San Diego, CA, U.S.A. --- (METERING.COM) --- January 25, 2013 - The WiMAX Forum has published System Profile Requirements for Smart Grid Applications, codifying the work done on the WiGRID IEEE 802.16 profile for utility field area networking applications.

The set of requirements was assembled by the Forum's Smart Grid Working Group, which is composed of technical representatives from major electric power utilities, WiMAX vendors and industry experts.

“Approval of the WiMAX System Profile Requirements for Smart Grid Applications document establishes WiMAX, through WiGRID, as a technology capable of meeting the demands of smart grid wireless application,” commented Eugene Crozier, chair of the Working Group.

The proposed WiGRID system profile is an Ethernet version of IEEE 802.16 that includes numerous new features that allow uplink centric data communications, lower latency, extended range, and enables the use of new frequency bands that various utilities hold, namely 1.4 GHz, 1.8 GHz, 2.3 GHz, 3.65 GHz and 5.8 GHz.

The new publication provides the implementation details to meet typical utility use cases and describes the WiMAX specifications required of equipment used for electricity management.

The WiMAX Forum's mission is to facilitate the adoption of WiMAX and WiGRID technology across the world and ensure that industry products are interoperable.