as a router between OpenWay CENTRON® smart meters and the OpenWay Collection Engine in the utility’s back office, transports usage data between the meter and the utility operations centers.
In addition, Tropos routers support multiple distribution area network applications and end points including distribution automation, substation security and mobile utility worker applications.
The joint products will be exclusively available through Itron and Itron sales channels.
Itron is one of numerous companies that received part of $2.3 billion dollars in tax credits for cleantech manufacturing last January.
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