After their spectacular evolution in recent decades, telecommunications have become an essential and indispensable component for the proper operation of the electricity grid. Discover our progress in this field as pioneers in the deployment of telecommunications services for the electricity network.
When mobile phones – let alone smartphones – were not even in our imagination, electricity grids already relied on what were known as “operational voice” calls to communicate at key facilities. This service enabled operators working on the electricity grid to communicate with one another and with the control centre, and it remains fundamental today to ensure the required efficiency and safety.
By the mid-20th century, automation of grid assets began to spread. Specifically, protections were installed (to safeguard assets and, above all, people) along with remote control systems that sent information on the status of facilities to the control centre, and in turn could receive commands to operate the grid. These systems require reliable, specially designed telecommunications links in order to function properly in unexpected situations. Once operations adapt to these means, telecommunications become an inherent element in the deployment of the electricity grid.