Smart Grid Telecommunications

Module 05 (A) : Optical Fiber and PLC Access Technologies

Introduction
• Optical fiber and Power Line Communication (PLC) are key wireline access
solutions for the Smart Grid.

• Passive Optical Network (PON) is a notable optical fiber technology.

• PLC is ideal for connecting devices directly to the power grid.

• Utilities increasingly combine both, extending fiber closer to the Grid

Edge.
Optical fiber-based technologies
Fiber optic communication transmits data between locations by sending light
pulses through optical fiber.
Fiber to the X (FTTx)
• FTTx describes a wide range of broadband fiber network architecture options.
• The “x” stands for the fiber termination point, such as home, antenna, building, etc.
Active Optical Network (AON)

• AON is a point-to-point network

structure in which each subscriber has
its own fiber-optic line that is
terminated on an optical concentrator.

• AON network covers electrically

powered switching equipment (such as
a router or a switch aggregator) to
manage signal distribution and direct
signals to specific customers.
Passive Optical Network
• PON (Passive Optical Network) features with one-to-multiple-point architecture.
• Comprises of Optical Line Terminal (OLT), Optical Network Unit (ONU), and Passive
Optical Splitter.
Passive optical network (PON)

• Passive optical splitters distribute optical

signals in PON networks, enabling multiple
subscribers to share a single fiber without
individual connections.
• The network uses no powered switching
equipment—only the source and
endpoints require power.
Optical Line Terminal (OLT)
• OLT is an Endpoint hardware device in a PON that converts Electrical signals from
equipment (managed by a service provider) to fiber optic signals readable by a PON and
vice versa.
Optical Network Unit (ONU) / Optical Network Terminal (ONT)
• ONU converts optical signals to electrical signals and vice versa at user side premises.
• ONU send, aggregate different types of data coming from the customer and send it upstream
to the OLT.
Optical Network Unit (ONU) / Optical Network Terminal (ONT)

• ONT is an ITU-T term, ONU is an IEEE term; ONT is located at the customer premise, and
ONU is located outside the home.
Optical Distribution Network (ODN)
• ODN provides the optical transmission medium for the physical connection of the ONUs to the
OLTs with 20 km or farther reach.

Erkılınç, M.S., Lavery, D., Shi, K. et al. Bidirectional wavelength-

division multiplexing transmission over installed fibre using a
simplified optical coherent access transceiver. Nat Commun 8,
1043 (2017).
 Optical Distribution Network (ODN)
• Within the ODN, fiber optic cables, fiber optic connectors, passive optical splitters, and auxiliary
components collaborate with each other.
• ODN specifically has five segments: Feeder fiber, Optical distribution point, Distribution fiber,
Optical access point, and Drop fiber.

The fiber optic closure

connects and stores optical
fibers safely either in the
outside plant or indoor
buildings.
Optical Distribution Network (ODN)
• Feeder Fiber starts from the ODF in the central office telecommunications room and ends at the
optical distribution point for long-distance coverage.
• Distribution Fiber from the optical distribution point to the optical access point distributes optical
fibers for areas alongside it.
• Drop Fiber connects the optical access point to ONTs, achieving optical fiber drop into user homes.

Optical distribution frame

(ODF) is used to provide
cable interconnections
between communication
facilities, which can
integrate fiber splicing,
fiber termination, fiber
optic adapters & connectors
and cable connections
together in a single unit.
Optical Distribution Network (ODN)
• Fiber distribution terminal (FDT): Used in FTTx networks to connect feeder cables and
distribution cables.
• Fiber access terminal (FAT): Receive the Signal from FDT through the Distribution Cable
to Split and distribute using Drop Cable to the Customers.
• Access terminal Box (ATB)
• Is used to connect drop cables and ONU devices.
• It is installed on indoor walls to provide fiber sockets, supports fusion splicing,
mechanical splicing, and FA connectors.
PON-Multiplexing
Time Division Multiplexing (TDM-PON)
• TDM allocates the full frequency band to users in fixed time slots.
• In downstream (DS) transmission, the OLT assigns time slots to each ONU in a data frame.
• In upstream (US), each user synchronizes with the exchange to transmit without interference.
Wavelength division multiplexing (WDM-PON)

