A reliable communications network is of utmost importance to power utilities to ensure the secure and consistent delivery of power to the community.
The networks installed in power utilities are divided into Operational Telecom (OT) and Information Technology (IT). The IT network is used to automate various business and administrative functions, such as billing, and is mainly located in offices and data centers. This makes an IT network important but not critical. OT on the other hand involves the operation of field-based devices that are time sensitive, such as teleprotection, and applications that operate in real time, such as SCADA and distribution management systems. These are mission critical applications within the utility landscape.
Most power utilities operate their own OT network and historically, utilities have relied on Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) technologies such as Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH)/ Synchronous Optical Networking (SONET). These SDH/SONET networks have supported various critical applications including protection systems and control center monitoring. However, a tide of change is sweeping through the utility telecommunications sector lately and many utilities have plans to replace or upgrade their systems. The decision to do so stems from various factors.