MACHINE-to-MACHINE Communications: Enabling commonly called ‘Machine to Machine’ (M2M).” The M2M (Machine-to-Machine) communications industry is one that has attracted increasing attention over the past several years. M2M and the ‘Internet of Things’ are terms commonly used interchangeably when referring to smart infrastructure networks. A report co-authored by US telecommunications company AT&T provides a broad definition:”The new connectivity of both physical infrastructure and devices is being referred to as the ‘industrial internet’, or the ‘internet of things’, while the technology that facilitates this connectivity is most Source: Ericsson Nikola Tesla 32 Figure 1: From linear to smart grid In the burgeoning M2M market, advanced meter infrastructure (AMI) and the evolution of the traditional electric grid into a ‘smart grid’ are showcase applications. In many countries, the first step to establishing an intelligent grid is the introduction of smart meters which, through M2M technology enables the two-way flow of energy and information between the utility and its customers – facilitating demand management and allowing for time-of-day pricing, load balance and load optimisation. Machine-to-Machine technology also assists utilities to remotely manage their assets (eg. substation and distributed energy resources automation/monitoring and control). It has the ability to integrate a once siloed energy system, in which the generation, transmission and distribution of energy operated in isolation from each other. The larger impact of M2M is its potential to help energy companies significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions, lower energy consumption, introduce alternative fuels and drive operational efficiency – a top priority amidst ageing electrical infrastructures. According to a report released in 2013 by The Carbon War Room, the M2M-enabled smart grid is a significant contributor to the reduction of greenhouse gases (GHG). The report states: ‘According to research conducted by several industry organisations and NGOs, growth in ICT and M2M has the potential to enable efficiency gains throughout the global economy that could yield GHG emissions reductions of up to 9.1 gigatons Gt CO2e by 2020.’ This is good news for companies throughout the energy value-chain that are under mounting pressure to comply with government mandates for energy efficiency and reduce their carbon footprint. US research firm Global Information Inc. predicts that the utilities M2M sector will increase from 140 million connections at the end of 2011 to 1.5 billion in 2020. Chief technology officers of electric utilities are searching for a proven, cost effective communications solution to provide connectivity to the meters and sensors that must be deployed to build their smart grids. Electricity utilities have therefore started to integrate modern standards-based communications technologies as one of the building blocks of smart grids. Whilst there exists no standard M2M solution, as each will vary from company to company depending on its needs and ICT infrastructure requirements, The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) has broken the typical M2M solution into the following elements: 1 M2M device capable of replying to requests for data contained within those devices or capable of transmitting data autonomously eg. smart meters, sensors 2 M2M area network (Device Domain) providing connectivity between devices and M2M gateways eg. wide-area network typically used for smart metering and smart grid 3 M2M gateway (eg. modem) which uses M2M capabilities such as remote access, to ensure M2M devices interworking and interconnection to the communication network 4 M2M communications (wired or wireless) networks (Network Domain) – communications between the M2M METERING INTERNATIONAL ISSUE – 1 | 2015