Ericsson has used a private LTE (PLTE) core and radio access network (RAN) to enable grid modernisation at Evergy, a US investor-owned utility.

The project created a unified network capable of supporting an array of known and future-focused use cases to modernise the grid, increasing reliability and safety while decreasing latency for mission-critical applications.

For the project, Evergy leveraged utility telecommunications consultant Burns & McDonnell to assist with designing the private network and support the build-out management.

Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri and Topeka, Kansas, Evergy awarded the project to Ericsson in March 2022 with 20 PLTE sites planned in the initial deployment for 2022 to support a smart grid. With the first of these originally set to be completed by October 2022, Evergy expedited the cell site build plan and launched the first site in May 2022, in less than two months from the project award.

“Early in 2021, we identified several use cases that would result in better resiliency and efficiency for Evergy customers,” said Gary Johnson, senior director of IT infrastructure for Evergy. “By building a private LTE network, we have a more secure and reliable means of transmitting grid data into our back-office systems for processing. Burns & McDonnell has been heavily involved from the initial design work and Ericsson has been a critical partner in the deployment of their RAN technology.”

Per Wahlen, head of business development for Ericsson in North America, added: “We’ve commercially deployed and operated secure mission-critical networks for both investor-owned utilities and rural municipal utilities across North America. Evergy in partnership with Burns & McDonnell chose Ericsson not only for our ability to deliver against aggressive timelines but for our technology leadership, meeting capital efficiency KPIs, and focus on security and safety.”

Evergy is deploying Ericsson’s cloud-native dual-mode 5G core and private RAN network, which supports both LTE and 5G, allowing for a smooth transition to future 5G services. In addition, through a portfolio of operational and business support services as well as managed services provision, Ericsson is improving Evergy’s ability to expand the use of PLTE rapidly to enable smart grid applications.

“The close collaboration among all parties is what made it possible to complete this project so quickly,” said Matt Olson, vice president at Burns & McDonnell. “We all came together with creative ideas to strengthen the entire effort, giving Evergy a vital, powerful network that will help its communities for years to come.”

By investing in grid modernisation and rapidly deploying PLTE, Evergy is now better equipped to deliver reliable power to customers and fulfil the potential of its sustainability transformation plan for its customers and stakeholders. The PLTE network will support various utility use cases, including accelerating decarbonisation of the grid, engineering access, fault circuit indicators, line regulators and advanced metering infrastructure.