C&W, Silver Spring partner to speed up UK smart grid

With the goal of speeding up smart-grid developments in the UK, Cable&Wireless (C&W) Worldwide and Silver Spring Networks are teaming up to create a networking solution that can support both existing and future improvements.

The companies aim to develop a communications fabric that will be secure, upgradable and able to support multiple applications on a single unified network. The collaboration will combine Silver Spring’s secure IPv6-based radio frequency network infrastructure, software and services with C&W Worldwide’s networking services and experience working with utility companies.

The partners hope to help distribution network operators (DNOs) embed intelligence deep into the electricity distribution network for unprecedented visibility and control. That would make it easier to integrate renewable energy into the electricity grid and handle the associated challenges of power quality management and load balancing. It would also help with smart metering deployments.

“This collaboration with Silver Spring will enable energy suppliers, and the UK as a whole, to extract value from the intelligence embedded in the smart grid as additional applications are brought online,” said Matt Key, managing director of enterprise at C&W Worldwide. “It will also help DNOs to serve their regulatory mandates and to extend the life of their existing infrastructure.”