Powering the Future of Utilities with Scalable, Secure and High-Speed Connectivity Powering the Future of Utilities with Scalable, Secure and High-Speed Connectivity

Scalable, Secure and High-Speed Connectivity

Section CTA

Overview

As utility providers move forward with their digital transformations, the demand for fast, reliable and secure connectivity is greater than ever. HCLTech's 5G solutions deliver a future-ready network platform that meets the evolving needs of electric, gas and water utilities including enhanced grid reliability, workforce mobility, customer service and operational efficiency.

Section CTA
Powering the Future of Utilities with Scalable, Secure and High-Speed Connectivity
Industry Use Cases

Secure, Scalable and Always-On Connectivity for Utilities

We design, deploy and manage private 5G networks built specifically for utility environments. These networks ensure ultra-low latency, high bandwidth and resilient operations across substations, field assets and customer endpoints.

Advanced distribution automation (ADA)
Real-time control and monitoring of reclosers, capacitor banks, voltage regulators and DER integration.

AMI backhaul
High-speed, secure communication backbone for smart meters in rural and dense urban areas.

Field crew enablement
Live streaming of video, GIS updates and work order management from ruggedized devices.

Section CTA

Remote pressure monitoring
Secure telemetry from critical pressure regulation and valve points.

Emergency response and leak detection
Fast coordination and communication in high-risk situations.

Pipeline asset monitoring
High-definition video and sensor feeds from long-distance transmission assets.

Section CTA

Water quality and leak detection sensors
Real-time alerts from distributed monitoring devices.

SCADA over LTE
Redundant, high-performance path for operational technology traffic.

Smart hydrant and valve networks
On-demand control and diagnostics across the distribution grid.

Section CTA

Technical Implementation and Delivery Roadmap

Our scalable private 5G networks are delivered via a four-phase approach. This roadmap spans spectrum strategy, core design, edge compute, and 24x7 operations, integrated with your OT systems to deliver a production-ready solution.

1 Assess and design
2 Pilot and integrate
3 Scale and validate
4 Operate and support

Benefits

Section CTA

High bandwidth and low latency

10 ms latency supports mission-critical automation and control

Utility-grade security

Segmented, encrypted private networks reduce cyberattack vectors

Operational flexibility

Supports mobile assets, temporary installations and hard-to-reach areas

Cost efficiency

Eliminates leasing dependency on commercial cellular providers

Improved resilience

Enhances disaster recovery and continuity via private, redundant paths

Regulatory compliance

Supports NERC CIP, TSA and NIST cybersecurity frameworks

ROI and Business Impact

Section CTA
O&M cost reduction

O&M cost reduction

Up to 25% reduction via fewer truck rolls and enhanced remote diagnostics

Outage restoration time

Outage restoration time

30-50% improvement using real-time grid telemetry

Asset life extension

Asset life extension

Condition-based maintenance enabled by predictive monitoring

Revenue assurance

Revenue assurance

Minimized service disruption and increased DER billing accuracy

Customer satisfaction

Customer satisfaction

Improved communication and service reliability metrics (SAIFI/SAIDI)

Real-world experience: Private wireless data driving value for utilities

Electric Utilities

Grid Automation – West Coast IOU

Challenge: Limited visibility in fire-prone areas due to poor cellular coverage

Solution: Deployed private CBRS network integrated with SCADA & FLISR

Outcome: 40% faster fault isolation, enhanced situational awareness, wildfire compliance

Mobile Workforce Enablement

Challenge: Field crews lacked real-time GIS/OMS access

Solution: Private mesh network + rugged tablets linked to SAP WFM

Outcome: 60% faster work order completion, 25% drop in overtime

AMI Backhaul – Municipal Utility

Challenge: Fiber deployment was too costly in rural zones

Solution: Hybrid private + fixed wireless network for smart meter data

Outcome: 99.99% meter read rate, rollout accelerated by 18 months

Gas Utilities

Pipeline Monitoring – Transmission Operator

Challenge: Needed real-time visibility at remote compressor stations

Solution: Private wireless towers with edge compute, integrated with SCADA

Outcome: Instant alerts, remote control, enhanced safety & compliance

Emergency Response – Urban Gas Utility

Challenge: Communication gaps during gas leaks or damage

Solution: Mobile “cell-on-wheels” for secure field-to-command connectivity

Outcome: 45% faster response coordination, enhanced public safety

Remote Cathodic Protection

Challenge: Manual corrosion checks were inefficient

Solution: Wireless-enabled sensors with real-time cloud alerts

Outcome: 30% lower inspection costs, better PHMSA compliance

Water Utilities

Smart Water Network – Regional Utility

Challenge: Delayed leak and pressure loss detection

Solution: Deployed flow/leak sensors over private wireless

Outcome: 90% of leaks fixed within 2 hours; 20% drop in NRW

Remote Plant Monitoring – Water Treatment

Challenge: Inconsistent pump and dosing telemetry

Solution: Private LTE connected SCADA to real-time analytics

Outcome: Better chemical efficiency and compliance tracking

Industrial Water Management – Beverage Manufacturer

Challenge: Poor monitoring of discharge and reuse systems

Solution: Always-on private wireless for IoT sensors

Outcome: 25% boost in water reuse, supporting sustainability

Why HCLTech?

Section CTA
35+ years supporting global utility networks

35+ years supporting global utility networks

Deep OT/IT integration experience across SCADA, DMS, OMS and AMI platforms

Deep OT/IT integration experience across SCADA, DMS, OMS and AMI platforms

Partnerships with Nokia, and CBRS ecosystem vendors

Partnerships with Nokia, and CBRS ecosystem vendors

Global delivery model with localized utility compliance expertise

Global delivery model with localized utility compliance expertise

Our Partners

We move fast. By teaming up with top tech partners and tapping into our innovation ecosystem, we help you bring the right digital solutions to life, faster and with less risk.

Nokia
Druid

Future-proof your utility operations with HCLTech 5G solutions

Contact us to schedule a connectivity maturity assessment and/or a live pilot demonstration.

Find what inspires and drives you

Section CTA

Schedule a consultation

製造業とEUNR エネルギーと公益事業 その他 Powering the Future of Utilities with Scalable, Secure and High-Speed Connectivity