At Cisco, we’ve been delivering networking infrastructure to utilities and Smart Cities around the world. Our customers have told us that they want secure interoperability across their devices and sensors connected over secure multi-purpose networks.
As a Sponsor member of the Wi-SUN Alliance – a global ecosystem of companies seeking to accelerate the implementation of open standards-based Field Area Networks (FAN) and Internet of Things (IoT) end device interoperability – Cisco has been actively working with member companies to define, test, and deliver a common open-standards based profile for this interoperability.
In the same way that diverse smartphones, tablets, computers and other devices can connect via Wi-Fi, the Wi-SUN FAN standards help ensure that diverse utility, smart city and industrial devices can securely connect to industry-grade smart utility and smart city networks.
Today we are pleased to announce Cisco’s support for the new Wi-SUN Field Area Network (FAN) Certification Program. Cisco has already begun the process to certify the CGR1240, IR509, IR510, IR529, and the IR530 industrial routers under these new Wi-SUN standards – and we expect to offer our first Wi-SUN certified IoT products by the end of this year.
Wi-SUN = Wireless Smart Ubiquitous Networks.
Check out this video for a quick overview.
Based on open industry standards published by the IEEE and IETF, the Wi-SUN FAN Certification defines a secure, resilient, multi-service IEEE 802.15.4 mesh network that can support IPv6 Industrial IoT field applications at a million-node scale. The Wi-SUN FAN Certification will provide customers confidence that certified products in the program are interoperable with one another and sourced from multiple vendors.
This new certification program is the culmination of many years of significant work by Cisco – in collaboration with other like-minded vendors – to implement and validate a secure, multi-vendor, multi-service FAN infrastructure, giving customers a viable alternative to closed and proprietary service offerings.
Further details about the Wi-SUN Alliance can be found here.
WI-SUN certification will assure to interop with any compatible 6lowpan sensor to CGR1240? AFAIU if 6lowpan sensor doesn´t have itron firmware add-on, the sensor never will join into CGR (eventhough 802.15.4 support).
Hello Phil. As Vikas mentioned, Cisco intends to certify the CGR1240. So yes, any certified FAN device will interoperate with a certified CGR1240.
Do note that FAN's certification scope is UDP down through the radio (OSI layers 1-4). Further details about the FAN stack can be had from a recent Wi-SUN presentation to IETF.
https://datatracker.ietf.org/meeting/97/materials/slides-97-lpwan-35-wi-sun-presentation-00
Does W-SUN interoperability support apply to iiot implemented sensors? As I knew, W-SUN supports interoperability within sensors used in smart utilities and smart cities?
Thank you for your question Shantanu. Though indeed Wi-SUN Field Area Network is rooted in Utility and Smart City use cases, there is nothing to prohibit FAN usage for general Industrial IoT provided your application messaging profile and security needs fit the FAN performance envelope.
Do you have cases with Wi-SUN network implanted around the world? In what countries Wi-SUN is being more acceptable?
Hello Leonardo. The Field Area Network is a new offering from Wi-SUN, with first certifications coming end of this year. Those first certifications will be targeted to 902-928 North America, with additional regional certifications coming in priority of market demand. These additional certifications will be easily accomplished as the PHY is based on IEEE 802.15.4. Also note that many of the Wi-SUN FAN participating companies already have pre-WiSUN product offerings deployed globally at million node scale.