Insight | The crucial role of satellite connectivity in safeguarding national electrical utilities infrastructure’

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The crucial role of satellite connectivity in safeguarding national electrical utilities infrastructure

Summary
  • Electrical utilities are a crucial element of critical national infrastructure – vital for economic growth, public safety, and quality of life. Any interruption to the generation and distribution of electricity threatens the prosperity, security and wellbeing of nations.

 

  • This whitepaper reveals the results of our survey of senior electrical utilities professionals worldwide, a worrying number of risks to national grid stability over the next five years.
  • The whitepaper also outlines the challenges ahead and cites the solutions that Satellite IoT technologies can provide and crucially, it considers what the sector needs to do to ensure the successful adoption of these technologies.
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Global threats and challenges facing the electrical utilities industry

At a time when the world faces unprecedented threats from climate change and cyber-insecurity, there’s an ever-growing demand for reliable, affordable and sustainable energy.

Electrical utilities find themselves at the centre of these competing forces and under huge pressure to adapt and deliver.

Our global survey of senior professionals in the industry identifies a worrying number of risks to national grid stability over the next five years, including:

  • An ageing, susceptible infrastructure
  • Climate change and natural disasters
  • Vulnerability to cyberthreats
  • Maintaining and training a skilled workforce 

To download the whitepaper, please click below.

Satellite IoT in the future of electrical utilities infrastructure

Despite these threats, the survey highlights reasons for optimism. New and emerging technologies are being adopted, with three in four respondents citing Satellite Internet of Things (IoT) as having a crucial role in mitigating major threats. In fact, 57% trust satellite communications to improve performance by reducing costs and risks to field workforces via remote monitoring and controlling of assets.

The paper explores how cutting-edge applications of Satellite IoT help shape the future of energy generation and distribution by:

  • Improving infrastructure efficiency
  • Enhancing coverage and accessibility
  • Ensuring digital security and reliability
  • Driving sustainable innovation

Considerations for changes to electrical utility connectivity

To meet these challenges, the electrical utilities industry is transforming the way it operates. But a degree of cautiousness accompanies the prospect of implementing operational alterations to national grids – particularly when IT and network infrastructure are involved.

The paper examines the key areas of concern amongst sector professionals and considers how changes can be made practically, cost-effectively and securely, including:

  • Security implications
  • Integration and implementation capability and costs
  • Interoperability of systems
  • Training and workforce skills