The evolution toward the so-called smart grid (SG) needs to be supported by robust and cost-efficient advanced metering infrastructure. This article focuses on technology selection and gateway placement in hybrid SGs, wherein each smart meter (SM) is equipped with either a power line communication or a long-range wide area network protocol node to connect to its serving gateway. The latter is endowed with both technologies. In particular, we introduce an analytical framework to characterize the performance–cost tradeoffs using a multicriteria optimization approach. For each technology, a set of performance objective functions (i.e., sum-rate and max–min) has been derived based on the ergodic capacity, whereas the cost is represented by SG hardware expenses. Then, the nondominated sorting genetic algorithm-II has been exploited using an appropriate chromosome structure to provide the suitable access technology for each SM along with the optimal number and the placement of the serving GWs. Extensive numerical simulations have shown that hybrid solutions provide a good interplay between performance and investment costs, spurring the need to redefine the conventional SG designs traditionally operating in single communication technologies.

The Smart Grid (SG) is a promising solution solving the energy crisis issues and the mismatch between energy offer and demand. This can be achieved through the integration of reliable, cost-effective and secure data communication networks to manage the complex power systems efficiently. This paper presents an advanced study of the SG platform and its implementation in the Moroccan environment, based on Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity. In our study, we have employed LoRa (Long Range) communications, as an emerging technology exploiting the unlicensed frequency bands to provide a long-range coverage to devices connected to the grid. We first described our developed solution, which consists of a robust platform that gives customers and utilities an updated view and control of various grid events (energy and water consumption, temperature and humidity levels,…). Extensive indoor and outdoor experiments have been conducted to assess the performance of our proposed SG solution. The obtained measurements confirmed the effectiveness and the scalability of our designed framework, which is expected to be a fundamental part of a near-future large-scale smart metering deployment in Morocco.

The emerging smart city concept is the key for a sustainable future. Likewise, smart metering, which employs the power line communications (PLC) to transmit real time data, is one of the main technologies driving the development of smart cities. Nowadays, this attracting technology is becoming more mature, academia and industry are together focusing on developing innovative mechanisms to optimize the design of PLC modems in order to face different challenges related to the harsh PLC channel and the uncontrolled random device connections. Impedance mismatch between the access modem and the network side is among the major barriers to the widespread deployment of the PLC technology. The reactance of the power lines need to be fully matched via an appropriate coupler to meet the access impedance and thus avoiding signal perturbation and power dissipation. This paper presents an impedance matching circuit for Narrow Band PLC (NB-PLC) in CENELEC-A band. We implemented the proposed coupler using the Atmel kit and we conducted extensive simulations and measurements to corroborate the theoretical analysis. The obtained results show a noticeable improvement in signal strength compared to the original cards and the achieved power gain is up to 20 dB.

Limited terrestrial network coverage in rural and remote areas constitutes a significant barrier to the digital transformation of the agricultural sector. Smart and precision farming applications, ranging from conventional environmental monitoring systems to advanced Digital Twin solutions, rely on the reliable transmission of sensor data, images, and video streams from geographically isolated farms. Such data-intensive services cannot be effectively supported without a robust communication infrastructure. Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs), particularly satellite systems, offer both narrowband and broadband connectivity, enabling the transmission of low-rate sensor measurements, as well as high-throughput multimedia data from the field. This paper presents an experimental performance evaluation of two satellite backhauling solutions: a Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) system provided by SES and a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) system from Starlink. The networks were first deployed and tested in a laboratory environment and subsequently validated in an operational agricultural field setting. Their performance is benchmarked against a terrestrial cellular network to assess their suitability for supporting advanced agricultural applications. The performance assessment results indicate that both satellite backhauling solutions are reliable and capable of meeting the bandwidth and latency requirements of delay-tolerant agricultural applications. In addition to the technical evaluation, this work presents a cost–benefit analysis that further underscores the advantages of NTN-based solutions. Despite higher initial expenditures, they provide extended coverage in remote areas and enable cost sharing across multiple users, improving overall economic viability.