The document discusses the evolution of microwave networks in electric utilities over four waves from the 1940s to present day. The first wave involved experimental voice grade circuits in the 1940s-1960s. The second wave from the 1970s-1980s expanded to low-medium capacity analog systems still using voice grade channels. The third wave in the 1990s-2008 involved digital microwave and migration to IP networks using T1 and SONET. The current fourth wave since the mid-2000s involves converting from T1/SONET to fully IP-based systems using Layer 3 transport protocols like OSPF and MPLS. Typical electric cooperative networks can be small, with nodes requiring low bandwidth mainly for SCADA, security, and

1. Implementing Microwave
Networks in Electric Utilities
FROM TDM TO IP

2. Microwave Networks – Practical Considerations for
Electric Utilities
• First Wave Implementation – 1940s to 1960’s – Experimental Voice Grade
Circuits on low capacity 950 and 2 GHz analog baseband
• Second Wave – 1970’s to late 1980’s – low to medium capacity analog
baseband systems – still voice grade channels and specialized baseband
relaying channel for breaker protection on high voltage systems. Voice
applications secondary and not critical
• Third Wave – 1990s to 2008 – Digital Microwave, Conversion from
analog. Migration from 2 GHz to 6 GHz for cellular space. T1 and Sonet
OC1 and OC3 heavily implemented.
• Fourth Wave – Mid 2000’s to present day – Conversion from T1 and
SONET to IP based systems. From Layer 2 to Layer 3 transport, OSPF and
MPLS are primary conversions taking place now.

3. Familiar Images

4. What Drives Private IP networks at Electric Coops
• No or unreliable
communications
• Security and Control of Circuit
• Critical Function Circuit or
Application
Fiber in Local
Telco Loop?
Private Fiber?
Private
Microwave?

5. TDM T1 and SONET
1990’S TO 2000’S

6. Migration from
TDM WAS MIGRATION FROM
ANALOG NETWORKS
SONET WAS THE STANDARD FOR
MODERN UTILITY UNTIL
RECENTLY

7. Coop Microwave Networks in
Texas
1990’S – T1 BASED MICROWAVE, RS232 SCADA
2009 – 2016 CONVERSION T1/RS232 TO IP BASED

8. 11 and 6 GHz IP Microwave
System in Central Texas

9. 11 and 6 GHz IP Microwave
System in East Texas

10. • Electric Cooperative Networks can be
small

12. TYPICAL SUBSTATION
SCADA , Relaying and Metering
System Control and Data Acquisition
Perimeter Security systems
Data needs are low less than 0.2 Mbps
are typical high side (excluding Video)
• Nodes in a typical electrical Substation

13. MAJOR APPLICATIONS
Power Metering to ISO’s
Load Balancing Authority
Generation Scheduling
Power System Stability

14. DESIGN
CONSIDERATIONS –
ELECTRICAL UTILITIES
Small Municipalities and Small
Electric Coops
- May have smaller needs and
budgets
- Or may be required to have high
reliability telecommunications
networks….
- Distribution Coops
- Transmission Coops
- Generation Coops
- Power Agencies
- Investor Owned Utilities

15. PLANNING ISSUES
Does the organization/coop have
staff to do the SCADA and Telecom
Network work?
Some want a contractor to furnish
everything
Some want project assistance and
then hand off to their internal staff
Many smaller organizations simply
do not know how to do planning,
design, implementation, and
maintenance.
Who is the decision maker or
influences the decision makers?

16. APPROACHES TO
CONSIDER
Potential clients are not the same from coop to
coop.
- Some will only buy equipment, some will buy
an entire network with maintenance
Needs assessment
- You may need to define scope and develop
planning for the coop, then do the rest…
- - or some may have partially developed
designs and want you to take over
How to approach the network
- Learn about the coop, each one is different in
organization and sometimes in functions
- Discover how to become a valuable and
reliable partner. It is almost never about
lowest cost, but highest value.

17. THANK YOU
Feel Free to contact me at
johnbuna@gmail.com
Or 936-933-2793