Vermont Electric Power Company (VELCO), the company that runs much of the electric distribution systems in the state of Vermont, inked a partnership deal with IBM (News - Alert) to build up a next generation communication network for taking care of the security and reliability aspects of the state’s future energy grid. The announcement was made at the 2012 DistribuTECH conference.

Under the terms of the agreement, the two companies will collaborate to build up an intelligent fiber optic communications and control network across the state. IBM will provide project management and networking services for the project, VELCO said in a press release.

Spanning more than 1000 miles, this advanced fiber communications network will connect transmission substations to Vermont’s distribution utilities. Through the network, information about usage, voltage, existing or potential outages, and equipment performance will be relayed back to the utility.

Fiber transport and Carrier Ethernet systems will ensure reliability and security of the transmission network. All these capabilities will allow utilities to improve power quality and avoid power outages or resolve them faster.

“As the transmission provider for the state of Vermont, VELCO is committed to improving power grid reliability and security. Our collaboration with IBM to construct a network that both strengthens system reliability and enables Vermont utilities to execute our collaborative statewide smart grid initiative provides an innovative model for the rest of the country to build a 21st century smart grid,”  Chris Dutton, president and CEO of VELCO explained in a statement.

The communications network is based on Ciena’s 6500 Packet-Optical Transport platform and extensive family of Carrier Ethernet Service Aggregation and Delivery switches and features unique peer-to-peer architecture, the companies informed in a press release.  

“This network will increase grid reliability, enable smart grid communications and help build the economic development platform necessary to create sustainable jobs. It’s another concrete step toward our long-term goal to make Vermont a national model for energy policy – a source of best practices and technical assistance as the smart grid rolls out nationwide,” Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin noted.

As the founding member of the Global Intelligent Utility Network Coalition, IBM is involved in more than 150 smart grid engagements around the world, in both mature and emerging markets.

Earlier this month day IBM unveiled new software and services that delivers comprehensive networking capabilities to the increasingly social savvy workforce.

To find out more about IBM, visit the company at ITEXPO East 2012. To be held Jan. 31- Feb. 3 at the Miami Beach Convention Center in Miami, Fla., ITEXPO is the world’s premier IP communications event. Hector Hernandez, Global Technology (News - Alert) Services Cloud Business Development Executive at IBM, is speaking during “Where is the Cloud? Why Geography Matters“ and “Calculating ROI Strategies for Cloud Solutions.” William Rippon, Senior Network Engineer at IBM Research, is speaking during “Moving to the Cloud: What Cloud-Based Services Means for the Enterprise.” For more information on ITEXPO registration, click here.

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