5 June 2012 1

TELECOM NEEDS

OF

POWER SECTORTechnology Options & Choices

29th May 2012

What are the Key Technology Options

available? ( PLC, Microwave, VSAT,

OFC, GPRS etc)

What are the advantages &

disadvantages of each option in the

Indian Context?

What has been the experience so far?

What are the key issues &

Challenges?

Technology Options

5 June 2012 2

Reliable Telecom Connectivity is required for;

Voice – CUG, VoIP, Land Line

Corporate VPNs

Internet & E-Mail

ERP Applications

Protection Systems

Data Real Time Data Transfers for Grid Operation (SCADA / EMS)

Remote Monitoring of Projects

Remote Operation of Active sites

( Sub-stations / Generating Stations, NTAMC)

Smart Grid Applications

Automatic Metering

Computerised Billing & Collection

Data Centres & Disaster Recovery Centres

Video Conferencing

TELECOM NEEDS

5 June 20123

What’s Required?

Sufficient end to end bandwidth

IP/Ethernet capable devices

Flexible and Reliable Backbone and

Access communication network

Network reach down to consumers

Interfaces and Protocols based on

Power Industry standards

Communication solutions

5 June 2012 4

Technology Options – Communication Media

5 June 2012 5

Reliable medium of Communication is the Primary need for any

utility. There are various medium and technologies are available and

are deployed at different locations depending on the need. The

medium can be any one or combination of the following:

Wire Lines

Copper Cables

Co-axial Cables

Wireless

Microwave Radio

VSAT

Through Power Transmission Lines

Power Line Carrier Communication (PLCC)

Digital PLCC

Optical Fibre Cables

Underground / Aerial OFC

All Dielectric Self Supporting (ADSS)

Optical Ground Wire (OPGW)

Wrap Around

Technology Options – Communication Media

5 June 2012 6

Equipment

SDH (Synchronous Digital Hierarchy)

DWDM (Dense Wave Digital Multiplexing)

MPLS (Multi Protocol Label Switching)

Depending on the medium , various types of end

equipments (Transmitters / Receivers) are deployed

for collection / transmission of voice , Data & Video

Each of the medium has its own advantages &

disadvantages

Deciding factors for Network Design

5 June 2012 7

Type of application

Type of transaction (interactive/batch)

No. of simultaneous users on the network

Transaction size

Response time expected

Type of communication media

ROW

Techno-Economics

Technology Options – Copper Cables

5 June 2012 8

Advantages Disadvantages

Doesn’t require

any License

Right of Way

requirement for

underground

cable

Power utilities can

use their existing

infrastructure

Fault location is

difficult

More number of

Channels

Faults can lead to

Ground potential

raise

Suitable for short

distances

Prone to theft

Twisted pair Copper cables are the popular medium for wire line

communications adopted.

They can be laid either underground or aerially

Technology Options – Co-axial Cables

5 June 2012 9

Advantages Disadvantages

Doesn’t require any

License

Right of Way

requirement for

underground cable

Power utilities can

use their existing

infrastructure

Fault location is

difficult

More number of

Channels compared

to Copper

More immune to RF

noise interference

Suitable for short

distances

Prone to theft

Coaxial cable consists of an inner conductor surrounded by a grounded outer

conductor, which is held in a concentric configuration by a dielectric. The dielectric

can be PVC, air, foam etc

Coaxial cable can transmit high frequency signals up to several MHz with low

attenuation compared to copper wires

They can be laid either underground or aerially

Technology Options – Microwave Radio

5 June 2012 10

Microwave radio technology makes use of short wavelengths in the

electromagnetic spectrum to send signals over distances with high

frequencies.

Frequency range: 2.3 - 2.5 GHz

Repeater distance : 40-50 kms.

Network Capacity : 4x 2.048 Mbps.

Automatic Protection System (APS) -

Redundancy & Link Protection.

Network designed for 99.99 % availability

under the worst conditions.

