Full Spectrum Inc., a leading supplier of private licensed broadband cellular data networks, today highlighted the finalization and publication of the new wireless standard for the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). The new standard, titled IEEE 802.16s-2017 – Standard for Air Interface for Broadband Wireless Access Systems, offers secure wireless connectivity in licensed frequencies for mission-critical data applications.
IEEE 802.16s provides wireless data communications using licensed radio frequencies to meet the ongoing and burgeoning needs for industrial internet connectivity. The standard specifically meets the demand for security, low latency, capacity, and reliability in industrial wide area networks. The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), the Utility Technologies Council (UTC), 20 of the United States’ largest utility companies, and select technology providers, including Full Spectrum, spearheaded the development of the new standard. Full Spectrum served as an active participant in the creation of the standard, contributing portions of its wireless technology portfolio.
While initially developed for the US electric utility industry, a variety of other mission-critical sectors domestically and internationally are now embracing the standard including the oil & gas industry, the security and defense markets, water and wastewater utilities and the transportation industry, among others.
“The completion of the standard ensures a safe, secure and highly reliable wireless data communications protocol for the industrial internet,” said Stewart Kantor, CEO and co-founder of Full Spectrum. “Mission-critical operators have faced the dilemma of relying on unlicensed wireless technology like WiFi or unsecure and unreliable carrier based solutions designed for consumers. We believe our technology coupled with the standard will now ensure IIoT efforts will no longer have to compromise.”