Case Study: Major Utility Company modernizes its network with Ciena to improve grid resilience and efficiency

Major Utility Taps the Power of Ciena to Build a Better Network

A major utility company in the southeastern United States needed to modernize its aging SONET-based WAN to support a more distributed, resilient energy grid while also converging its traditionally siloed OT and IT networks. Working with Ciena, the utility faced challenges from growing storm threats, rising smart meter and video traffic, limited fiber, and the need for deterministic performance, security, and scalability across a vast service territory.

Ciena implemented an Adaptive Network built on packet-optical infrastructure, including Ciena’s 6500 DWDM OTN, eMOTR packet core, 3932 Service Delivery Switch, and Blue Planet MCP software. The new network reduced costs and staffing needs through automation, improved security with encrypted, non-routable Carrier Ethernet, increased visibility and bandwidth flexibility, and delivered six-9s reliability with self-healing protection—scaling to 10 Gb/s and positioning the utility for future 100 Gb/s growth.