A reliable and intelligent network is a key success factor for modern substation automation. Substations that transmit and distribute electric power over expansive territories are often located outdoors in areas subjected to high electromagnetic interference and extreme temperature conditions. The substation infrastructure must be capable of providing EMI protection, network redundancy, great reliability, and flexible deployment options for future upgrades.

In addition to reliability, coordinating the many standards and proprietary protocols used in substations is also a major requirement when developing power automation systems. The Ethernet-based IEC 61850 communication standards, which define standard communication protocols used by a variety of intelligent electronic devices (IEDs), can be deployed for better extensibility and interoperability.