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Case Studies

Substation Automation Connectivity

13 Feb 2012

Hydro Québec

Hydro-Québec is a government-owned public utility, and is the largest electricity generator in Canada. Hydro-Québec turned to Corinex to provide a BPL link between their communications backbone and intelligent end devices (IEDs) in their Nicolet substation. The high RF environment within a substation makes wireless communication impossible, and the cost of running fiber would have been prohibitive.

Business Challenges
Approach Taken
Benefits

Business Challenges

High RF environment within substation makes wireless communication impossible
Distances of 50 to 250m would traditionally require expensive cables
Installation must be quick and easy
Communication must provide speeds of >5 Mbps, and should ideally provide additional services such as VoIP and alerts/alarms

Approach Taken

Corinex provided Hydro-Québec with High Density gateways that were preconfigured and mounted into cabinets offsite
The High Density gateways were installed by substation technicians in the Nicolet facility
Without any additional configuration, the system provided communication speeds between the intelligent end devices and the backbone of over 150Mbps
Additional network capacity above the required 5Mbps can now be used for VoIP and alarms

Benefits

High speed communication in difficult environments
Reduced Labour costs
Additional bandwidth can be used for value added services such as VoIP and system alarms
Reduced maintenance costs
Technology can easily be scaled up to larger facilities

Technology Implemented
Corinex Low Voltage Utility Grade BPL System

BPL Medium / Low Voltage Network

09 Feb 2012

Indian Institute of Information Technology Allahabad

The Indian Institute of Information Technology, Allahabad (IIITA) was established in 1999 by the government of India. It is working with a group of partners including Corinex and Maple Leaf India to research and develop technology capable of providing broadband access, voice communications, intelligent grid systems, automatic meter reading and power management capabilities to India. Corinex’ BPL technology was chosen to provide metering and communication capabilities to villages.

Business Challenges
Approach Taken
Benefits

Business Challenges

Internet connections to remote villages are difficult to set up and maintain
Network users are distributed over a large geographical area
Utilities must deliver reliable services to their users at a minimal cost
For areas with low population density, maintenance costs can significantly impact revenues
Traditional broadband technologies such as DSL are too expensive for emerging markets
Cost of implementing Smart Grid and AMI services over a traditional network is prohibitive

Approach Taken

Corinex is leading a project to provide internet access to villages in India using BPL
Corinex worked with IIITA to develop a network over existing power lines that connected villagers and schools in Tiker Mafi, the first of a series of villages to be connected by BPL
Broadband internet is distributed over a medium voltage (MV) connection to an access network of low voltage (LV) gateways, which are connected to homes and businesses in the community
Certain key areas have been overlaid with Corinex’ Smart Grid AMI technology to provide monitoring and management of the electrical system using Corinex’ Smart Grid Connect Software

Benefits

Provides high speed internet connections to remote communities and emerging markets
40 Mbps LV backbone speeds provide room for growth
Utilities can better monitor and control power use
Reduced maintenance costs
Increased standards of living and economic growth

Technology Implemented
Corinex Medium/Low Voltage Utility Grade BPL System

BPL Low Voltage / Coax Cable

09 Feb 2012

SMT Solutions

SMT was established in 2010, and provides communications technology and infrastructure to the Middle East. They use Broadband Over Powerline to provide small and medium businesses with cost effective internet connectivity using existing electrical networks. Their services are used to provide VOIP and broadband services to areas which may not have existing telephone infrastructure.

Business Challenges
Approach Taken
Benefits

Business Challenges

Many areas in the middle east have little existing infrastructure
Networks must be established quickly without the need to install new wires
Customers are widely distributed
Traditional broadband technologies such as DSL are too expensive for many markets
The network must provide sufficient throughput to allow VOIP and Broadband services

Approach Taken

SMT uses Corinex Low voltage (LV) and Coax Cable products to create anywire networks that can provide communication services at rates of up to 200 Mbps
These high-speed anywire networks are used to provide VOIP communication to locations which have never had reliable telephone service
With the help of Corinex, SMT has opened new markets for its telecommunications services

Benefits

Reduced maintenance costs
Improved customer satisfaction
Economic Growth in areas newly connected to VOIP and data networks
Increased Revenue
Low installation costs

Technology Implemented
Corinex Low Voltage Utility Grade BPL System and Coaxial System

Home Area Networking

08 Feb 2012

Portugal Telecom

Portugal Telecom is a global telecommunications operator, and is a national leader in all sectors that it operates in. It has a diversified business portfolio where quality and innovation are decisive aspects, and stands alongside the most advanced international companies in the sector. The company operates in all areas of the telecommunications market: fixed, mobile, multimedia, data, and business solutions.

