Analyst Insight: Trends in Private LTE

Utilities’ use of private 4G LTE wireless networks is beginning to gain traction worldwide. Expanding access to suitable spectrum, along with the growing need to enhance and streamline communications capabilities, is prompting many utilities to consider private LTE (PLTE), whereas in the past they considered it impractical and cost prohibitive.

LTE, the same 4G technology used by mobile carriers worldwide, provides robust, low latency networking for a multitude of utility applications. Today, large utilities often manage dozens of disparate networks—an inefficient practice that can lead to uncoordinated retirement and upgrade cycles of outdated technologies. 4G LTE networks offer high bandwidth, low latency capabilities, but also provide the opportunity to layer in lower cost, low power, wide area networking that is suitable for use cases such as metering and asset monitoring. Over time, 4G networks can be upgraded to 5G capabilities with largely soft (over-the-air) upgrades, ensuring a more future-proof network.

This Guidehouse Insights Smart Grid and Networking and Communications Analyst Insight focuses on several key trends that are helping shape the PLTE market for utilities. It includes market trends, drivers, and barriers, analysis of spectrum availability, protocols and utility use cases, and conclusions for stakeholders in the PLTE market. This Insight includes data analysis from the Smart Grid and Networking and Communications Database released in 2Q23.