RF signal contains Voice/Data, Service

channels & In-Service Monitoring.

Typically, 1.8m, 2.4m & 3m Grid Parabolic

Antennas used.

Technology Options – Microwave Radio

5 June 2012 11

Advantages Disadvantages

Independent of common carriers and

power lines

Frequency assignments requiring

clearance from SACFA(Standing

Advisory Committee for Frequency allocation).

Spectrum Scarcity

Relatively low construction costs

Does not require physical cables or

expensive attenuation equipment

Subject to interference .

Line of sight technology (i.e the

signals will not pass through

objects) limits operating distances

Mountains, hills and rooftops

provide inexpensive and accessible

bases for microwave towers.

Microwave radio signals are affected

by electromagnetic interference

(EMI)

Transmits thousands of data

channels between two points

without relying on a physical

transmitting medium

Less reliability . Microwave radio

communication is also affected by

heavy moisture, snow, rain and fog

Technology Options – VSAT

5 June 2012 12

VSAT is the short form for Very Small Aperture Terminals. There are three main

components of the VSAT Technology – The Satellite, A Central Hub (With a Big Dish

Antenna) and a number of smaller nodes (smaller dish antenna) kept at various remote

locations that together form a Star topology (Mesh topologies for small networks)

using the satellite network.

Outdoor Unit

Antenna: Reflector, Feedhorn & Mount

RFT: LNA, Down Converters, Upconverters,

HPA

Indoor Unit

Decides Access Schemes

Modem

User Interfaces

Protocols Conversions

Interlink Facility

Low loss coaxial cable to the indoor unit.

Typical length 300 feet.

ODU

(1+0)

MODEM

DA

TA

DA

TA

VO

ICE

VO

ICE

MODEM

ODU

(1+0)

DA

TA

VO

ICE

DA

TA

VO

ICE

VO

ICE

DA

TA

REMOTE STATION CENTRAL STATION

VSAT NETWORK ON SHARED HUB

5 June 2012 13

VSAT

VSAT

VSAT

VSAT

SATELLITE

TRANSPONDERS

HUB

40 M

bp

s

Space SegmentSatellite transponder

Ground SegmentCentral HUB

Remote VSATs

TopologiesStar

Mesh

Hybrid

Point to Point

Remote Telephony

VSAT –SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE

VSAT FREQUENCY BANDS

5 June 2012 14

Frequency

Band

Uplink (GHz)

Earth Station to

satellite

Downlink (GHz)

Satellite to Earth

Station

C Band 5.925 to 6.425 3.700 to 4.200

Extended C

Band6.725 to 7.025 4.500 to 4.800

Ku Band 14.000 to 14.500 10.950 to 11.700

Technology Options – VSAT

5 June 2012 15

Advantages Disadvantages

Suitable for accessing Remote

Locations . Easy to install.

Wider Area Coverage.

Latency is high. (>200 ms) vis-

a.vis terrestrial equivalent

technologies (<100 ms).

Downtime are expected due to

satellite eclipses.

Channels cost are almost

distance independent .

Higher initial cost for satellite

connectivity and recurring

monthly costs for terminal

equipments .

Can be a back up to terrestrial

networks .

Need to be fixed outside the

offices or homes hence

making them susceptible to

damage or theft.

Broadcasting Capabilities . IP

based Multi-cast applications

like audio and video streaming

are possible .

Rain Attenuation might affect

the performance of VSAT

communications under rainy

conditions.

Technology Options - PLCC

5 June 2012 16

Power Line Carrier Communications (PLCC) – Traditional and reliable technology available to

electric power utilities for critical communications channels and protection signaling.

In PLCC the radio frequency signals are transmitted through power transmission lines.

PLCC systems operate with audio frequency signals in the range of 30 kHz and 500 kHz.

band over power transmission lines

3

3

1

3 3

1

2

1

3

3

5

1. Carrier Eqpt.

2. HF Cable

3. Coupling

Device

4. CVT / CC

5. Wave Trap

4

WAVE TRAPS

Prevents the carrier currents from entering the power

equipment.

