Irish energy company ESB Networks has appointed Dublin-headquartered critical comms provider Sigma Wireless and Finnish network equipment vendor Nokia to deploy a private LTE network over a three year period. Nokia is supplying the core and radio access networks. The new infrastructure will support ESB’s ‘Networks for Net Zero’ strategy, in line with the Irish Government’s Climate Action Plan.
A statement said: “This purpose-built, mission-critical telecoms network is a key enabler for ESB in delivering integration of renewable energy to the grid, decarbonisation of the electrical network and electrification of heat and transport amongst other benefits. A dedicated smart grid telecoms network forms part of ESB Networks’ Innovation Strategy that aims to bring many benefits to Ireland from an environmental, economic and customer perspective.”
Nicholas Tarrant, managing director at ESB Networks, said: “An ever smarter and agile electricity network is key to the delivery of a more sustainable future, with the customer at its core. The purpose-built private network… will be a key enabler in delivering integration of renewable energy to the grid, decarbonisation of the electricity network and the electrification of heat and transport amongst other benefits.”
Sigma Wireless has worked with ESB for over 30 years, it said. Tony Boyle, chairman at Sigma Wireless, commented: “We are delighted to be awarded this contract… to be trusted to provide this state-of-the-art network which is a key enabler to help ESB to achieve its key strategic goals of decarbonisation and renewable energy.”
Nokia said: “Enabling the decarbonising of energy grids while ensuring resilient critical infrastructure is an opportunity that we are helping customers address across the world. We are delighted… to deploy private LTE infrastructure running over their converged IP/MPLS backhaul network for critical grid communications to support the modernisation and digitisation of the energy grid throughout the Republic of Ireland.”