• WDM (Wavelength Division Multiplexing)

allows multiple light wavelengths (colors) to
transmit data simultaneously over a single
optical fiber.
• AWG (Arrayed Waveguide Grating)
demultiplexer or wavelength splitter
enables the selection of specific
wavelengths for individual users.
Hybrid WDM and TDM multiplexing (WDM/TDM-PON)

• The WDM/TDM-PON hybrid technology consists of combining the two multiplexing

techniques, time and wavelength.

• AWGs are widely used as

optical (de)multiplexers in
WDM systems, enabling high-
capacity transmission by
combining multiple
wavelengths into a single fiber.
Application in
Smart Grid
Fiber-to-the-Machine (FTTM)

• Fiber-to-the-Machine (FTTM) is a fiber optic network architecture that delivers high-

speed, reliable connectivity directly to industrial machines or devices.

• It's an extension of fiber deployment concepts like FTTH (Fiber to the Home), adapted
for industrial environments.
Fiber-to-the-Machine (FTTM)
Fiber-to-the-Machine (FTTM)

Key Features:
1. Direct fiber connection to control systems, sensors, or equipment
2. Supports real-time data transmission with low latency
3. Resistant to electromagnetic interference (EMI) and harsh conditions
4. Enables high bandwidth and secure communication
Fiber-to-the-Machine (FTTM)
Benefits:
• Improved reliability in industrial networks
• Enhanced performance for automation, monitoring, and control systems
• Supports Industry 4.0, smart manufacturing, and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)

Use Cases:
• Power substations
• Smart factories
• Utility infrastructure
• Industrial campuses
Fiber-to-the-Machine (FTTM)
OTN is commonly called a
‘digital wrapper’ as it
wraps each client/service
transparently into a
container for transport
across optical networks.

POL network is based on

passive splitters, which is
critical within a power grid as
there is no electromagnetic
interference.
What is power line communication?
• Power line Communications (PLC), also known as Power Line Telecommunications (PLT) , is the
communication technology that uses the existing public and private wiring to transmit the
signals.

• Narrowband PLC

• Broadband PLC

BPL: Broadband over Power Line

What is power line communication?
Types of PLC

1.Low Frequency PLC:

• Mainly used in telecommunications, tele-protection, and tele-monitoring between

electrical substations over high-voltage power lines (110 kV, 220 kV, and 400 kV).

2.Medium Frequency PLC (> 100 kHz):

• One application of narrowband power line communication is the control and

telemetry of electrical equipment such as meters, switches, heaters, and domestic
appliances.
Types of PLC

3. High Frequency PLC (> 1 MHz):

• Power line communications also connect home computers, peripherals, and entertainment
devices via Ethernet. Powerline adapters use existing electrical wiring to create a network,
eliminating the need for dedicated cables.

4.Ultra High Frequency PLC (> 100 MHz):

• These systems support symmetric, full-duplex communication exceeding 1 Gbit/s per

direction. They can transmit multiple Wi-Fi channels and analog TV simultaneously over a
single medium-voltage line in the 2.4 and 5.3 GHz unlicensed bands.
Application of PLC
• PLC is widely used in technologies like Smart
Grids and micro-inverters, with growing
adoption in applications such as:
• Lighting (e.g., traffic light control, LED
dimming)
• Industrial (e.g., irrigation control)
• Machine-to-machine (e.g., vending
machines, hotel communication systems)
• Telemetry (e.g., offshore oil rigs)
• Transport (e.g., electronics in cars, trains,
and airplanes)
Application of PLC
Application of PLC
• PLC NANs One of the most important applications of LV-PLC-NB (both LDR and HDR),
and much of the PLC deployment so far, has been in NANs for AMI.

Distribution Control
Center (DCC)
Application of PLC
Conceptual diagram for
Smart Grid Information
Network, showing the
interconnections of
networks between
various domains