Skip to content
‹ Back to IndustriesEnergy

Building Bridges in Energy: Collaborative Efforts Will Integrate Public and Private LTE Networks for Grid Modernization

Utilities are increasingly integrating public and private LTE networks to modernize the energy grid, combining telecommunications infrastructure with energy systems to improve resilience and reliability. Collaborative efforts between public and private sectors are central to enabling grid modernization at scale. This convergence of telecom and energy is seen as essential for meeting the growing demands placed on modern power infrastructure.

This story was produced through MarketScale. See how Energy teams put it to work with Customer Stories & Case Studies.

Promoted content from Experts Talk on MarketScale.

By Nick Tumilowicz · · Experts Talk PodcastGrid ModernizationItronNick Tumilowicz
Share

Key takeaways

01

Blending public and private LTE networks is key to building a more resilient, modern energy grid.

02

Collaboration between telecommunications providers and utilities is driving grid modernization efforts.

03

Integrating telecom infrastructure with energy systems helps utilities meet increasing operational demands.

Free workspace

Turn your Energy expertise into content.

Record interviews, organize footage, and write with AI on a free trial of the MarketScale platform for qualifying companies. No demo required, no credit card.

Try it Free

As the demand for more robust and resilient power grids intensifies, utilities increasingly combine public and private LTE networks. This strategic shift is essential for meeting the complex requirements of modern power grids and ensuring reliable energy distribution. The collaboration between telecommunications companies and utility providers is now more critical than ever to bridge the gap between these two types of networks, paving the way for significant advancements in grid modernization. The urgency of this integration stems from the need to enhance grid functionality and resilience against various challenges, such as climate change and growing urban populations.

The collaboration between telecommunications companies and utility providers is now more critical than ever to bridge the gap between these two types of networks, paving the way for significant advancements in grid modernization.

What does this mean for the future of energy distribution, and how can utilities effectively merge public and private LTE networks to achieve their modernization goals?

As part of an Experts Talk discussion on grid modernization, Nick Tumilowicz, the Director of Distributed Energy Management Products at Itron, addressed the importance of collaboration in integrating public and private LTE networks.

Tumilowicz offered a succinct exploration of the strategic integration of LTE networks within the utility sector. His insights emphasize the necessity of crafting a seamless operational framework that benefits all stakeholders involved in energy management.

Here are the key takeaways from his analysis:

  • Flexibility is Key: Utilities must embrace flexibility in adopting both public and private LTE to meet diverse operational demands and ensure service reliability
  • Building the Right Bridges: Developing effective partnerships between telecommunications and utilities is crucial. These collaborations are foundational in constructing the infrastructure needed for advanced grid modernization
  • Customer-Centric Benefits: The integration of these networks should focus on optimizing costs and improving service delivery, ultimately benefiting the end consumer
  • Long-Term Vision: While the integration process might be gradual, maintaining a long-term perspective is essential for achieving the desired outcomes in grid resilience and efficiency
  • Collaborative Efforts: The success of grid modernization heavily relies on the collective efforts and cooperation of all partners involved, from utility companies to telecom operators

Nick Tumilowicz is the Director of Distributed Energy Management Products at Itron.

Video TranscriptExpand ↓

You know, this concept of flexibility. So we do see utilities exploring, public and private LTE. As Charlie said, that that will take some time, so I think it's a matter of building the right bridge to get us there to optimize. So that way, you know, it's good for the customer. It's good for the utility, and, eventually, that'll be good for the end customer. So that way, costs, I think, are optimized along the way. When you build that bridge, you wanna make it effective to get to where you wanna be in the end. And I I think that's gonna be the real key to getting all these partners to collaborate together. So so I I think that that's how we're gonna be able to advance towards our goals.

Experts Talk

Part of this channel

Experts Talk

Industry experts debate the ideas that drive B2B decisions.

Visit the channel

Your experts belong here

Every story in MarketScale Energy starts with a company putting its field engineers, operations leads, and project developers on the record. Buyers are already reading this topic. The only question is whose experts they find.

Developers and operators shortlist on credibility, and your engineers give your sales team something real to send.

Book DemoSee how it works15 minutes, straight to a calendar.

