CXOToday has engaged in an exclusive interview with Manish Kothari – Senior Vice President, Software Development at Silicon Labs
Q.1 Can you give me an overview of Silicon Labs’ current initiatives to implement smart metering in India and the key partnerships driving this project? Have you encountered any challenges in deploying smart metering technology in India, so far? If yes, how are you addressing them?
Silicon Labs is leading India’s smart metering revolution with secure, efficient wireless chips like the EFR32FG23 and FG28 SoCs. Designed for protocols such as Wi-SUN and Wirepas, these chips excel at long-range, low-power data transmission, ideal for India’s varied geography. Our latest SoCs, like the FG28, also integrate machine learning capabilities, paving the way for applications like anomaly detection and predictive maintenance, optimizing grid management, and boosting efficiency.
Key to our success is partnering with leading utilities and infrastructure providers in India. We collaborate with Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) solution providers, such as CyanConnode and Wirepas, combining their mesh network expertise with our secure chip technology. This partnership delivers robust and scalable smart metering solutions, ensuring reliable data collection and enabling utilities to make data-driven decisions for a more efficient grid.
However, we face challenges such as India’s vast and diverse infrastructure. Disparate power grids, especially in rural areas, complicate large-scale deployment. Cost is another concern; installing smart meters can be expensive for a country with a large consumer base. To address this, Silicon Labs focuses on cost-effective solutions through innovative chip design that minimizes power consumption and simplifies meter functionality. We also partner with local manufacturers to ensure economies of scale and reduce import dependencies.
Q.2 How does Silicon Labs’ smart metering project align with the Indian government’s push for smart infrastructure and sustainable energy solutions? Will it transform energy management and consumer behavior in India?
Silicon Labs’ smart metering project aligns with India’s push for smart infrastructure and sustainable energy. The Indian government, through initiatives like the Smart Cities Mission and the National Smart Grid Mission, aims to enhance urban living with technology-driven solutions focused on energy efficiency and better resource management. Our smart metering technology supports these goals by enabling precise energy monitoring, reducing losses, and improving energy distribution efficiency.
In collaboration with Wirepas, Silicon Labs has deployed around 1 million smart meters in India’s advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) initiative, using the Wirepas Sub-GHz RF Mesh solution and the EFR32FG23 sub-GHz SoC. These smart meters provide consumers with detailed insights into their energy usage, promoting responsible consumption and helping reduce energy bills. Features like time-of-use pricing incentivize consumers to shift energy use to off-peak hours, balancing the grid load.
Smart metering also contributes to sustainability by enhancing energy efficiency and reducing wastage, supporting carbon emission reduction. The decentralized mesh network architecture ensures robust connectivity without relying on centralized infrastructure, even in challenging environments.
Silicon Labs’ smart metering project is key to realizing a smart, sustainable, and energy-efficient India. By transforming energy management and consumption, we are aligning with the Indian government’s infrastructure goals and encouraging more sustainable consumer behavior.
Q.3 Can you elaborate on how Silicon Labs’ System on Chip (SoC) contributes to your competitive edge in the IoT market, and what recent technological developments are you most excited about?
Silicon Labs is a key player in the IoT market, leveraging innovative System-on-Chip (SoC) solutions that integrate multiple functions into a single chip. This integration reduces the need for separate chips for microcontrollers, wireless connectivity, and sensors, cutting down on Bill of Materials (BOM) costs and simplifying design processes. Our SoCs are compact, enhance power efficiency, and extend the battery life of IoT devices, crucial for small-form-factor and battery-operated devices.
Customization is a significant advantage of Silicon Labs’ SoCs, allowing developers to tailor features to specific applications. Integrated peripherals and software stacks streamline development, reducing time-to-market. Our SoCs also focus on security, with embedded features like hardware encryption and secure boot enhancing overall device security. These elements collectively contribute to our competitive edge in the IoT market, making our SoCs a preferred choice for developers seeking efficient, secure, and customizable solutions.
Our recent product range, including the ultra-efficient xG22E family (BG22E, MG22E, FG22E), targets ultra-low-power IoT devices capable of operating on harvested energy. As 5G networks expand, Silicon Labs is poised to leverage high-speed, low-latency connectivity for enhanced real-time IoT experiences. SoCs with built-in edge processing capabilities reduce reliance on cloud servers, enhancing privacy and improving response times.
Additionally, Silicon Labs is exploring AI and ML integration within SoCs. These technologies enable IoT devices to make intelligent decisions locally, improving efficiency and responsiveness. Applications in healthcare and manufacturing are particularly promising, with SoCs facilitating advanced healthcare monitoring and smart manufacturing solutions for real-time data collection, predictive maintenance, and process optimization. Enhanced security features further safeguard against cyber threats, ensuring data integrity and trustworthiness in IoT ecosystems.
Q. 4 How is Silicon Labs leveraging advancements in SoCs to enhance the performance and reliability of smart metering systems?
By collaborating with Wirepas, Silicon Labs has made significant strides in India’s smart metering market, combining the Wirepas Sub-GHz RF Mesh solution with the EFR32FG23 (FG23) sub-GHz SoC. This combination addresses the challenges posed by India’s ambitious smart grid initiative. The FG23-based network interface card (NIC) runs Wirepas connectivity software, allowing each smart meter to communicate seamlessly using standard protocols like DLMS. This setup enables a fully automatic and decentralized multi-hop mesh network that connects to gateways, which then forward data to head-end systems (HES) or meter data management (MDM) systems for utility providers to analyze.
