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.
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.