Hitachi And Carina Team Up To Provide Utility Information Solutions Over Gigabit Passive Optical Network
ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hitachi Telecom (USA), Inc. today announced that the company is partnering with Huntsville, AL-based Carina Technology, Inc. to offer the complementary advantages of reduced operational expense and increased revenue potential to utility companies that provide FTTP services using GPON technology. The combination of fiber optic communications with the advanced management functions of power utility operations is a cornerstone of the "Smart Grid" concept, which is becoming increasingly critical as utilities prepare for the power grid of the future.
In this application, the CarinaPoint Ethernet Metering Device (EMD)TM resides in a collar base mounted between the residential electric socket and the electric meter at the customer's premises. The CarinaPoint EMDTM is connected to the Hitachi AMN1220 GPON system's Optical Network Terminal (ONT) via Ethernet. Meter and management data is exchanged in real-time via the GPON network between the meter and the utility's information systems. The AMN1220 ONT can also be powered externally from the CarinaPoint™ collar base, which reduces FTTP installation cost and speeds deployment.
The utility company can realize operational savings through the real-time ability to read customers' electric meters automatically, manage in-home devices for efficient management, manage pre-paid electricity service, and conduct peak demand power management functions over the FTTP infrastructure. Revenue can be generated from triple-play services, including video, data and voice and other applications that can be transported by the GPON network.
Rick Schiavinato, Hitachi vice president of sales and marketing said, "The ability to provide new revenue sources for utility companies makes the pairing of Carina's Energy Intelligence Solutions and Hitachi's GPON solution the best of both worlds."
"As we move toward new and more efficient energy solutions, broadband will be essential for utilities to provide the sophisticated distribution and management capabilities that will be needed," said Jay Newkirk, Carina CEO. "Because of the bandwidth capability of FTTH, we can bring this sophisticated digital grid to life today rather than 5-10 years from now."
Carina and Hitachi will demonstrate this solution in the Home Networking Zone at the 2008 FTTH Conference, to be held September 22-24 in Nashville, TN. For more information about the FTTH Conference, go to www.ftthconference.com.
About Carina
Carina Technology, Inc. is the leading provider of Energy Intelligence Solutions through its CarinaPoint Solution™. Carina enables energy providers to manage operations more efficiently and visually while creating new revenue streams through applications such as Meter Data Management, remote meter reading, Demand Response, & Distribution Automation. More information about Carina can be found at www.carinatek.com.
About Hitachi's GPON-based Source-to-SubscriberTM solutions
Hitachi's GPON-based Source-to-Subscriber solutions enable service providers to enjoy quick time-to-market and accelerated ROI for triple play broadband services - video, data and voice – plus other services such as utilities information management and video surveillance. The complete Source-to-Subscriber solution includes project feasibility and technology assessment, multiple services delivery options, and is available on an "a la carte" basis to meet the specific needs of almost any service provider.
About Hitachi
Hitachi Telecom (USA), Inc., a subsidiary of Hitachi Communication Technologies, Ltd., develops, manufactures and markets telecommunications equipment for the North American market. The company offers ITU-compliant ‘triple play' systems for Fiber-to-the-Premises applications, ultra high-speed optical networking equipment such as DWDM and SONET systems, and multi-carrier power amplifiers for wireless infrastructure applications. For more information on Hitachi Telecom (USA), Inc., visit http://www.hitachitelecom.com.
Hitachi, Ltd., (NYSE: HIT / TSE: 6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading global electronics company with approximately 390,000 employees worldwide. Fiscal 2007 (ended March 31, 2008) consolidated revenues totaled 11,226 billion yen ($112.2 billion). The company offers a wide range of systems, products and services in market sectors including information systems, electronic devices, power and industrial systems, consumer products, materials, logistics and financial services. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's website at http://www.hitachi.com.
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