About the author

NT
Nick Tumilowicz
B2B Weekly

The week in Energy, and sixteen other industries, every Monday.

Ten stories, one-line takes, five minutes. Free.

Energy: are you visible to AI?

Before they reach out, Energy buyers ask AI engines which vendors to trust. Explore how your experts, customers, and partners can become useful content for buyers and AI search.

Free Trial

You just read one Energy expert. Your company is full of them.

This article was produced through MarketScale. The same platform turns your field engineers, operations leads, and project developers into the articles, video, and social content Energy buyers are searching for. Start a free trial and see it with your own people. For qualifying companies, no credit card, no demo required.

NPS +73 · 1,000+ creators · 38+ countries

What your free trial includes

Hands-on access to the MarketScale platform
Media requests to your crowd, remote recording, AI writing tools
No demo required. No credit card.
For qualifying companies. Company confirmation required.

More Energy Insights

With Atkore, Prysmian now sells both the cable and what it runs through

With Atkore, Prysmian now sells both the cable and what it runs through

Prysmian has closed its Atkore acquisition, bringing cable and the conduit/strut hardware around it under one owner. Data center, utility and industrial buyers may see more bundled cable-and-raceway offers as the businesses integrate rather than on day one.

  • 01Prysmian has added Atkore's conduits, cable management systems and metal framing to its cable portfolio, and its CEO has told analysts that a bundled offer to customers the two companies share gives it a better chance of winning them.
  • 02Prysmian says its expanded U.S. footprint and Atkore’s distribution relationships support locally produced products and responsive delivery—an advantage that matters most where buyers want fewer vendors and schedules reward speed and accountability.
  • 03Atkore will be fully consolidated into Prysmian's financial results starting from November 2026, and Prysmian expects about $150 million in annual run-rate pretax synergies within three years of closing. Those are the points where any changes in quoting and stocking could start to show.

Nov 15, 2026

Terra-Gen’s $950M Lockhart pairs 365 MW solar with 173.7 MW storage

Terra-Gen’s $950M Lockhart pairs 365 MW solar with 173.7 MW storage

Terra-Gen's $950 million Lockhart Solar and Storage project in San Bernardino County, California, is in commercial operation with 365 MW of solar and 173.7 MW of batteries—nearly one battery megawatt for every two of solar. Terra-Gen sells the output via corporate offtake agreements and long-term PPAs with California load-serving entities, and the battery ratio is most relevant for buyers that care about hour-by-hour timing and evening/overnight load.

  • 01Lockhart pairs 365 MW of solar with 173.7 MW of batteries, allowing some solar output to be stored and used during high-need hours.
  • 02Future projects may provide MWh ratings, which help buyers understand how long batteries can deliver their rated power.
  • 03Masdar plans another $20 billion of US investment over the next decade, aiming for up to 25 GW by 2030. Terra-Gen's next projects in California and Texas will show whether Lockhart's battery ratio becomes its standard design.

Nov 13, 2026

Why GridPoint thinks 13,000 sites are ready for batteries

Why GridPoint thinks 13,000 sites are ready for batteries

GridPoint is adding on-site battery storage, with a target of 2GW of distributed storage capacity across its existing footprint. Roughly 13,000 of its sites sit in markets where it says batteries make strong economic sense today: California, PJM and parts of the Northeast. The batteries come inside the existing subscription with no upfront capital. Bill savings decide the case; grid payments are upside.

  • 01Part of a store battery's value comes from a few grid-wide peak hours a year, the ones that set a site's capacity and transmission charges for the following year.
  • 02A no-capital battery offer should pencil out on demand-charge and peak-rate savings alone; capacity payments, including PJM's 2028/2029 price at its $325 per megawatt-day cap, are upside that won't stay at record levels.
  • 03AES reported first-year availability improving from 88–90% to 95–98%. Use this as a lens when querying subscription providers about assumed year-one performance.

Nov 13, 2026

Explore More Energy Insights

Read more expert perspectives from across Energy.

Browse Energy Hub

About the Expert

For B2B teams

Your experts could be publishing here

Stories like this one run on content MarketScale captures from real practitioners. See how your team's expertise becomes coverage in Energy and beyond.

Book a Demo

Or call us. No forms required. We pick up. 214-945-2512