Suitably designed choke coils connected in the series with

the power lines.

Negligible Impedance for the power frequency current but

high impedance to the radio frequency current.

COUPLING CAPACITORS

Minimizes capacitance changes with temperature and time.

Coupling capacitors have capacitance between 2 and 8 nF.

LINE MATCHING & PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

Consists of matching Transformers and Tuning capacitors.

Isolates the communication equipment from the power line.

Matches the impedance of the power line to that of the

coaxial cable of communication equipment.

Technology Options - PLCC

5 June 2012 17

Advantages Disadvantages

Both communication and

power transfer can be

possible on same circuit and

cost effective.

Noise introduced by power

lines is high in case of

telephone lines.

Equipment installed in utility

owned land or structures

with minimum hardware.

Carrier frequencies often not

protected on a primary basis

Economical & reliable over

long distances w/o need for

repeaters and works at any

climatic conditions

Inherently few channels

available

Attenuation is less over

long distance

Expensive on a per-channel

basis

Technology Options – Optical Fibers

5 June 2012 18

An Optical Fiber is a flexible thin filament of glass. Optical Communication

system accepts electrical signals as inputs, convert them into optical signals,

carry them over fiber optic cables and revert them into electrical signals at the

destination. There are various types of OFCs Underground, Aerial, OPGW etc.

Underground OFC OPGW

Under Ground Optical Fiber Cables

5 June 2012 19

Advantages Disadvantages

Immune to electromagnetic

interference and Immune to

ground potential rise . Optical

Fiber Cables can run long

distances.

Subject to breakage and water

ingress . Limited bend radius

(about 30 mm). So, if they are

bent more, it might lead to some

signal loss

High channel capacity. Do not

have speed limits or bandwidth

limitations. They can support

any speed/ bandwidth depending

only on the type of active

components used at either end.

High RoW Cost in case of

underground fibers.

High CAPEX in terms of cost of

Fibers , end equipments and

installation

High Security. Not easy to

intercept Can be laid both within

the buildings and outside the

buildings .Generally they are

buried under the ground using a

Trench and protective materials

Vulnerable to fiber cuts due to

Road Expansions, Development

activities like Metro Projects ,

maintenance activities etc

VULNERABILITY OF UNDERGROUND OFC

5 June 2012 20

5 June 2012 21

VULNERABILITY OF UNDERGROUND OFC

5 June 2012 22

VULNERABILITY OF UNDERGROUND OFC

ADSS ( All Di-electric Self Supporting )Cables

5 June 2012 23

Suitable Transmission lines upto 220KV. Fibre inside HDPE tubes

Flexible, Reliable and Long lasting.

Can be installed without shut down of power.

Free from electro-magnetic interference.

Specially strung over large road or river crossings.

Easy to commission, maintain, and expand.

Ideal for reinforcing existing networks.

Weather proof and environmental friendly.

TYPICAL ADSS CABLE LAYING FROM SUBSTATION YARD

5 June 2012 24

OPGW (Optical Ground Wire ) Cables

5 June 2012 25

Suitable for Transmission lines of 132KV and above. Acts as earth

wire –cum- OFC.

Right of Way (ROW) readily available on transmission lines

No forest Clearance etc are required

Transmission infrastructure is sturdy, stable, free from vandalism

and rodent menace.

Telecom Network over Transmission system ensures very high

availability for Telecom Network

Faster Roll-out. Mostly Live line installation without disrupting

power flow

Longer Life of OPGW

OPTICAL GROUND WIRE

OPGW

ALUMINIUM TUBEACSR STRANDS

FIBRE

OPGW INSTALLATION

WRAP AROUND

ADSS

FIBRE OPTIC CABLE INSTALLATION

OPGW

Electric Power Utilities have Power

Transmission Network with larger

number of towers spread across each

state.

