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NETWORK / 12 / APRIL 2019 INDUSTRY INTERVIEW Communication is key Dr Peter Couch, chief executive of the Joint Radio Company (JRC), speaks to Network editor Alec Peachey about smart telecommunication technologies and the role they're going to play in enabling the network of the future. Q What cutting edge technologies are you most excited about? A As the industry seeks to transition to digital technology to establish greater visibility and control over its network as- sets it is important to acknowledge that enhanced operational telecommunications capability is crucial to enabling this. This enhanced telecommunications capability will have a profound impact on the way in which the operators interact with the energy networks and more importantly their operating model, particularly with the move to 'real-time' control of network assets. This digitisation brings with it a need to be able to transfer an increased amount of data from more remote assets, e.g. substa - tions, to the control centre. As the operators develop an increased dependency on data to efficiently control their networks it will be necessary for these enhanced operational telecommunications systems to be suitably robust, resilient and secure to allow the energy network assets to function in the event of an electricity outage. To service this increased demand for data from remote assets we are seeing developments associ - ated with 4G wireless technology and in the longer term there is the potential for 5G based solutions to service demand. In addi- tion, the growth in artificial intelligence (AI) capability may also have a dramatic effect on utility network management. Q What are the main challenges in the smart telecommunications space? A The immediate priority is for the industry to secure long-term access to additional radio spectrum to enable the new data rich operational telecommunica - tions networks to be deployed in support of 'smart grid' functionality and the DNO to DSO transition. In addition to this it is important for the operators to work closely with government and regulators to estab - lish the appropriate policy framework and investment regime to enable the deploy- ment of this enhanced operational telecoms capability. Without the appropriate policy interventions by government the much anticipated economic benefits will not be realised by UK plc. Alongside the develop - ments within the policy context to facilitate spectrum access it is also important that the energy network operators work together to establish a standardised approach to allow the benefits of enhanced telecommunica - tions capabilities to be applied to the whole of the UK energy network. Q What's the best way of overcom- ing these challenges? A The industry is working to establish a collaborative approach to address these challenges. In terms of spectrum access the industry has been working closely with Ofcom and the MoD to better articulate the industry's spectrum needs and identify suit - able bands for consideration. Alongside this activity the industry through the recently formed Strategic Telecoms Group (STG) within the Energy Networks Association (ENA) has engaged directly with policy mak - ers across government to ensure that there is a common understanding of the need for spectrum access to facilitate future smart grid developments. To this end the ENA STG has prepared a briefing document, so that policy makers can better understand the importance of spectrum access to new in - dustry developments such as 'smart grid.' It is also worth acknowledging that the Open Networks Project which is being coordi- nated by ENA on behalf of its members with the support of BEIS and Ofgem has identi- fied communications systems capability as a key enabler of future market models. Q If these challenges are not overcome, what are the possible implications? A Outcomes will be inefficient; nega- tively impacting operational, financial and environmental targets making future government commitments on reduced CO2 emissions difficult or impossible to achieve. Without more advanced control of energy networks government will be unable to