The utility industry is in the midst of rapid change. Moving beyond the first wave of AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructure), utilities now face capacity constraints, the integration of distributed energy resources, deregulated energy markets, and decarbonization initiatives. Meanwhile, demand is soaring due to residential load growth, electric vehicles, and energy-hungry data centers.

To navigate this complexity, grid communications must be flexible, interoperable, and future-ready—offering utilities the freedom and resilience they need.

Open standards are central to that flexibility. They reduce vendor lock-in, promote supply chain diversity, and foster a rich ecosystem of interoperable devices and applications. Wi-SUN exemplifies this approach: a standards-based, secure, and scalable IPv6 Mesh networking technology that seamlessly complements other communication platforms like cellular.

The Wi-SUN FAN Certification Program turns interoperability from principle to practice—rigorous third-party testing ensures devices adhere to open standards, operate securely and reliably within a FAN network, and each device carries a digital certificate to authenticate entry and reduce cybersecurity vulnerabilities.

Landis+Gyr has long championed open standards. As an active member and Board-level contributor to the Wi-SUN Alliance since 2018, we have been instrumental in shaping interoperability. With 15 Wi-SUN FAN–certified products, Landis+Gyr leads the industry in delivering open, secure, and future-ready AMI solutions.

The latest FAN 1.1 specification builds on this by enabling higher and dynamic data rates, stronger security, and extended coverage—key enhancements for scalable RF mesh networks.

The most effective communications strategy blends Wi-SUN and cellular to accommodate varied use cases. Wi-SUN is particularly valuable for peer-to-peer scenarios—such as transformer monitoring or load management—where local communication reduces needless cellular data charges and eases pressure on LTE networks.

The FAN 1.1 High-Performance certification further elevates the platform with OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing) modulation, achieving speeds up to 2.4 Mbps and unlocking advanced capabilities such as: 

• Distributed computing 
• AI integration at the grid edge
• Advanced peer-to-peer communication
• Higher-frequency data sampling for critical monitoring

A strong example of Wi-SUN’s scalability can be seen at National Grid in the U.S., where the utility is deploying Landis+Gyr’s next gen AMI platform to support a Wi-SUN-certified network for smart meter communications. To date, National Grid has deployed nearly one million Revelo grid sensing meters in central and eastern New York alone. This rollout improves outage detection, streamlines operations, and provides near real-time energy usage data, while also laying the groundwork for broader applications such as EV charging, solar integration, and storage—demonstrating how Wi-SUN delivers secure, standards-based interoperability at scale.

As utilities modernize, interoperability remains a linchpin. Open standards like Wi-SUN promote scalability, security, flexibility, and adaptability—equipping utilities to meet evolving energy demands. Landis+Gyr’s leadership in standards development, certification, and deployment ensures utilities have the tools, devices, and strategic partners needed to build open, resilient, and future-looking grids.