PGE, Poland’s largest power grid operator has selected Nokia to deploy IP/MPLS backhaul network for the LTE450 Program
PGE Systemy and PGE Dystrybucja, PGE Group companies, have signed agreement contract with Nokia Solutions and Networks for the supply and deployment of IP/MPLS backhaul network components for the puropose of LTE450 private wireless network. Under the signed contract, Nokia will be responsible for supplying and deploying a total of more than 600 IP/MPLS devices in PGE’s network.
Wojciech Dąbrowski, President of the Management Board PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna, said: “The LTE450 network is one of the key elements in PGE’s building of a modern energy industry. A reliable and secure communications network combined with network metering will provide a constant, real-time picture of the operation of the energy distribution network. This will allow an immediate response to incidents occurring in the network and reduce the time it takes to detect and remove failures. a Digitalisation, of which the LTE network is an essential element, will speed up customer service and enable new services to be offered to customers.”
Dirk Lewandowski, Vice President Central and East Europe, Nokia Enterprise, said: “We are honored to collaborate with PGE on this transformative project. Nokia’s IP/MPLS technology is at the forefront of innovation, offering a reliable and scalable solution that aligns seamlessly with PGE’s vision for a modernized and efficient communication network. Our experience with numerous power grid operators worldwide shows that IP/MPLS is a well-established standard for Operational Telecommunication (OT) and critical communication networks. We look forward to supporting PGE in achieving its strategic objectives and contributing to the success of Poland’s power grid infrastructure.”
The contract includes deploying of IP/MPLS class routers and switches, synchronization sources and dedicated operation support system. Nokia will provide equipment with modular architecture with high-availability mechanisms (equipping main node points located in Data Centers and dedicated technical rooms, so-called backbone nodes) and compact equipment intended for installation in LTE450 base station locations (so-called access-aggregation nodes). The solution, in addition to advanced traffic management mechanisms and QoS, will also ensure a high level of cybersecurity.
The IP/MPLS backhaul network is an important element in the architecture of the LTE450 wireless private network being built. It is necessary for the integration of LTE core network with radio access network (RAN) devices installed on base stations in the field. The IP/MPLS backhaul network ensures traffic prioritization that corresponds to the types of communication services provided by the LTE450 wireless private network.
About the LTE450 Program
The LTE450 Program is part of the schedule for implementing private broadband wireless communication network for the Polish energy industry. The process of building the LTE450 network and the Operator in the energy sector is a multi-year task that requires division into subsequent implementation stages, which is the case in the PGE Group. To sum up, the years 2018-2020 are the time to verify the LTE450 technology in order to launch the planned technical services, the years 2020-2021 are the time to develop a comprehensive analysis and implementation concept along with the business and technical model, while the years 2021-2022 are the time to gradually develop documentation and launch tender procedures implemented in accordance with the public procurement law. The launch of services in the LTE450 network for PGE Dystrybucja, distribution network operator, is scheduled for 2024. At the same time, work on cooperation with other Polish DSO Distribution Network Operators is also continued.