These towers can be leveraged for

revenue by permitting mounting of

Telecom Antennas

POWERGRID already carried out Pilot

Projects and leased out its towers in 3

states i.e Punjab, Himachal Pradesh,

Jammu & Kashmir. Tendering process for

balance states will be taken up at

appropriate time

Under ULDC projects, total of 187

microwave towers have been installed of

which 20 are in the central sector and 7

are within POWERGRID premises.

Leasing of these towers in association

with the State Utilities is also under

process

Tower Infrastructure

PARAMETERS OPTIC

FIBRES

MICROWAVE PLCC VSAT

Bandwidth Very high High Low Moderate

Installation cost Very High High Low Low

Expandability Easy Difficult Not

possible

Limited

Repeater distance

(typical)

80-90 KM 40-50 KM Not

applicable

Not

applicable

Immunity to

interference

Very High Prone to

interference

Prone to

interference

Prone to

interference

Reliability Very high High Low Moderate

Frequency

clearance

NA Required Required Required

MPLS (Multi Protocol Label Switching)COMPARISON OF DIFFERENT COMMUNICATION MEDIA

MPLS (Multi Protocol Label Switching)SDH and DWDM Technologies

SDH (Synchronous Digital Hierarchy) aggregates a number of

lower-speed electrical or optical signals into a single higher bit

rate signal for transmission over a single fiber using a single

wavelength. Time division multiplexing (TDM) or statistical TDM is

used. Generally suitable for access networks.

DWDM (Dense Wave Digital Multiplexing) assigns incoming optical

signals to specific frequencies or wavelengths of light and

multiplexes them for transport over a single fiber. WDM is a form

of frequency division multiplexing. Generally suitable for high

capacity backbone networks.

Advantages of WDM: each wavelength of light can carry a signal

with its own speed and protocol, independent of what's on the

other wavelengths. And all signals arrive at the same time, instead

of being distributed across time slots.

SDH can be carried over WDM; but not vice versa.

MPLS-Virtual Private NetworkAny-to-any connectivity on Internet Protocol (Routing)

Max. Bandwidth Utilization- Same pipe used by others

when free

Sub 2 Mbps (256 kbps/512Kbps/1024 kbps)

bandwidths possible

Scalable & Simpler Customer connectivity (radial

Connectivity)

Provides QoS & Class of Service (CoS)

MPLS is highly Secure & Reliable Network

connectivity

Easy Provisioning & Maintenance

Cost Effective

MPLS (Multi Protocol Label Switching)

Solutions for Electric Power Utilities

5 June 2012 32

Deployment of Hybrid, Sturdy & Reliable

communication network which is feasible through

Optical Ground Wire (OPGW) , All Dielectric Self

Supporting (ADSS) Backbone Networks and

Access network through Distribution lines or

Microwave Radio or Wi-Max

Homogeneous Smart Grid communication network

with IP/Ethernet connectivity between the

components.

Integration of smart meters and distributed

generation, and extension of the communication

network down to the end customer .

POWERGRID initially laid Optical Ground Wire (OPGW) on

its transmission lines for collecting real time data for Grid

Monitoring

Diversified into Telecom , to utilize spare capacity of

OPGW installed for Grid Monitoring & with an incremental

investment

All equipment & Fibres are international standards

compliant (ITU-T).

Regional & National level NOCs with dedicated NMS for

monitoring of the network on 24 X 7 basis

5 June 2012

POWERGRID’s Diversification into Telecom

POWERGRID’s Strengths in Telecom Over 93,000 Ckms of transmission network and 150 sub-stations across

the Country

Operates Fiber Optic Backbone Network of about 25,000 Kms connectingmore than 200 Cities & towns. Expansion by about 33,000Kms undervarious schemes in progress.

