Video might have killed the radio star, but radio communications are still quietly operating the foundations of a huge range of industries. They underpin communications for emergency services, road and rail networks, utilities firms and are the basis for new technologies, such as LTE and 5G. They work across vast areas and in complex conditions. They are robust, reliable and secure. By Mike Norfield, CEO of Simoco Wireless Solutions.

As utility companies around the world strive to deliver the smart grids of tomorrow, they remain under continuous pressure to keep the lights on. Utility companies face major fines if power is not restored quickly after an outage so therefore need to be able to respond quickly using reliable communications systems.