Nokia was picked to deploy a standalone (SA) private 5G network for a utility company in the US state of Tennessee as part of a grid modernisation project.

Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW) will use the 5G network to support critical applications such as automated metre reading, grid monitoring, fault detection and remote operations. The network also provides a foundation for mobility, video and voice services.

The vendor’s gear will enable interoperability between existing infrastructure and newer IoT devices, including grid sensors, smart meters, automation systems and field equipment.

The two companies claim the project positions MLGW as the first municipal utility in the US to implement a full-scale, SA 5G private wireless network.

MLGW president and CEO Doug McGowan stated the network will increase reliability during storms or cybersecurity incidents and help the company restore power at a faster rate following outages.

The project will use Nokia’s AirScale radio access equipment and its 5G core enterprise platform. The contract also includes a microwave backhaul service and towers supported by the vendor, along with Nokia’s NetGuard cybersecurity portfolio for proactive threat detection and resp