Backbone links are mainly on overhead Optical Ground Wire (OPGW)

Adding value by implementing latest state-of-the-art MPLS network

Right-of-Way (ROW) and infrastructure readily available to develop OPGWback bone

Faster Roll-out – 60-75 km/ gang / month

Installation & Maintenance on live power lines without disturbing thepower system

Dedicated team of professionals developed through extensive training and

have acquired skills in planning, design, installation and O&M of telecom

networks

Impeccable experience in timely building of very large Infrastructure

projects

Capable of undertake large scale projects in the rural areas and difficult

terrain

Power Transmission N/W & Telecom N/W

25000 Kms

205 PoPs

Power Transmission

Network 92946 CKm

150 Sub-Stations

POWERGRID’s MPLS Network

Bhubaneswar

Ahmedabad

Jeypore

Gazuwaka

Dadri

Ballabgarh

Padhge

Somanhalli

Sriperumbudur

Allahabad

Vijaywada

Ramagundam

Moradabad

Kanpur Sasaram

ItarasiKota

Chanderpur

Raipur

Delhi

HyderabadPune Nagpur

Indore

Vadodara

Allahabad

Durgapur

ShillongMisa

KolkataPatna

Vijaywada

Kanpur

Lucknow

Bhopal

Bassi

Jallandhar

Mysore

Trichy

Somanhalli

Bhadrawati

Jamshedpur

Sriperumbudur

Dadri

Ballabgarh

Jammu

Jaipur

Gurgaon

New Siliguri

Kishanpur

Biharsharif

Sasaram

GuwahatiBadarpur

DimapurVaranasi

Mandola

Itarasi

Vindhyachal

Trichur

Salem

Nellore

Rourkela

Malda

Bhadrawati

Durgapur

Bangalore

Jabalpur

Hisar

Agra

Moga

Udamalpet

Kolar

Vapi

Dehgam

Indravati

Rengali

Gooty

Khammam

N’Sagar

Manesar -I

Manesar -II

Madurai

Coimbatore

Yelahanka I

Hyderabad NOC

Routers I & II

Delhi

NOC

Routers

I & II

RR

RR

Yelahanka 2

Legends:

MPLS CORE Router

MPLS Edge Router (Type-II)MPLS Access-I Router (CPE-I)

MPLS Access-II Router (19 CPE-III)

MPLS CORE Router (IGW)

MPLS Edge Router (Type-I)

MPLS Access-I Router (CPE-II)

Chandigarh

Chennai

Raipur

Mumbai

Talcher

V R ALERT – 365 X 24 X7

`

STATE OF ART CONTROL CENTRES

OPTICAL GROUND WIRE(OPGW)TYPE OF

CABLE

OVER HEAD ON

POWER TRANSMISSION TOWERSNETWORK

BACK-BONE

TOPOLOGY

POWERTELPARAMETER

POWERTEL- It is Unique

QUALITY & SAFETYCABLE LAYING

LIVE LINEINSTALLATION

`POWERTELPARAMETER

POWERTEL- It is Unique

Challenges are our way of Life

Challenges

Challenges

Service attitude comes from heart

"He profits most who serves best.“— Rotary International's motto

Service starts with SMILE

Thank You

BANDWIDTH PLANNED for ERP

5 June 2012 45

2Mbps bandwidth/Port speed at each location except RHQ & CC.

20Mbps bandwidth/Port speed for Corporate centre & 10 Mbps

Bandwidth/Port speed at each RHQ.

100 Mbps Bandwidth/Port speed at Main & DR DATA CENTRE.

100 Mbps Point to Point links between NTAMC & Back up NTAMC

from POWERTEL as well as 3rd party service provider, for data

replication.

20 Mbps Internet bandwidth from POWERTEL at Main & DR DATA

CENTRE.

10 Mbps Internet bandwidth from 3rd party at Main & DR DATA

CENTRE.

NTAMC (National Transmission Asset management Center)

NTAMC National Transmission Asset management Center- Remote centralised

operation, monitoring and control of POWERGRID sub-stations

Main Control Centre at National level in 400kV GIS Gurgaon or Manesar

substation

Backup NTAMC planned at :Bangalore (Yelahanka)

No of Regional Transmission Asset management Centers (RTAMCs): 9

(one for each region)

Telecom to provide high speed communication links between NTAMC,

RTAMCs and Sub-stations.

