emerging communication technologies and security challenges in a smart grid wireless ecosystem

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Int. J. Wireless and Mobile Computing, Vol. 7, No. 3, 2014 231 Copyright © 2014 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. Emerging communication technologies and security challenges in a smart grid wireless ecosystem Charalampos N. Pitas*, Christos E. Tsirakis, Effrosyni T. Zotou and Athanasios D. Panagopoulos Mobile Radiocommunications Laboratory, School of Electrical & Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 9 Iroon Polytechniou Str., Zografou 15780, Athens, Greece Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] *Corresponding author Abstract: The scope of this paper is to present contemporary communication aspects regarding the employment in future of smart grid as a wireless ecosystem. A wide rigorous survey on wireless access and network technologies ideal for smart grid networks is conducted, and we present applicable technologies like Internet of Things (IoT) and Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communications. Moreover, we present key topics of security, privacy and cryptography. Indeed, multimedia services will be provided in a wireless communications environment of a smart grid, while Quality of Service (QoS) as well as security audit shall always be crucial dimensions during a communication network modelling and planning. More specifically, the objective of our work is concentrated on the study of smart grid communications topics and security evaluation using a simulation environment and to demonstrate some interesting results. Keywords: wireless communications; Internet of Things; machine-to-machine communications; security; privacy; smart grid; simulation. Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Pitas, C.N., Tsirakis, C.E., Zotou, E.T. and Panagopoulos, A.D. (2014) ‘Emerging communication technologies and security challenges in a smart grid wireless ecosystem’, Int. J. Wireless and Mobile Computing, Vol. 7, No. 3, pp.231–245. Biographical notes: Charalampos N. Pitas received his Diploma and PhD degrees both in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), Greece, in July 2003 and in April 2012 respectively. He also holds MBA (2006) and MS (2008) degrees from NTUA. He has R&D and engineering experience with utilities, telecommunications, academia, and military sectors since 2003. His research is focused on mobile communication networks and smart grid areas. He is a Member of the IEEE and the Technical Chamber of Greece. Christos E. Tsirakis received his Diploma in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), Greece, in July 2012. His research and professional interests include multimedia services and security aspects of wireless communications networks and smart grid. Effrosyni T. Zotou received her Diploma in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), Greece, in October 2012. Currently, she is a Postgraduate student in Automation Systems at NTUA. Her research and professional interests include wireless communications networks, Internet of Things, smart grid, control systems and engineering management. Athanasios D. Panagopoulos is Assistant Professor in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering of NTUA. He received his Diploma Degree and his PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering from National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) in July 1997 and in April 2002, respectively. He has published more than 200 papers in peer-reviewed international journals and transactions, and in conference proceedings. His research interests include mobile computing technologies, radio communication systems design, wireless and satellite communications networks

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Int. J. Wireless and Mobile Computing, Vol. 7, No. 3, 2014 231

Copyright © 2014 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.

Emerging communication technologies and security challenges in a smart grid wireless ecosystem

Charalampos N. Pitas*, Christos E. Tsirakis, Effrosyni T. Zotou and Athanasios D. Panagopoulos Mobile Radiocommunications Laboratory, School of Electrical & Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 9 Iroon Polytechniou Str., Zografou 15780, Athens, Greece Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] *Corresponding author

Abstract: The scope of this paper is to present contemporary communication aspects regarding the employment in future of smart grid as a wireless ecosystem. A wide rigorous survey on wireless access and network technologies ideal for smart grid networks is conducted, and we present applicable technologies like Internet of Things (IoT) and Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communications. Moreover, we present key topics of security, privacy and cryptography. Indeed, multimedia services will be provided in a wireless communications environment of a smart grid, while Quality of Service (QoS) as well as security audit shall always be crucial dimensions during a communication network modelling and planning. More specifically, the objective of our work is concentrated on the study of smart grid communications topics and security evaluation using a simulation environment and to demonstrate some interesting results.

Keywords: wireless communications; Internet of Things; machine-to-machine communications; security; privacy; smart grid; simulation.

Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Pitas, C.N., Tsirakis, C.E., Zotou, E.T. and Panagopoulos, A.D. (2014) ‘Emerging communication technologies and security challenges in a smart grid wireless ecosystem’, Int. J. Wireless and Mobile Computing, Vol. 7, No. 3, pp.231–245.

Biographical notes: Charalampos N. Pitas received his Diploma and PhD degrees both in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), Greece, in July 2003 and in April 2012 respectively. He also holds MBA (2006) and MS (2008) degrees from NTUA. He has R&D and engineering experience with utilities, telecommunications, academia, and military sectors since 2003. His research is focused on mobile communication networks and smart grid areas. He is a Member of the IEEE and the Technical Chamber of Greece.

Christos E. Tsirakis received his Diploma in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), Greece, in July 2012. His research and professional interests include multimedia services and security aspects of wireless communications networks and smart grid.

Effrosyni T. Zotou received her Diploma in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), Greece, in October 2012. Currently, she is a Postgraduate student in Automation Systems at NTUA. Her research and professional interests include wireless communications networks, Internet of Things, smart grid, control systems and engineering management.

Athanasios D. Panagopoulos is Assistant Professor in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering of NTUA. He received his Diploma Degree and his PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering from National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) in July 1997 and in April 2002, respectively. He has published more than 200 papers in peer-reviewed international journals and transactions, and in conference proceedings. His research interests include mobile computing technologies, radio communication systems design, wireless and satellite communications networks