Communication requirements - basis for investment in a utility wide-area network

This paper addresses the various requirements forming the basis for investing in a utility wide-area network (WAN). One single requirement cannot itself motivate the total cost of a WAN, whereas the requirements altogether could do that. The paper is based on experiences from Svenska Kraftna/spl uml/t (Swedish National Grid). The presentation aims to be comprehensive, and it should provide support when a utility WAN is to be planned. The contribution of the paper is to provide engineering perspectives on the requirements, rather than a pure theoretical view.