SEPTEMBER 9, 2008 -- Hitachi Telecom (USA) Inc. (search for Hitachi Telecom) will partner with Carina Technology Inc. to offer the complementary advantages of reduced operational expense and increased revenue potential to utility companies that plan to provide FTTP services using GPON technology. The combination of fiber-optic communication technologies with advanced management functions of power utility operations is a cornerstone of the "Smart Grid" concept, which is becoming increasingly critical as utilities prepare for the power grid of the future, Hitachi says.
In this application, the CarinaPoint Ethernet Metering Device (EMD) resides in a collar base mounted between the residential electric socket and the electric meter at the customer's premises. The CarinaPoint EMD is connected to the Hitachi AMN1220 GPON system's optical network terminal (ONT) via Ethernet. Meter and management data are exchanged in real-time via the GPON between the meter and the utility's information systems. The AMN1220 ONT can also be powered externally from the CarinaPointT collar base, which reduces FTTP installation cost and speeds deployment, Hitachi adds.
The systems house asserts that utility companies can realize operational savings through the real-time ability to read customers' electric meters automatically, manage in-home devices for efficient management, manage pre-paid electricity service, and conduct peak demand power management functions over the FTTP infrastructure. Revenue can be generated from triple-play services, including video, data, and voice and other applications that can be transported by the GPON, Hitachi says.
Rick Schiavinato, Hitachi vice president of sales and marketing said, "The ability to provide new revenue sources for utility companies makes the pairing of Carina's Energy Intelligence Solutions and Hitachi's GPON solution the best of both worlds."
"As we move toward new and more efficient energy solutions, broadband will be essential for utilities to provide the sophisticated distribution and management capabilities that will be needed," said Jay Newkirk, Carina CEO. "Because of the bandwidth capability of FTTH, we can bring this sophisticated digital grid to life today rather than 5-10 years from now."
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