In order to transfer functional data between the local stations and the central station, there has to exist an underlying telecommunications infrastructure. Usually a small private telecommunications networked is deployed or the public switched network, leased lines and mobile phone network are employed. Of course a combination of both can be used where a part of the network is developed and the rest is leased from the telecom providers. For the development of the telecommunications infrastructure on of the following solutions can be employed:

Wired communications:

• Industrial network with twisted-pair RS-485
• Leased lines
• Public Switched Telephone Network-PSTN
• ISDN
• Fiber optics

Wireless communications:

• Narrowband RF network at VHF-UHF frequencies
• Spread spectrum RF network at 2,4 GHz
• TETRA RF network
• GSM mobile phone networks
• Satellite network