Let there be light: Dissecting how PRIME networks work based on actual traffic traces

AMIs represent the first steps towards a fully operational Smart Grid and NB-PLC technologies, such as PRIME, are winning momentum in such AMI deployments. PRIME standard leaves some parameters up to meter manufacturers. So, how do communications in PRIME networks actually work? To the best of the authors knowledge, this paper represents the first study that provides an answer to this question. By dissecting a traffic trace from a test carried out in the Network Integration Laboratory of the Spanish DSO Union Fenosa Distribución, we show that communications parameters that may influence overall network performance take different values depending on the manufacturer and firmware version. We also obtain the time that the concentrator needs to read a 24hour consumption report from each of the smart meters in the network, which indeed represents a communications performance indicator and can be used for cross-validation of communications performance simulations. This work sets the foundation of a certain hot research topic in Smart Grids in coming years. On one side, typical scenarios can be characterized (e.g., for simulation purposes) by applying data mining techniques to analyze large traffic traces datasets. On the other side, it inspires carrying out research to propose optimal parameter configurations depending on the specific constraints of given scenarios.