The NGN Forum announced the launch of a Smart Energy Forum that will focus on IP services used to power the smart grid, home grids and alternative energy sources like wind and solar. The two main areas that NGN Forum will focus its activities on include Next Generation Communications and NGN Energy Applications.

According to NGN sources, under Next Generation Communications, the forum is expected to focus mainly on IMS, SDP, 4G, VoIP, RCS/RMS, IP Video, IP Billing, IP Security, and the forum’s Interoperability/Plugfests.

In a release, Michael Khalilian (News - Alert), chairman and President of NGN Forum, said, “Utility companies have traditionally developed their own networks and communications systems. However, they are now looking toward the telecommunications industry for apps, technology development, and OSS/BSS/Security to help them manage consumer demand. A number of major telecom operators and vendors are driving the initiative to expand into the highly lucrative energy management and applications field.”

According to official sources, the Smart Energy Forum will focus on NGN Energy Applications and NGN communications services for smart grid and renewable energy apps such as security, billing and integration services. It will also explore all types of energy apps that employ IP services for smart metering, billing and transport of energy.

It is expected that the Smart Energy Forum will develop guideline documents to be used by the industry in its adoption of this technology as well as for enhancing NGN/IMS Interoperability.

Doug Havas, vice president of communication industries at Symantec (News - Alert), stated, “By ensuring that the Smart Grid is effectively managed, protected and secured, we will help speed its overall adoption by increasing confidence in the reality of these visionary solutions.”

Member companies included in the new Smart Energy Forum are Alcatel-Lucent,                 Wipro (News - Alert) Technology, Aricent, Sonus Networks, D2 Technologies, Sprint, Hewlett Packard, Tech Mahindra, Telcordia, Mu Dynamics, T-Mobile and RADVISION.

The smart grid features an integration of two networks -- the electrical transmission and distribution network and the IP communications network. Smart grid technologies will help improve power reliability through smart devices and applications that adapt in real-time to consumer demand and environmental conditions.

Governments are in favor of this electricity network due to their energy independence capabilities and emergency resilience issues. Smart grids will also require a higher level of security because they link large and small utilities and individual customer product data, which require advanced IP addressing protocols such as IPv6. The storage of this energy during off-peak usage hours and the development of a management system for the smart grid are, however, impediments to such deployments.