*2.2. MG Communication Requirements*

To detect efficient and appropriate communication technology for MG, we need to ascertain the specifications and constraints of information exchange in each supervisory level. Figure 3 shows a comparison of AMI, EMS, and DMS characteristics based on data rates, reliability, coverage, delay, complexity, security, and benefits per cost. This figure ensures each control level of MG has its communication requirements. While all control levels require a highly reliable and secure communication, their data rates and delay characteristics increase according to their coverage characteristic. The other important specification for communication infrastructure is backup power, which ensures the performance of communication during any outage and is proportional to the critical mission of each level control from zero for AMI, as interacting with meters increases to one hour for EMS, and 72 hours for DMS. In the SG environment, there is a hierarchical communication level including HAN, FAN, and WAN. This classification can be followed by MG. While HAN contains loads such as smart appliances and electric vehicles (EV), which can be automated and programmable through home energy management systems (HEMS) to provide AS for utility grid such as DR, FAN coordinates among DER, ESS, operators, and energy marketing entities, hence needing higher bandwidth than HAN. At the highest level, WAN embraces information exchange between EMS and DMS when MG works in grid-connected mode. Communication specifications of applications in MG are summarized in Table 2 [33].

**Table 2.** Communication specification application in MG.


**Figure 3.** Comparison of MG control levels characteristics.

#### **3. MG Communication Protocols and Standards**

There is a plethora of standards that embody all aspects of MG electrical and communication requirements. Table 3 depicts all communication-relevant standards of MG, which have been clarified in the following.


