What is Wi-SUN?

Wi-SUN (Wireless Smart Utility Network) is a wireless communication standard that enables seamless connectivity between smart-grid devices. The standard powers large-scale outdoor IoT networks like wireless mesh networks for Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), home energy management, distribution automation, and other large scale outdoor network applications including FAN (Field Area Networks) and HAN (Home Area Networks).

This wireless communication technology is based on the IEEE 802.15.4g standard for the physical layer (PHY) and the IEEE 802.15.4e standard for the MAC layer. The PHY layer is responsible for managing the hardware that modulates and demodulates the RF bits. Whereas, the MAC layer is responsible for sending and receiving RF frames. 

A major advantage of this technology is that it can be implemented with extremely low levels of power consumption as compared to other wireless communications, such as WLAN.

Wi-SUN also provides certification for the Enhanced Home Area Network (HAN) communications profile, an interoperable and scalable low power wireless standard for Home Area Networks, which supports communication between Home Energy Management Systems or HEMS and any HAN devices.

Technical Specifications of Wi-SUN

Wi-SUN has been succeeding in the smart utilities and smart cities markets as an alternative for low-power wide area networks like LoRa and Sigfox.

Wi-SUN vs LoRa vs NB-IOT

Wi-SUN Alliance

The Wi-SUN Alliance is a consortium of global corporations and world leaders in Smart Utility, Smart City and IoT Markets. This alliance was formed to improve utility networks using narrowband wireless technology. Wi-SUN Alliance members include many global and national organizations from Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Europe, India, Japan, Korea, Singapore, and the United States. Wi-SUN Alliance aims to advance seamless connectivity by promoting IEEE 802.15.4g standard-based interoperability for global regional markets.

The Wi-SUN Alliance, formed in 2012, promotes Wi-SUN for the adoption of open industry standards used for wireless smart city and smart city applications. The alliance creates communications layer specifications based on open standards set by a range of organizations including the IEEE, IETF, and ETSI. The role of this alliance is to develop a robust testing and certification program to ensure that products from different manufacturers implementing the Wi-SUN specification work in conjunction with each other.

This Alliance has a Field Area Network (FAN) program for city developers, utilities, and service providers to allow devices to interconnect onto a single network, in support of applications like distribution automation, street lighting, advanced metering infrastructure, smart home automation, intelligent transport, and traffic systems.

Key aspects of the Wi-SUN Alliance include:

• Growing its ecosystem
• Delivering a forum for global collaboration to achieve smart city and smart utility
• Delivering great product connectivity through a robust testing and certification program

Click here to learn more about the Wi-SUN Alliance.