A PRACTICAL APPROACH TO UTILITY

NETWORK MODERNIZATION
Simplify the Evolution from SONET/SDH to Packet
Today’s electric utility networks are typically based on Benefits

legacy SONET/SDH technology that is well understood, > Simplify network modernization
while minimizing network
reliable, and provides deterministic behavior. However, transition costs. Upgrade aging
and discontinued SONET/SDH
this present mode of operation is becoming risky and equipment and evolve at your
expensive to maintain as legacy SONET/SDH platforms own pace to next-generation
packet-optical technology
and services are being discontinued by both equipment > Maintain current operational
vendors and network operators and are at risk of failure procedures while providing
the time required to properly
due to dwindling support. Since new grid applications evaluate, test, and transition
to new technologies, using
increasingly rely on packet (IP and Ethernet) technologies, a platform that supports any
continuing to invest in legacy technologies originally combination of SONET/SDH,
OTN, and Ethernet payloads
designed for voice is not a viable option for modernizing > Leverage the lower cost and
the communications network. However, a wholesale much-more-scalable capacity
of Ethernet technology while
replacement of the existing infrastructure with a next-gen retaining predictable traffic-
engineered paths to provide
packet network presents its own set of challenges. consistent, deterministic
communications
To minimize any disruptions to current operations, utilities can deploy a packet-optical
> Take advantage of real-world
solution that continues to support existing legacy services while enabling a smooth,
know-how by leveraging the
incremental evolution to a next-generation packet infrastructure that supports expertise and professional
emerging services and scales cost-effectively to meet long-term needs. services of Ciena and its partners

Today’s Utility Challenges

Typical utility Operational Technology (OT) networks consist of SONET/SDH rings at
OC-3/STM-1 to OC-48/STM-16, linking substations to the network control centers
(Figure 1). Utilities have invested for many years in their current OT network, which
includes the relays, switches, and control mechanisms that run their electrical grids—
and utility personnel have become very familiar with SONET/SDH technology.
Although continuing to leverage this legacy SONET/SDH network may seem
to be the easiest option, utilities need to consider the potential risks.

Rather than maintaining legacy TDM technologies, the telecom industry as a whole is
investing in newer packet and Software-Defined Networking (SDN) technologies to
drive improved operating scale and efficiencies. With the industry discontinuing
support of legacy SONET/SDH technologies and services, the costs for a utility to
maintain their legacy networks will continue to escalate, and finding spare equipment
will become increasingly difficult.

