Tennessee Valley Authority Deploys RAD’s Multiservice Access Platform

RAD, a global leader in communications solutions for power utilities, announced today that the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is deploying RAD’s purpose-built, cyber-secured multiservice access platform.

TVA is the second largest wholesale power producer in the United States, ultimately serving approximately nine million people across an 80,000 square-mile footprint that spans all or part of seven southeastern states, including Tennessee, Mississippi, Kentucky, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia.

RAD’s multiservice access platform, one of the pillars of its Service Assured Networking (SAN) solutions, is a perfect fit for power utility migration projects. It will replace legacy multiplexers currently installed in TVA facilities to support a variety of services over critical infrastructure, including automation functionalities, along with a variety of low-speed, high-speed, and voice services. TVA has also selected the RAD solution to replace and update, aging digital cross connects.

While TVA’s communications services will continue to run over their self-maintained network, the RAD system offers a dual backplane that supports both circuit-switched and packet-switched networks either separately or concurrently. This will allow a smooth migration for implementing next-generation packet services, including Smart Grid applications, and anticipates the impending NERC-CIP v5 requirements for cyber security initiatives.

To bridge the gap between legacy and next-generation services, the RAD system could be used to deploy a solution that incorporates pseudowire emulation. Pseudowire, a technology pioneered by RAD, enables the transport of TDM traffic over IP/Ethernet networks.

“We are delighted that TVA selected RAD as a partner in upgrading the communications infrastructure in their facilities,” states Uri Zilberman, RAD’s Vice President, North America. “It is an ideal solution for power utilities with an extensive base of existing legacy services that also have an eye towards packet migration. The dual-backplane and comprehensive catalogue of service modules, both circuit switched and packet-based, make it an easy fit in power utility operational networks.”

About TVA
The Tennessee Valley Authority is a corporation owned by the United States government that provides electricity for business customers and local power distributors serving nine-million people in parts of seven southeastern states. TVA receives no taxpayer funding, deriving virtually all of its revenues from sales of electricity. In addition to operating and investing its revenues in its electric system, TVA provides flood control, navigation and land management for the Tennessee River system and assists local power companies and state and local governments with economic development and job creation.

Press Contact
Chris Stanley, Memphis, (901) 577-2616
TVA Public Relations, Knoxville, (865) 632-6000