Cable&Wireless Worldwide and Silver Spring Networks Collaborate on Smart Grid and Smart Metering Initiatives

LONDON, August 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

• C&W Worldwide and Silver Spring Aim to Equip the UK With Ipv6 Network Infrastructure for Successful Deployment of the Smart Grid

• Collaboration Offers Low Risk, Highly Innovative Communications Solutions Enabling the UK to Extract the Most Value From Smart Grid Deployments

Cable&Wireless Worldwide and Silver Spring Networks announced that they are collaborating to accelerate the delivery of smart grid and smart metering in the UK.  The partnership will support the development of the communications fabric for smart grid and smart metering, so that it is secure, upgradable in the future, and capable of supporting multiple applications on a unified network platform.  

Together the companies expect to provide a compelling end-to-end smart grid networking solution for both foundational and enduring smart grid projects across the full spectrum of the UK electricity value chain. The collaboration will take advantage of Silver Spring's secure IPv6-based Radio Frequency network infrastructure, software, and services. C&W Worldwide will utilise its secure next-generation network and extensive experience in delivering highly complex, mission-critical communications networks, managed services and managed data centre services to utility companies.

The collaboration will enable Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) to embed intelligence deep into the electricity distribution network that will provide unprecedented visibility and control.  It will help address integration of renewable energy onto the electricity grid and manage the associated challenges of power quality management and load balancing.  The solution will ensure a capable, low latency, resilient and cost effective deployment for the smart grid that can be exploited for smart metering.

Matt Key, Managing Director of Enterprise at C&W Worldwide, comments, "This collaboration with Silver Spring will enable energy suppliers, and the UK as a whole, to extract value from the intelligence embedded in the smart grid as additional applications are brought on-line. It will also help DNOs to serve their regulatory mandates and to extend the life of their existing infrastructure."

"As the UK Government has made clear, smart grids and smart meters will be instrumental in achieving energy policy objectives. These programmes will affect every energy consumer: it's important to get this right the first time," says Eric Dresselhuys, EVP of Silver Spring. "We are delighted to partner with C&W Worldwide. Their deep knowledge and long-standing commitment to the utility industry are strongly aligned with our mission to bring IP networking into the UK smart grid."

Silver Spring has already allowed utilities across the world to deploy a broad set of smart grid initiatives quickly and cost effectively. C&W Worldwide has a strong heritage in the UK utility sector through the assimilation of Energis, THUS and Your Comms. It has more than 1,100 operational network sites, many co-located at substations and on the transmission companies' estate, and in excess of 20,000 route kilometres of fibre wrapped around most of the earth wire of the UK's energy transmission networks.

NOTES TO EDITORS

Silver Spring Networks enable smart grid solutions across a secure IPv6-based Radio Frequency network infrastructure. Silver Spring's Gridscape, an advanced network management suite, and UtilityIQ application suite, enable advanced meter management, outage detection, demand response, energy efficiency, and Electric Vehicle management. Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) will be able to deploy broad, secure, low-cost network connectivity for the smart grid that will be leveraged across a broad set of secure, pervasive, IPv6-based smart grid and smart metering initiatives.

For more information please visit http://www.silverspringnet.com/products/intelligent-endpoints.html

Cable&Wireless Worldwide's smart grid and smart metering partner ecosystem is founded on its next-generation network, managed network security, and managed communications service capabilities.  Cable&Wireless Worldwide recognises that smart grid and smart meters require both the intelligence offered by specialist power management applications for the utility sector, and a cost-effective hybrid network infrastructure for reliable and secure data transmission.

About Cable&Wireless Worldwide

Cable&Wireless Worldwide (LSE: CW.) is a leading global telecoms company providing a wide range of high-quality managed voice, data, hosting and IP-based services and applications to large multinational companies, governments, carrier customers and resellers across the UK, Asia Pacific, India, Middle East & Africa, Continental Europe and North America. Established in the 1860s, Cable&Wireless Worldwide helps more than 6,000 organisations deliver their goals. The Group's vision is to be the first choice for mission critical communications.

Reaching 20,500km in length, Cable&Wireless Worldwide owns the UK's largest fibre network dedicated to business users of telecoms, and provides ubiquitous nationwide access through a combination of fibre, digital, microwave, radio and leased circuits. The network has presence in over 400 towns and cities in the UK, with 864 unbundled exchanges covering 56% of the population.

Internationally, Cable&Wireless Worldwide's global next-generation network (NGN) stretches to more than 425,000km, including interests in 60 global cable systems, enabling connectivity to more than 150 countries. The Group's IP-based Multi-Service Platform operates at the core of our NGN, offering a single environment on which voice and data applications can be converged to drive business efficiencies. Cable&Wireless Worldwide's network is uniquely designed with inbuilt resilience.

With more than 6,000 colleagues globally, Cable&Wireless Worldwide is committed to delivering exceptional customer service and developing long term partnerships with its customers.

To find out more, please visit http://www.cw.com

About Silver Spring Networks

Silver Spring Networks provides a leading networking platform and solutions that enable utilities to transform the power grid infrastructure into the smart grid, helping utilities achieve operational efficiencies, reduce carbon emissions and empower their customers with new ways to monitor and manage their energy consumption.  Silver Spring provides the hardware, software and services that allow utilities to deploy and run multiple advanced solutions, including Advanced Metering, Demand Response Management and Distribution Automation, over a single, unified network. Silver Spring's Smart Energy Platform is based on open, Internet Protocol (IP) standards, allowing continuous, two-way communication between the utility and devices on the grid. Silver Spring has numerous deployments with utilities in the US and abroad, including Baltimore Gas and Electric, Florida Power & Light, Jemena Electricity Networks Limited, Pacific Gas & Electric, Pepco Holdings, Inc., and United Energy Distribution, among others.

Silver Spring Networks has received other major industry awards including: CNBC's 2010 Top 15 Green Tech Startups (ranked No. 2); The Wall Street Journal's Top 10 Venture-Backed, Clean Technology Companies; Greentech Media's Top 50 VC-Funded Greentech Startups; Fast Company's 2010 Most Innovative Companies: Energy; the 2010 GridVision Awards; the CRO Responsible CEO of the Year award; The Carbon Trust: CleanTech 100; Number 1 in the 2010 'AlwaysOnGoingGreen Silicon Valley 100', among others.

These recent honors reflect Silver Spring Networks' on-going commitment to innovation, operational excellence and maintaining strong relationships with its utility partners.

For additional information, please visit http://www.silverspringnet.com.

Contacts:

    CABLE&WIRELESS WORLDWIDE
    Liv Nixon                              PR Manager      +44(0)7822-804-975
    Cable&Wireless Worldwide Press Office                  +44(0)1344-818-888

    SILVER SPRING NETWORKS                                          
    Paul Young                             Senior Account
                                           Manager         +44(0)20-3128-8211
    Hannah Buckley                         Consultant      +44(0)20-3128-8116