The adoption of smart grid technologies enables power utilities to operate their electric grids more efficiently, deliver greener and higher-quality power, and deepen customer relationships. Substation automation, distribution automation, distributed energy resources, storage integration and new applications such as drone-based visual inspections will revolutionize the way utilities produce, manage and deliver electricity across their grids. To unleash the full potential of smart grids, utilities need a smarter communications infrastructure that can route increasing amounts of monitoring, control and status information effectively, efficiently and on time.