Global Certification Program for Wireless Smart Utility Network Programs Delivered by Wi-SUN

The Wi-SUN Alliance is an association of companies working together to enable reliable, cost-effective, low-power wireless Utility products based on open global standard IEEE 802.15.4g. It is a global industry association devoted to seamless connectivity and creating interoperable wireless solutions for use in energy management and smart-utility network applications.

Yesterday, the Wi-SUN Alliance made a worldwide announcement that its Global Certification Program, including stringent testing and seamless interoperability for wireless Smart Utility Network (SUN) devices using IEEE 802.15.4g, would be available.

Phil Beecher, who is chairman of the Wi-SUN Alliance, said "We thank the dedication of Wi-SUN Alliance Members and TUV Rheinland, in creating a robust Certification Program enabling multi-vendor networks to serve current and future needs of local utilities. Our membership continues work on additional Smart Utility Network interoperability profiles, including Field Area Network (FAN) and machine-to-machine communication (M2M).  The validation regimen announced today creates the formal foundation for accelerating that work towards certification."

Some of the items that are included in the new Wi-SUN Alliance Certification Program are as follows:

• Testing and Supervision by TUV Rheinland Group, a leading provider of technical services with a global network of qualified test facilities with locations in 65 countries
• PHY Conformance Testing based on specifications from IEEE 802.15.4g.  The PHY test plan was developed in a rigorous, phased process, and approved by Wi-SUN Alliance membership
• PHY Interoperability of Smart Utility Network systems based on IEEE 802.15.4g products from multiple silicon vendors. Products are verified for operation in international regulatory bands from three continents including Asia, North Americaand South America
• Interface Conformance Testing for wireless modules based on specifications from the Wi-SUN profile for ECHONET Lite approved by Wi-SUN alliance membership, which includes MAC, Adaptation, Network, and Transport layers, as well as security configuration
• Interface Interoperability for wireless modules based on the specification from the Wi-SUN profile for ECHONET Lite.  Products are verified for operation in Japan

TUV Rheinland is a global provider of technical, safety and certification services.  The group's guiding principle is to achieve sustained development of safety and quality in order to meet the challenges arising from the interaction between man, technology and the environment.

PHY is the abbreviation for the physical layer of the OSI model. It connects a link layer device to a physical medium such as an optical fiber or copper cable.

Technology providers successfully completing the Wi-SUN Alliance Global Certification Program are entitled to use the "Wi-SUN Certified" logo and mark, which signifies that their products have been formally tested and validated to be both IEEE 802.15.4g conformant and interoperable.