Private LTE System Challenges

Designing and deploying a private LTE utility network presents numerous challenges. This presentation examines these challenges from two distinct perspectives, those of the utility operator and the User Equipment (UE) vendor. For utility operators, these challenges span technical, regulatory, and operational domains. Factors such as spectrum allocation, network architecture design, legacy system integration, cybersecurity considerations, and navigating regulatory frameworks all demand careful attention. As utilities progressively adopt private LTE solutions to bolster operational efficiency and security, UE vendors shoulder the responsibility of providing essential endpoint devices. The unique challenges posed by private LTE utility networks include unique private spectrum support, ensuring interoperability with diverse utility Distribution Automation (DA) equipment, addressing ruggedness and environmental factors, navigating network security and routing complexities, and aligning with evolving standards like 5G. By examining these challenges from both utility operators and UE vendors' perspectives, this presentation aims to offer insight into collaborative solutions.