Category: Utility companies

Since 1 May 2026, Stefan Huber (third from the right in the photo) has strengthened our sales team as a Senior Account Manager, with a clear focus on utilities operating in the critical infrastructure (KRITIS) sector. He is also responsible for supporting partners and further expanding our partner network in this segment. We are delighted to welcome him to Garderos. With Stefan, we gain not only further strong Smart Grid expertise, but also a personality that is a great fit for our team.

Stefan previously worked as a Sales Engineer at our long-standing partner comtac AG. During this time, he built solid expertise in the field of critical infrastructure and established a strong network within the energy sector.

Another point of contact for Smart Grid, LTE 450 and vRTU

At Garderos, Stefan’s focus will be on Smart Grid projects across the DACH region. He supports utilities – particularly municipal utilities – in implementing connectivity to the LTE 450 network and in efficiently digitalising local substations using virtual RTUs.

In addition, he assists customers in addressing key requirements in low-voltage networks: from smart meter integration as a data foundation to grid-friendly control mechanisms in line with Section 14a EnWG. In doing so, he helps ensure transparency and controllability in increasingly complex distribution grids.

Stefan Huber on his new role at Garderos:
“New chapter, same mission: I am excited to get started at Garderos and to work with our customers to make critical infrastructure even more stable and future-proof. And the best part: the strong partnership with comtac continues – a perfect basis for many more successful projects.”

Hermann Knauer, CEO of Garderos:
“With Stefan Huber, we are gaining a valuable new colleague – and our customers gain a highly competent and committed point of contact. With his communicative personality, Stefan stays close to customers and is deeply involved in their projects.”

The entire Garderos team warmly welcomes its new colleague.

Would you like to get in touch with Stefan Huber? Feel free to send him an email or connect with him on LinkedIn.

Power grids are becoming more digital, more distributed and more complex. At the same time, many Distribution Network Operators face shrinking operational teams, increasing cyber‑security risks and infrastructure that must run reliably for decades.

How can utilities manage thousands of substations, routers and field devices without increasing operational complexity?

This question is the focus of the latest episode of the “Powering the Future” podcast by Smart Grid Forums, featuring Paul Cullen, co‑founder of Garderos. In the conversation, he shares insights into how utilities can simplify grid communications while strengthening operational resilience and cyber security.

Key topics discussed in the podcast

In the episode, Garderos Co-founder Paul Cullen explains:

• why zero‑touch provisioning is becoming essential for operating large fleets of routers across thousands of substations
• how utilities can deploy and update thousands of devices remotely, reducing the need for on‑site engineering work
• how edge computing on industrial routers enables applications to run directly at the grid edge
• how a virtual RTU can replace additional hardware and significantly reduce cost, cabinet space and power consumption
• why open‑source software is increasingly required in public tenders and how it improves transparency in critical infrastructure projects

The conversation also highlights how utilities can maintain consistent configurations and rapid security updates across large device fleets – an increasingly important capability as cyber threats evolve.

▶ Watch the full episode below:

You are currently viewing a placeholder content from Default. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.

Unblock content Accept required service and unblock content

More Information

Meet Garderos at Smart Grid Technical Forum 2026 in Paris

Garderos will be exhibiting at the Smart Grid Technical Forum 2026 in Paris.

If you are attending the event, meet our team to discuss:

• operational challenges in digitalised distribution grids
• secure and scalable communication architectures for substations
• practical approaches to managing large fleets of routers and field devices

We look forward to exchanging ideas with Distribution Network Operators and smart grid experts in Paris.

Find out more about our solutions for utilities here.

Garderos will present its LTE-450 routers and secure communication solutions for critical infrastructure at E-world energy & water 2026 (Hall 5, Booth 5M116). The focus is on reliable, highly available connectivity for energy utilities, grid operators and the scalable operation of EV charging infrastructure.

Modern communication architectures for critical infrastructure

At E-world 2026, Garderos demonstrates how modern communication architectures based on LTE-450 routers support energy utilities and grid operators in strengthening operational resilience and modernising existing network infrastructures. Garderos will showcase its LTE-450-capable routers, which are approved on the whitelist of network operator 450connect and designed for highly available operation in critical networks.

A further focus is the virtual RTU for low-voltage monitoring and protocol conversion in secondary substations. In specific scenarios, it can replace a physical RTU and support more flexible grid operation. Garderos will also present solutions for the migration from 4G to 5G RedCap and provide guidance on a topic that is already relevant today and will continue to gain importance in the coming years.

Router solutions for operational reliability and cyber security in EV charging infrastructure

In the area of EV charging infrastructure, Garderos’ communication architecture increases operational reliability while reducing management effort. Industrial routers and the central management system form the backbone of a scalable solution, supporting redundant connectivity options such as 5G/4G, LTE 450 and fibre, combined with integrated security mechanisms.

Garderos solutions help energy utilities, distribution system operators, and operators and providers of EV charging infrastructure meet regulatory requirements while reducing day-to-day operational effort. Support for eSIM, eUICC and remote SIM provisioning simplifies rollout and fleet management across large numbers of sites.

Detailed requirements and selection criteria for KRITIS-grade LTE 450 routers can be found in the Garderos Buyer’s Guide (in German).

To arrange a meeting at E-world, please contact us at sales@garderos.com.

The LTE-450 rollout by Bayernwerk Netz GmbH reaches even the most remote locations: on the Zugspitze, Germany’s highest mountain, a local substation was recently upgraded with cutting-edge technology for remote monitoring and control. The retrofit solution will allow real-time access to operating data and make it possible to track voltage and power values in the future.

At almost 3,000 meters, the Zugspitze substation is the highest power grid in Bayernwerk´s service area, supplying electricity to the Zugspitzbahn railway, the German Weather Service station and the Max Planck Society research facility, among others.

At the core of the retrofit installation is a rugged industrial router from Garderos, supporting both conventional public cellular and LTE-450 connectivity. This combination ensures secure and highly available data transmission – even under harsh alpine conditions.

Applications that Strengthen the Grid

• Remote control technology: enabling real-time monitoring and management of grid assets
• Power quality management: capturing and analyzing data on voltage and network stability
• Future-ready design: The Zugspitze project showcases today’s digital ONS capabilities. Garderos routers also support advanced features such as virtual RTUs (vRTU) for upcoming use cases

Partnership for critical infrastructure

By choosing LTE-450 and Garderos’ router as well as router configuration server, Bayernwerk Netz ensures that even remote and exposed sites are seamlessly integrated into the digital power grid. This is a vital step toward greater resilience, security of supply, and transparency in energy networks.

As one of Germany’s largest utilities, Bayernwerk Netz is a long-standing customer of Garderos. Together, the two are driving the digitalization of the energy sector – from the lowlands all the way up to the highest peaks.

Photo: Christian Martens, Bayernwerk Netz GmbH