Business Challenges
Approach Taken
Results Achieved

Business Challenges

Implementing IPTV services is hampered by long lead times for dispatching field crews to enhance wiring in customer homes. Using their own field crews for installation and on-going maintenance was reducing shareholder returns despite an increase in subscriptions. A reliable networking solution that could uniformly perform despite differences within customer buildings was needed.

Approach Taken

Cost comparison with traditional ADSL networks was undertaken to identify the total cost of ownership
An initial pilot was performed to test:
- The ability for the technology to perform using new and old copper
- Customer’s proficiency in setting up their own PTP network
- Requirements to roll a truck after the modems have been delivered
The technology was found to work reliably and is now a standard offering for both powerline and coax

Results Achieved

Portugal Telecom can save approximately 130 Euro per premise by reducing the installation time to zero
PT has deployed to over 100,000 powerline CPEs and 100,000 coax modems to date
BPL and Corinex Anywire Home area networks are being deployed as a standard approach in their service offerings

Technology Implemented
Corinex Home Area Network System

Broadband Enterprise Deployment

08 Feb 2012

ZAO Electro-Com

ZAO Electro-Com, is a telecommunications operator and multimedia service provider based in Moscow, Russian Federation. They offer VOIP and high speed services using a portfolio of communications equipment. BPL was chosen for high density multi dwelling units (MDUs) because of its ability to provide a wide range of services within structures that are inhospitable to most technologies.

Business Challenges
Approach Taken
Benefits

Business Challenges

Most potential customers live in concrete multi-dwelling apartment units where there is a lack of existing network infrastructure
As the market emerges, a fast deployment methodology is required, and time to market is critical to increase market share
As a growing company, the initial capital for expansion shall be minimized
Capital costs in regions with limited or no infrastructure tend to be prohibitive, so ZAO was looking to gain a competitive edge over more expensive technologies such as DSL

Approach Taken

Corinex‘s approach is to provide multiple services using Corinex BPL equipment over existing electrical wires of muti-dwelling units
Established a hybrid Fiber to the Building and Corinex BPL solution within the building
Offer broadband services to 150,000 clients out of a million homes passed
After a pilot project, the company gained the experience to deploy the technology at scale
The focus has been to bridge fibre to ‘anywire’ in the building for service deployment as a pre-G.hn measure
Currently deploying at a run rate of over 5k new homes a month with expansion into neighboring countries

Benefits

Offer services to over ten major cities in Russia, such as Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Ryazan, Kaluga and Rostovon-Don
Fast installation, capturing a significant number of subscribers every year
Minimized CAPEX, less than $50 per home passed
Lower OPEX with fewer truck rolls after installation and low maintenance
Superior Service Quality compared to the competition - up to 5 Mbps per customer
Customers enabled with the self install BPL kit
Avoid drilling holes, better customer satisfaction
Multiple revenue streams: Internet, VoIP, and IPTV

Technology Implemented
Corinex Low Voltage Telecom Grade BPL System

BPL Medium Voltage Backbone

07 Feb 2012

CenterPoint Energy

CenterPoint Energy was chartered in 1882 and has a 5,000 square-mile service area with 1.86 million metered customers delivering 73.6 billion kilowatt hours yearly for about 60 certified competitive retailers. The CenterPoint Energy Intelligent Grid and advanced metering strategy requires a communications capability that enables extensive real time grid monitoring. This includes monitoring, data transport and integration, along with the analytics necessary to provide input to automated processes to support advanced decision making in the areas of operations, customer services, and asset management.

Business Challenges
Approach Taken
Benefits

Business Challenges

Effectively monitor and control millions of line devices and miles of delivery wire
Respond to expectations to deploy smart grid technologies for the rate payers
Responding to rapidly changing customer needs for electricity
Improve utility performance in an ever increasing cost environment
Continued regulatory pressure to decrease rates
Regulatory reliability concerns/awareness
Increasing deregulated Texas electric Market demands on performance
Electric Utility energy market changes

Approach Taken

The Intelligent Grid links electricity with communications and computer control to crate a highly automated, responsive and resilient power delivery system
Corinex worked with IBM to develop a high throughput backbone on a regional trial in Houston
The network was strictly deployed on medium voltage
Over 10,000 homes were connected during the pilot to demonstrate real-time two way data flow for smart grid applications including feeds from residential and commercial meters
The pilot proved that the technology could be effectively deployed and served as an early milestone for BPL in the industry today

Benefits

The intelligent Utility Network:

Improves reliability and prolongs the life of aging infrastructure
Improves customer satisfaction
Increases competition and responds to market demands
Allows easy, fast and accurate customer switching
Removes barriers for smaller REP entry
Enables hardening of the grid

Technology Implemented
Corinex Medium Voltage Utility Grade BPL System

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