Physical (PHY) and media access control (M 1 AC) layers of the medium frequency band (less than 12 MHz) broadband power line and wireless communication technology for smart grid applications based on orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) are specified in this standard. The necessary security requirements that assure communication privacy and allow use for mission critical and security sensitive services and applications are addressed in this standard. The coexistence with other technologies based on IEEE Std 1901™-2010 also are addressed. The approach that is geared towards achieving an extended communication range with medium speeds in comparison with the existing power line and wireless communication technologies operating in similar frequency bands is defined in this standard.

This standard specifies Data Link layer for a hybrid Physical Layer (PHY) comprised of the PHY for Power Line Communications (PLC) as defined in the IEEE Std 1901.1-2018 standard and a PHY for Radio Frequency (RF) communication technology based on Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM). This standard is applicable for smart grid, Photovoltaic Energy System, Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) applications, Smart Home/Building and other data distribution applications. This standard defines an interface to the PHY layers and a mechanism to switch data traffic between PLC and RF PHYs. The standard addresses the necessary security requirements that enable the use of this technology for mission critical and security sensitive services and applications.