An Insight Into Communication Technologies Utilized in Smart Metering Systems

This paper presents an insight into the smart metering field. The paper address specifics of different network hierarchy structures (wide area networks, neighborhood area networks, and home area networks) and topologies used for this purpose (mesh, point-to-point, virtual point-to-point, or broadcast networks). Next, we focus on listing and describing some of the most commonly used communication technologies (both wired and wireless, such as power line communication, public switched telephone network, digital subscriber line, radiofrequency, in-home radio frequency, wireless local area network, or mobile network communications), their characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages utilized for remote and smart metering.