The FG23 SoC offers best-in-class RF performance, providing impressive range and eliminating the need for costly additional network infrastructure to reach remote meters. This capability simplifies deployment, as Wirepas networks form organically as meters are installed, minimizing the need for complex planning and optimization. Such a decentralized mesh network ensures seamless communication and data forwarding, enhancing the overall efficiency and reliability of the smart metering system.
Additionally, Silicon Labs’ BG22 Series 2 SoCs are ideal for energy-friendly mesh networking in metering applications. These SoCs enable reliable communication across IoT devices within smart meter networks, leveraging Bluetooth technology to enhance connectivity and efficiency. The FG25 Wireless SoC series further complements these advancements by offering long-range, multi-modulated, high-speed connections using Sub-GHz frequencies. This series is well-suited for smart metering and lighting applications, providing robust performance that ensures reliable data transmission and system stability.
Q.5 With the rapid growth of IoT devices, how is Silicon Labs addressing the increasing concerns around IoT security, and what specific security features are integrated into your smart metering solutions?
One of the standout features of Silicon Labs’ offerings is their Secure Vault firmware, which is PSA Certified Level 3 certified. This firmware provides extreme protection against logical, physical, and wireless attacks, incorporating advanced security features such as Differential Power Analysis (DPA) countermeasures, anti-tamper mechanisms, and secure key management. These features are crucial for maintaining the integrity and security of smart meters, which are often targets for various cyber threats.
Silicon Labs’ solutions enable smart meters to achieve long battery life, often extending to tens of years, which is critical for minimizing maintenance efforts and costs. This long battery life is complemented by enhanced security measures tailored to specific contexts, such as India’s smart metering challenge. For instance, the FG23 sub-GHz SoC integrates with the Wirepas network, providing additional security layers. This integration includes features like DPA countermeasures, anti-tamper protection, and secure key management, which safeguard data and devices from both local and remote attacks.
Moreover, Silicon Labs offers robust security services that align with the Zero Trust security model, emphasizing the importance of never implicitly trusting any device or user. These services include IoT device identity injection certificates and 10-year Software Development Kit (SDK) support. Their Custom Provisioning and Manufacturing Service (CPMS) allows developers to customize connected products with advanced security features, ensuring comprehensive protection of hardware, software, and entire ecosystems. This holistic approach to security and efficiency positions Silicon Labs as a leader in the smart metering industry, providing solutions that meet the stringent demands of modern energy management systems.
Q.6 How do you foresee the landscape of IoT security evolving in the coming years, and what steps is Silicon Labs taking to stay ahead of potential security challenges?
Silicon Labs is taking proactive measures to stay ahead of potential security challenges in the IoT ecosystem through our industry-leading Secure Vault™ suite. This comprehensive suite addresses escalating IoT threats and significantly reduces the risk of security breaches. Secure Vault includes protection against scalable local and remote software attacks and defense against local hardware attacks, which are increasingly common due to affordable tools. The suite’s security functions are validated through third-party laboratory testing, ensuring robust protection for communication channels and devices against both logical and physical attack vectors.
One of the critical components of Silicon Labs’ security measures is the incorporation of a True Random Number Generator (TRNG). The TRNG generates unpredictable cryptographic keys, enhancing security by preventing predictable patterns in encryption. This randomness is essential for maintaining the confidentiality and integrity of data. Additionally, the Crypto Engine provides cryptographic algorithms that secure communication and data protection, ensuring the authenticity of data transmitted between devices.
Silicon Labs also employs Secure Application Boot to ensure that only authenticated and authorized firmware runs on devices during startup. This feature prevents unauthorized code execution, maintaining the integrity of the device’s software environment. To further safeguard against sophisticated attacks, Silicon Labs integrates Differential Power Analysis (DPA) countermeasures, which protect against side-channel attacks that exploit variations in power consumption during cryptographic operations.
Advanced anti-tamper mechanisms are another critical aspect of Silicon Labs’ security strategy. These settings protect against physical tampering, ensuring the device’s integrity. Secure key management is also a priority, as proper key management is crucial for maintaining secure communication. By implementing these comprehensive security features, Silicon Labs is committed to providing maximum protection for IoT devices, safeguarding against a wide range of potential threats.
Q.7 What is Silicon Labs’ long-term vision for a smart future in India, any notable upcoming project/collaboration?
Silicon Labs is significantly contributing to India’s smart future through strategic initiatives and collaborations. One key development is the new office in Hyderabad at Salarpuria Sattva Knowledge City, now our largest global center for engineering and wireless connectivity innovation. This facility houses a skilled team of hardware, software, and applications engineers. As Silicon Labs’ fastest-growing wireless development center, it has nearly 500 employees with plans to expand to 1,500+ by 2028. This growth highlights the company’s commitment to developing cutting-edge IoT wireless products and solutions for various applications.
In partnership with IIIT-Hyderabad, Silicon Labs launched India’s first campus-wide Wi-SUN network at the IIIT-H Smart City Living Lab. This network, serving a street-lighting application, connects about 100 built-in network nodes to campus streetlamps for remote monitoring and control. This project underscores Silicon Labs’ dedication to enhancing urban safety, sustainability, energy efficiency, and quality of life.
We are also a key player in the Smart City Living Lab at IIIT-Hyderabad, alongside the Government of India’s Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), the Government of Telangana, and the European Business and Technology Centre. This initiative focuses on developing next-generation technologies designed in India for global impact, showcasing Silicon Labs’ role in driving technological innovation and supporting smart city initiatives.
Through our focus on IoT technologies and strategic collaborations, Silicon Labs envisions a connected, intelligent wireless ecosystem that enhances urban living, promotes sustainability, and drives technological advancement in India and beyond.
