The reliability and optimal data usage of BGAN Satellite Communications for Remote Outstations

Telecommunications are a crucial element of smart grid technologies. Utility communication systems need to combine cost effectiveness with the need for high reliability. Due to its wide geographic coverage, satellite communication can be an appropriate alternative for power system automation in order to reach remote substations. This paper presents the experimental testing of Broadband Global Area Networks (BGAN) M2M technology between the supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system running a primary front end processor (FEP) and the reclosers. Hardware test results for a number of different scenarios are discussed, compared and validated. The challenges for keeping the polls reliability at highest levels are also discussed.