LBiSat, a U.S.-based satellite communications provider, has launched a satellite IP service designed to help utility companies meet industry regulations and improve their operational costs, announced VT iDirect (News - Alert), Inc.

iDirect, a company of VT Systems Inc., is a major player in satellite-based IP communications technology.

Officials with iDirect said that the service, which is based on the company's Evolution platform, equips utility companies with two-way, broadband connectivity to support a broad range of applications from monitoring unmanned electrical substations and power generation facilities to expanding automatic data collection from rural customers.

With LBiSat's satellite broadband service, utility companies gain a more reliable network solution to monitor Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition, or "SCADA," devices, with the ability to extend broadband applications such as video surveillance, VoIP and corporate data access to remote substations.

Company officials said that the satellite service can also be leveraged by utility companies to manage green energy sites located deep into remote geographies where terrestrial networks are not readily accessible and to support the real-time monitoring of energy load distribution across every substation and customer location.

'Recent advancements have transformed satellite connectivity into an affordable and highly reliable transport technology, which today can cost less than a typical DSL line", said Rodger Lyma, president and CEO, LbiSat, in a statement.

Lyma said that utility companies are discovering that satellite communications has a unique and important role to play in advancing their smart grid business initiatives.

"Our investment in iDirect's leading IP platform enables LBiSat to deliver the best possible service to the utility industry at an attractive price", he said.

Rob Kilroy, regional vice president, Americas, iDirect said that the critical function of energy and utility communication networks requires the highest possible reliability, even in the most remote and challenging locations.

Kilroy said that LBiSat has a reputation for delivering high availability satellite-based services where they operate.

He said that they are an ideal partner for utility companies that want to extend the capabilities of their SCADA networks and expand their smart grid and green energy initiatives.