Through the Jungle: Enabling Sonet-like Protection of Teleprotection Within IP/MPLS Transport

As AES Ohio completed their microwave-focused Nokia IP/MPLS deployment in 2012, they expanded into their metro fiber network, adding Ethernet capability to complement the existing SONET system that was supporting RTU and teleprotection circuits. By mid-2016, these were upgraded to units with T1 ports to cross-connect TDM traffic physically terminated on SONET. The SONET network could not yet be decommissioned due to one major collection of circuits that remained there: teleprotection. Teleprotection requires low-latency, highly reliable communication to avoid damage to power delivery equipment; SONET not only met these requirements, but also provided assured delivery with active-active path protection, something MPLS could not do. However, the utility’s converged MPLS network was supporting all other communication needs across fiber and microwave assets, a strong case for consolidation. Surely a solution existed that enabled SONET-like protection within IP/MPLS that would enable migrating teleprotection circuits and decommissioning SONET? Come hear AES Ohio share their story and lessons learned from migrating teleprotection to IP/MPLS.