Alvarion, the world’s largest WiMAX vendor, today announced it will work with National Grid, the second-largest utility company in the U.S., to participate in a smart power grid (SPG) Proof of Concept with its BreezeMAX 3650 solution, as part of a technology test-bed for potential pilot projects in New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
The proof of concept will begin in September 2009, and will provide WiMAX backhaul for SPG smart meters for residences and businesses.
Smart Power grid (SPG) devices incorporate two-way communications for improved control and efficiency. Through this smart grid pilot, National Grid and Alvarion could give selected customers across the Northeast an opportunity to reduce their carbon emission and ultimately, a lower utility bill.
Alvarion says their BreezeMAX 3650 platform supports advanced 802.16e antenna technologies including MIMO, fourth order diversity, and MRRC to maximize capacity and coverage in non-line-of-site (NLOS) conditions. That is expected to lower capital and operating costs while providing the required performance.
