Nowadays, the new configuration of natural gas systems, according to the principles of smart grids, includes a high level of metering, monitoring and communication activities. However, there are still different technological barriers that hinder the interoperability of networks. In this framework, the different communication technologies that are currently used in the natural gas sector have been investigated. Therefore, the main components of the communication architecture for this kind of infrastructures are analyzed, as well as the existing barriers to the application of this novel configuration worldwide and with special focus on Europe.