5 June 2012 46

NTAMC Connectivity Plan (Substations)Status upto Dec'12 Status upto Dec'13 Status upto June'14

Connectivity Protected Connectivity Protected Connectivity Protected

Total 101 56 182 106 192 177

Phase - I 77 42 113 66 120 114

Phase - II 24 14 69 40 72 63

Smart Grid

• Smart grid is a combination of

the smart transmission system,

the smart distribution system and

integrating customer systems.

• Integration of distributed generation from renewable

energy sources into main grid like

solar photo voltaic cell,

wind,

biomass,

mini and micro hydro

is also an important feature of smart grid development.

DIGITAL PLCC

5 June 2012 48

Utilizes 8 KHz to establish a full DUPLEX connection

Data stream including voice ,data & teleprotection

@ 32 Kbits/sec can be transmitted

Can accommodate 3 Speech channels and 9 Data channels

Relevent Standard IEC- 495

Utilizes the same band width as an analog PLC.

Increase the capacity ( at least 3 times) that of analog PLC

ADVANTAGES OF SDH TECHNOLOGY

5 June 2012 49

It is a transport network

Based on synchronous multiplexing

Fully standardized

It provides high bandwidth

It accommodates both synchronous and asynchronous

signals for future broadband signals and new services

It has standardized network management capabilities

It Provides traffic protection

It has flexible multiplexing structure

Provides direct access to tributaries

Cross-connections without de-multiplexing

DENSE WAVE MULTIPLEXING (DWDM)

5 June 2012 50

ATM

IP

FIBRE

SDH

SDH

SDH

FIBRE

O

P

T

I

C

A

L

M

U

X

O

P

T

I

C

A

L

D

E

M

U

X

Optical

Transponder

Optical

Transponder

Optical

Transponder

Optical

Transponder

Optical

Transponder

3

1

3

2

DWDM

PAIR

PAIR

Intermediate

Optical Amplifiers

1

2

31

32

D

W

D

M

TYPICAL DWDM LINK

5 June 2012 51

Tx RxMUX DEMUX

OFA W

D

M

W

D

M

1

2

16

TRANSPONDERS

OPTICAL

SIGNALS.STM-1

STM-4

STM-16

ATM

IP

A total of 425 locations (CC, 9 RHQs, 195 substations both

operational and under construction, 57 TL & TLC offices, 24 TLM

offices, 34 DMS, 106 other offices) have been considered for ERP

implementation.

All locations are required to be connected to ERP Data Centre at

Gurgaon and DR Data Centre at Bangalore.

Telecom Department is responsible for providing all required

connectivity for implementation of ERP Project.

The connectivities are primarily planned through POWERTEL’s

proposed MPLS network utilizing existing & proposed FO

network of POWERGRID as well as fibre/bandwidth lease.

The unconnected locations shall be connected through third

party VPN.

ERP(Enterprise Resource Planning) Project

5 June 2012 52

BANDWIDTH PLANNED for ERP

5 June 2012 53

2Mbps bandwidth/Port speed at each location except RHQ & CC.

20Mbps bandwidth/Port speed for Corporate centre & 10 Mbps

Bandwidth/Port speed at each RHQ.

100 Mbps Bandwidth/Port speed at Main & DR DATA CENTRE.

100 Mbps Point to Point links between NTAMC & Back up NTAMC

from POWERTEL as well as 3rd party service provider, for data

replication.

20 Mbps Internet bandwidth from POWERTEL at Main & DR DATA

CENTRE.

10 Mbps Internet bandwidth from 3rd party at Main & DR DATA

CENTRE.

Project cost components

Fibre cost 35%

Fibre installation cost 10%

Equipment cost 20%

Access Network 7%

Auxiliaries 3%

Row charges 5%

Interest & finance charges 15%

Miscellaneous 5%

5 June 2012 54