Luxembourg power utility company, Creos recently replaced its existing TDM-based communications system with Alcatel-Lucent’s Internet Protocol/Multiprotocol Label Switching (IP/MPLS) technology to improve its power transmission network – from power generation to the substations.
Alcatel-Lucent (News 
- Alert) will provide Creos with its 7705 Service Aggregation Routers, with the SAR-8 and SAR-18 variants, as well as the 7210 Service Access Switch and 5620 Service Aware (News - Alert) Manager. ?
According to sources, interoperability and performance testing with third party current differential protection equipment was successfully conducted over a distance of 104km using 10 gigabit per second (10G) and 1 gigabit per second (1G) fiber links passing through 11 routers.
Officials with Alcatel-Lucent quoted that the company’s IP/MPLS technology consistently delivered results of below five milliseconds latency across the network and less than 200 microseconds jitter during the testing.
Consequently, this IP/MPLS technology implementation helped Creos to consolidate vital high-bandwidth services onto a single, modernized IP network, thereby enhancing the efficiency of power transmission of Creos with a new intelligent communications network.
Some of the vital services that will be consolidated onto a single network include teleprotection, current differential protection, closed circuit TV (CCTV) and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems - supporting remote monitoring, fault isolation and system safety and reliability.
The consolidation or the convergence of all services on to one communications network not only enhanced operational performance and reliability of the power transmission, but also helped Creos to save the costs associated with managing multiple networks.
Some of the cost-efficient enhancements include extending Creos’s Intranet to support communications between control centers and the remote substation sites, enabling engineers to remain connected as they visit those sites.
Patrick Colling, communications expert at Creos, said in a statement, “The new communications system will form the basis of our smart grid and ensure the network is always available to meet demand. We are very pleased to leverage Alcatel-Lucent’s considerable expertise in IP/MPLS technology to help us accomplish this.”?
Lynn Hunt, global VP, utility solutions of Alcatel-Lucent, said in a statement: “Alcatel-Lucent is a leader in transforming power utilities networks around the globe. We have proven the performance of our IP/MPLS technology in delivering services such as teleprotection and it allows us to give utility companies such as Creos a more complete view of their network to make power transmission more efficient and cost-effective.”?
In recent news, Alcatel-Lucent and Main One Cable Company Limited renewed their marine maintenance contract for Main One's submarine cable system connecting Portugal to Nigeriaover 7,000 km.
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Edited by
Brooke Neuman
