Advances in smart-grid management technologies are transforming the power industry – and ensuring reliable, responsive communications is critical to the success of automated T&T operations:
- Communications failures and quality problems can impact entire communities, threatening essential services such as security, healthcare, and transportation.
- Existing communications are typically a mix of old and new technologies, including legacy Time-Division Multiplexing (TDM) data services along with modern, IP-based systems running on complex public and private networks.
- Large power grids span diverse geographies including harsh terrain and areas with low-quality telephone services not suitable for automated T&T systems.
- Public telephone networks may not provide service across the entire grid, and often suffer from reliability problems.
Power utility companies are turning to their substation and power transmission networks to meet these challenges with specialized fiber-optic communications solutions.
Huawei communications solutions – based on specialized optical, wired, and wireless networking technologies – enable power companies to take control of their end-to-end communications, creating dedicated networks integrated with their existing transmission network and substation infrastructure.
Backbone solution for power T&T communications networks
Specialized Optical Ground Wire (OPGW) and All-Dielectric Self-Supporting (ADSS) optical fiber cabling provide a cost-effective communications backbone to connect power plants, substations, control centers, and office locations. OPGW supports 10 Gbit/s communications over long distance spans of up to 380 km. Multi-Service Transmission Platform (MSTP) bridging equipment ensures data integrity at network intersections and allows the design of networks with redundant links with automated backup paths.
OPGW/ADSS Backbone Communication Solution for Power Utility Companies
Hybrid networks for large-scale power utilities migrating to IP-based smart-grid technologies
To support existing management systems and meet future requirements for IP-based systems, Huawei has integrated two hybrid communications solutions. Both offer high-availability, scalable bandwidth in a cost-effective, dedicated communications network.
Mixed MSTP + IP network for power management communications
Huawei’s MSTP + IP communications solution supports legacy metering and telephony applications, and provides scalable bandwidth for advanced tools from automated IP-based management systems to computer-vision process control applications and video conferencing.
Hybrid MSTP + IP Network Solution
Mixed OPN/WDM + IP network for communications in large-scale, complex environments
For power companies operating in very large service areas managing huge power grids, Huawei offers a flexible, layered communications platform providing an Optical Transport Network (OTN) for Wavelength-Division Multiplexing (WDM), combined with high-performance IP networking. The solution allows companies to continue using existing grid management systems side-by-side with cutting-edge IP-based applications, while consolidating Operations and Management functions (O&M) in a single service-oriented, visual interface with Huawei’s U2000 O&M Solution.
Hybrid OPN/WDM + IP Network Solution
By choosing a Huawei T&T communications solution, power companies can leverage their existing infrastructure to get the high-performance communications needed to take full advantage of smart-grid power delivery and management systems:
- Plan T&T automation for the power grid without worrying about public telecom networks or harsh terrain.
- Reduce impacts from communications outages and network latency
- Overcome great distances and harsh operating conditions
- Simplified network management systems lets personnel focus more on power T&T automation, less on communications issues.
- Be prepared for future growth and new services with a dedicated network operating at fiber-optic speeds and uptime performance of 99.999%.
Contact a Huawei Partner for Smart Grid ICT Solutions, or Email Us for more information.
