Salt River Project upgrades its network capacity with Ciena

Salt River Project (SRP) will modernize its backbone network with Ciena Corporation’s converged packet optical platform to improve network resiliency, reduce costs, and increase capacity. This upgrade will enable SRP to support the surging demand for high-bandwidth services driven by supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), grid automation and storage traffic.  In addition, SRP’s network will be able to support more dynamic applications, such as smart meters and substation automation, to enable real-time information monitoring and control, and provide increased electric-system reliability, improved power quality and faster service restoration capabilities.

“SRP is at the front-end of utilities building smarter, more scalable networks to enable a more efficient and reliable power grid. Ciena’s converged packet optical solution plays a key role in their network modernization efforts by enabling them to support key applications like smart meters and substation automation,” said Jason Phipps, General Manager & Vice-President, North American Field Operations, Ciena.

SRP is deploying Ciena’s 6500 Packet-Optical platform equipped with WaveLogic Coherent Optical Processors and integrated switching capabilities. Architected for network modernization, the 6500 converges Ethernet, TDM, and WDM capabilities into one platform. The 6500 helps to reduce costs for operators by decreasing operations and maintenance expenses and enabling network consolidation, while supporting legacy functions.

This network enhancement and adoption of Ciena’s OPⁿarchitecture gives SRP a more secure and resilient network that is automated, connected and intelligent.