RESTON, Va., June 12, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tollgrade Communications, Inc., a leading provider of real-time monitoring solutions for utility companies, today announced the formation of an agreement with Sprint. This agreement will enable Tollgrade's LightHouse distribution sensor solution to communicate wirelessly via the Sprint network, eliminating the need for utilities to create or maintain a private communications network, and simplifying integration while adding flexibility at a lower cost.
"With the rising demand for energy and natural resources, machine-to-machine solutions give utilities and their customers a powerful emerging tool for automating services, managing demand and promoting sustainability," said Wayne Ward, vice president-Emerging Solutions Group, Sprint. "Our collaboration with Tollgrade underscores our commitment to helping the utility industry improve efficiency. Monitoring the smart grid is an example of how connected devices are changing every aspect of our lives."
Tollgrade's LightHouse monitoring solution consists of inductively powered medium voltage line sensors, communicating wirelessly with Tollgrade's proprietary analytics software. The system instantaneously detects and communicates key circuit events to a central location, enabling utilities to improve grid performance. The detection of key parameters, including load profile monitoring, allow utilities to make better informed decisions and achieve superior grid visibility for fault detection and fault location, vegetation management, load balancing, power quality, asset management, and substation automation.
Deployment of Tollgrade's LightHouse cellular line sensor presents a range of benefits for utilities, including:
- Full coverage throughout the United States and Canada to facilitate the immediate deployment of sensors through a utility's footprint
- Simplified deployment and management of a single communications infrastructure, eliminating the need to perform separate integration of multiple devices, or to develop a private communications infrastructure
- Reduced solution cost with simplified installation and maintenance, allowing information to be sent directly to the utility's data center
- High bandwidth and low latency for real-time awareness of grid conditions and to trigger critical alarms
Tollgrade's distribution line sensors enable utilities to seamlessly provide service to their customers by optimizing the overall operational status of the distribution grid.
"We are very excited to provide our utility customers with a cellular version of our medium voltage sensor," said Tollgrade's Director of Smart Grid, Erik Christian. "At Tollgrade, we are continually looking for ways to give utilities the tools they need to avoid critical asset failure and improve capital and reliability planning. We are confident that our integrated Sprint cellular option will offer utilities the ubiquitous and reliable coverage they require for better visibility into the distribution grid."
For more information about Tollgrade's LightHouse monitoring system, visit www.tollgrade.com/Smart_Grid_Products.aspx
You can learn more about Sprint at www.sprint.com/utilities
About Tollgrade Communications, Inc.
Tollgrade Communications, Inc. is a leading provider of network solutions to the utility and telecommunication industries. Tollgrade's LightHouse® real-time smart grid monitoring solutions allow utilities to identify faults and reduce outage times and communicate mission critical data wirelessly to decision makers. Tollgrade's telecommunication products and solutions enable communication service providers to efficiently manage their access networks. With a longstanding tradition of industry leadership and innovation since 1988, Tollgrade continues to create value for its customers' networks by reducing cost and increasing efficiency. For more information, visit Tollgrade online at www.tollgrade.com.
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Visit Tollgrade at http://www.tollgrade.com