A Application Note
In addition, utilities are facing pressure to
support new public and private initiatives
to provide increased electrical system
efficiency, automation, and reliability,
requiring real-time measurement and
Substation
control information and advanced data
analytics. To meet these demands, utility
standards, such as the IEC 61850
communication standard for electrical
substation automation systems, and grid
equipment, such as relays, are evolving
from circuit-based TDM to native
Ethernet communications.
Adopting a new network technology
presents its own set of challenges,
including the risk of introducing
additional cost and complexity that can
place a strain on operational resources
and budgets. Utility engineering
knowledge and operational procedures
will be geared toward the legacy
OT network rather than the new
technologies and procedures, so any
change in network technology needs
to be carefully evaluated and tested
before it is deployed. While the future
of utility grid communications is destined
to be packet-based, the evolution path
from legacy to packet is less clear
and must take into account these
operational realities.
Riding Two Horses with One Saddle
Some utilities will move quickly to adopt
a packet network strategy, with new
applications and services implemented
directly on a packet infrastructure, while
others will want to extend the life of their
existing SONET/SDH networks to provide
more time to build the new skill-sets and
procedures. For the latter case, what
is needed is a solution that enables
utilities to upgrade aging SONET/SDH
equipment and evolve to packet
technology at their own pace. This can be
achieved by implementing a converged
packet-optical platform that supports
both legacy SONET/SDH and next-gen
packet-optical technologies such as
OTN and Ethernet.
2
Primary
T1/E1 Control
Primary
Center Data
Substation A
Center
Substation
B
E OC-3/12 OC-48
STM-1/4 STM-16
Substation
Backup
C
Substation D Control
Center
Figure 1. Typical utility SONET/SDH OT network
Packet-Optical Primer
Packet-optical networks provide the integration of an agile optical layer based
on Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) with a programmable
Optical Transport Network (OTN) layer and a connection-oriented Carrier
Ethernet or MPLS-TP-based packet layer. Whatever the application, the traffic
can be delivered as packets, timeslots, or wavelengths over whatever is the
most cost-effective layer. A packet-optical platform converges the transport
and switching elements into a single platform that sits at a lower layer than the
IP router with the ultimate goal of providing increased resiliency, manageability,
and deterministic behavior—all at a lower cost.
DWDM unlocks the capacity of the utility fiber plant, providing the ability
to transmit multiple separate and independent signals, each with a
different wavelength, over the same optical fiber. DWDM facilitates IT/OT
convergence, because it consolidates multiple traffic sources onto a single
cost-effective fiber-optic network while maintaining wavelength separation
of grid operations traffic, IT traffic, and general corporate communications.
Existing fiber plants used for SONET/SDH today can be leveraged.
OTN was designed to provide a common container for multiple data
networking services, greatly simplifying the process of end-to-end circuit
provisioning and enabling better network management. This fundamental
change helps IP-based traffic map into OTN just as efficiently as SONET/SDH.
In fact, OTN was developed from the start to be a true multi-service transport
technology where Ethernet, Fibre Channel, SONET/SDH, and other protocols
can be transparently mapped onto the same OTN wavelength.
Carrier Ethernet provides connection-oriented Ethernet, leveraging the low
cost of Ethernet technology while retaining predictable traffic-engineered
paths to provide consistent, deterministic communications. Specific routes
and backups can be planned ahead of time, engineered for a given level
of service performance, monitored on an ongoing basis, and adjusted to
reflect dynamic bandwidth demand. The result—from a management and
reliability perspective—is performance on par with SONET/SDH, but with
much more scalable capacity at a much lower cost. Connection-oriented
Ethernet switching with protection technologies—such as MPLS-TP and
G.8032 Ethernet Ring Protection—provide the benefits of Ethernet access
and aggregation with robust transport provisioning and management.
 SONET/SDH OTN Packet
Infrastructure Infrastructure Infrastructure
2RU
Ethernet Services SONET/SDH PDH Services
- 10/100/1000BT Services: - T1/E1
- FX - OC-3/STM-1 - DS3/E3
- GE - OC-12/STM-4
- 10GE - OC-48/STM-16
- OC-192/STM-64
Figure 2. 6200 Packet-Optical Platform and topology options
By deploying a packet-optical solution, utilities can address
immediate SONET/SDH end-of-life challenges with an
incremental, success-based multi-service solution that
maintains the current operational paradigm while providing
the time required to properly evaluate, test, and transition to
the new technologies. This approach simplifies the network
evolution while minimizing its incremental operational costs.
Ciena’s compact 6200 Packet-Optical Platform is a highly
flexible and scalable edge device designed to cost-effectively
modernize legacy SONET/SDH networks. Traffic from each
port on each card can be transported independently over any
protocol, enabling utility operators to have full flexibility in
mapping any client port to SONET/SDH, OTN, or Ethernet
services and allowing for maximum leverage of the
equipment investment. The 6200 provides the flexibility to
gradually transition the network as fast or slow as desired by
increasing the capacity of existing services today and laying
the groundwork for high-performance Ethernet services in
the future when the utility is ready. Comprehensive packet
capabilities include enhanced Quality of Service (QoS) and
ITU G.8032 Ethernet Ring Protection for multi-path resiliency,
as well as integrated packet and/or OTN centralized switching
capability to maximize the efficiency of the network.
The 6200 can serve as both an access and aggregation
platform, feeding a core DWDM network—such as one
composed of Ciena’s 6500 Packet-Optical Platform—for reliable
multi-protocol service delivery, and/or the 8700 Packetwave™
Platform for reliable packet service delivery (Figure 2).
The 6500 combines packet, OTN, and flexible WaveLogic
photonics in a converged platform to streamline operations
3
Ethernet/OTN
DWDM
T1/E1
DS3/E3
Ethernet
DWDM
SONET/SDH
Ethernet
and optimize footprint, power, and capacity, while the 8700,
a programmable Ethernet-over-DWDM packet switch,
addresses the growing need to efficiently aggregate and
switch large quantities of packet traffic while guaranteeing
stringent performance levels.
6200 Packet-Optical Platform
Download data sheet
Figure 3 illustrates a low-risk, incremental approach to
network modernization. By selectively upgrading SONET/
SDH nodes to a 6200, utilities can evolve their networks
over multiple stages to avoid any disruption to core services.
The packet-optical architecture provides the foundation
to migrate to an OTN multiservice architecture or Carrier
Ethernet packet architecture. This allows network operators
to evolve systematically to any combination of SONET/SDH,
OTN, and Ethernet payloads, providing an effective strategy
to build a modernized infrastructure while still carrying legacy
traffic. As a result, utilities can migrate at their own pace and
maximize their current network investments and operations.
Prescription for Success
Utilities should take full advantage of real-world know-how
by leveraging the expertise and professional services of
Ciena and its partners, who have done this before with
many customers.
Optimize your network with
Ciena Specialist Services
 *EOL/MD ‘Expensive’ Replacing failing
equipment capacity equipment and
growth ‘recover’ spares

Baseline

SONET/SDH
SONET/SDH SONET/SDH SONET/SDH
Ring
Ring Ring Ring

OTN or Carrier
Inefficient ring Ethernet overlay Improve space Add new
interconnect network and power footprint OADM
location
Figure 3. An incremental approach to network modernization

As with any technology transformation, it makes sense to start Summary

small, beginning with a proof of concept or small pilot project,
and then expand the footprint incrementally based on
success. This would typically mean progressing from the lab
to a dark fiber pilot project or a less critical area of the
network before expanding more broadly in the live network.
The ability to maintain existing SONET/SDH operations while
selectively moving traffic to the next-generation overlay
network provides the necessary time to gain expertise in the
new technologies and to test and evaluate key considerations
such as reliability, security, and compliance and the handling
of legacy infrastructure and interfaces.
As utilities look to upgrade their aging OT network
infrastructures, Ciena’s 6200 can provide a low-risk, seamless
evolution to next-generation communication architectures
while continuing to leverage the existing utility SONET/SDH
operations and infrastructure. As utilities’ requirements
evolve, the 6200 can support Ethernet or OTN technologies
to allow utilities to modernize their communications network
at their own pace, without having to undergo a wholesale
replacement of their current solutions. The result is a cost-
effective, scalable, simple-to-manage solution that can evolve
to support Ethernet and OTN technologies when required.

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Ciena may from time to time make changes to the products or specifications contained herein without
notice. Copyright © 2016 Ciena® Corporation. All rights reserved. AN110 4.2016