Utilities are modernizing. The cloud is ready - but the network isn’t.
As utilities migrate AMI, SCADA, and simulation workloads to the cloud, they discover a critical gap
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Cloud networks don’t support multicast, broadcast, or IPv6 multicast - features these systems rely on for real-time control, data fan-out, and device coordination.
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These network gaps block migrations, increase complexity, and force redesigns.
swXtch.io bridges this gap with a software-defined overlay that makes these network capabilities work seamlessly in the cloud - allowing legacy and next-gen OT applications to operate as intended.
Powering the Cloud-Native Utility
Enable deterministic multicast, broadcast, and IPv6 traffic across any public cloud - without rewriting applications.
Key Capabilities
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Multicast & Broadcast Support (IPv4 & IPv6)
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Layer-2 Adjacency for legacy OT systems
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Hitless Failover with Multipath Resiliency
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Cross-Cloud Compatibility – OCI, Azure, GCP
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Deploy via VM or Kubernetes
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Real-Time Visibility into flows, latency, and topology
Bring your OT networks to the cloud — without code changes, re-IPing, or architecture redesign.
Smart Metering Modernization
Customer Example: Regional multicast fan-out for electricity & water meter notifications
The Challenge
Utility customer's smart metering application depends on multicast notifications to push updates to regional end-points.
OCI’s lack of native multicast support stalled migration - a critical blocker in their TCO and architecture review.
The Solution
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Deployed dual swXtch.io Cloud Switches in OCI
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Created a multicast overlay for reliable regional fan-out
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Implemented active-active HA with hitless failover
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Required no software changes
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Delivered full topology visibility
The Result
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Lift-and-shift migration completed
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Multicast traffic delivered seamlessly across OCI
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Simplified TCO and deployment model
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Confidence restored in OCI migration plan
swXtch.io let us check the multicast box — and complete our migration without compromise.”
Simulation & Validation
Customer Example: Power-plant simulation and control system validation
The Challenge
Utility customer's simulation environment models full power-plant operations using broadcast-based EGD traffic between VMs and HMI systems.
Azure VNets drop broadcast traffic, breaking simulation fidelity and control visibility.
The Solution
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Introduced swXtch.io cloudSwXtch overlay for broadcast enablement
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Recreated deterministic networking within Azure’s VNet
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Integrated cleanly with customer's existing IP plan and strict security controls
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Supported tunnel-based routing to handle overlapping subnets
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Maintained legacy simulation architecture-no recoding required
The Result
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Restored real-time broadcast communication
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Doubled simulation performance (2× faster runs)
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Scaled for 12+ new power-plant simulations per year
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Preserved decades of engineering IP
We replicated a 30-year-old broadcast system - in Azure - with zero code changes.”
IPv6 Device Networks
Customer Example: Global Metering Technology Provider
The Challenge
A leading global provider of metering and grid automation solutions is developing a cloud-based head-end system to manage millions of smart devices across distributed networks.
The platform relies on IPv6 multicast (via Wi-SUN and similar IoT protocols) to efficiently deliver firmware updates, control messages, and topology synchronization.
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However, in Google Cloud, F5 load balancers drop IPv6 multicast traffic, and VPCs do not support native multicast routing, preventing deployment of the system’s core communication layer.
The Solution
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Deployed the swXtch.io cloudSwXtch overlay to enable IPv6 multicast over IPv4 tunnels within GCP
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Bypassed load balancer limitations while preserving group membership and protocol semantics
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Unified VM-based components (e.g., device access gateways and protocol adapters) with Kubernetes clusters in shared multicast domains
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Integrated seamlessly with Google Cloud security policies and networking boundaries
The Result
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IPv6 multicast validated at scale for 3–5 million devices, supporting future growth toward tens of millions
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Proof of Concept aligned with swXtch.io’s IPv6-capable release timeline
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Delivered a future-ready, cloud-native architecture supporting IPv6-based device ecosystems
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Achieved full parity with on-prem multicast networking, enabling lift-and-shift migration
swXtch.io unlocks IPv6 multicast at scale - powering the nextgen smart grid networks."
The Utility Transformation Impact
From AMI to simulation, swXtch.io delivers the network foundation for cloud-based utility operations.
Accelerated Cloud Migration
Move critical OT systems without redesign
Resilience
Multipath redundancy and hitless failover
Protocol Parity
Multicast, broadcast, and IPv6 supported anywhere
Future-Proof
IPv6 multicast and Wi-SUN protocol compatibility
Hybrid & Multi-Cloud Ready
Deploy across OCI, Azure, GCP, and on-prem
TCO Optimization
Retire legacy labs,
simplify operations
Learn how swXtch.io enables real-time, deterministic networking across OCI, Azure, and GCP.
The Future Utility Network
Utilities are evolving into digitally connected ecosystems -with millions of endpoints, predictive analytics, and real-time automation.swXtch.io enables this evolution by delivering deterministic, reliable networking across every major cloud and hybrid environment.
Whether you’re migrating AMI, simulating plants, or scaling IoT device networks - we make the network work.