Itron, Inc. (NASDAQ: ITRI) and Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) announced today a strategic alliance to provide an Internet Protocol (IP)-based communications platform to the smart grid market.
Itron and Cisco–which are industry giants in smart metering and networking communications, respectively–said they will collaborate on transitioning smart metering technology into an open and interoperable, enterprise-class network for utilities.
Under terms of the agreement, Itron and Cisco will jointly develop
the reference design that defines a standard for smart grid field area
and smart metering network communications, utilizing the latest version
of the Internet Protocol (IPv6). A key standard identified by the
National Institute of Technology, IPv6 integrates network security into
its framework; allows for simplified processing of data by routers and
other network devices; and offers a wealth of extensibility options over
the current and widely-used IPv4 implementation.
Itron will
license and embed Cisco IP technology within its OpenWay® meters, as
well as distribute Cisco networking equipment and software as part of
its smart meter deployments. Itron will continue to provide the complete
solution and maintain its customer relationships.
"Together, we aim to enable standardization of the smart grid architecture and help create an end-to-end communications platform. As a result, utilities will benefit from an energy grid that is more secure, scalable and reliable, as well as solutions that are easier to maintain and able to support future needs," said Laura Ipsen, Cisco senior vice president and general manager for the Smart Grid business unit.
"Itron designed OpenWay to be able to adapt to evolving market needs. The move to embed Cisco IP communications continues to deliver on our promise of interoperability and open standards for OpenWay," said Philip Mezey of Itron North America. "This enables an expanding set of smart grid applications into the future."
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