Huawei’s 5G Electric Power Virtual Private Network Ranks among Top 10 5G Industry Application Solutions

Communications World Weekly (CWW) Omnimedia, a leading ICT information service provider, announced the Top 10 5G Industry Application Solutions. The list showcases 5G’s disruptive influence on vertical industries and its essential role in accelerating industry digitalization. The 5G Electric Power Virtual Private Network solution deployed by Huawei and China Mobile for China Southern Power Grid (CSPG) ranks among the top 10 which was acknowledged for its future-forward design, cutting-edge technologies, and successful application.

Power grids must provide a highly reliable and stable power supply. As the whole power industry transforms with technologies, power grids are becoming more digital, networked, and intelligent. For this, the industry needs electric power communication networks that are more ubiquitous, flexible, economical, secure, and reliable. Providing ultra-high bandwidth, ultra-low latency, and massive connectivity, 5G is ideal for building such networks.

Recognizing this value, Huawei combined the power of 5G with cutting-edge technologies, such as network slicing and edge computing, developing the 5G Virtual Private Network solution for the electric power industry. Huawei then applied it to tailor a private network for the CSPG on China Mobile’s 5G SA network.

With this solution, CSPG’s service zones have been horizontally isolated from one another and vertically secured with a well-rounded authentication mechanism. This solution also allows China Mobile to open a variety of network capabilities to the CSPG, facilitating management based on rights and domains. Furthermore, it adapts to the various phases in power services by using different types of private networks, either WAN or LAN. For example, power distribution and consumption involve a variety of scattered devices but still require full network coverage. In this case, a private WAN connects all the devices using 5G while also enabling intelligent power distribution and inspection. On the other hand, private LANs are better for the power generation and transformation systems deployed only in certain areas. Here, the solution implements local break-out (LBO) to restrict data processing to within the specific areas, yielding ultra-low latency and rock-solid data security.

The 5G Virtual Private Network solution has reshaped CSPG into a smart grid. The solution is now more mature with an in-depth understanding of industry requirements. The 5G smart grid project has deployed flagship applications, promoted key technologies, optimized the basic design, accelerated standardization, and developed a robust ecosystem. Using the solution, CSPG has built the world’s first smart grid demo in the Shenzhen Greater Bay Area covering every power service phase, from transmission to transformation, distribution, and consumption. CSPG, China Mobile, and Huawei have also built and commercialized China’s largest smart grid demonstration area in Nansha, Guangzhou.

In addition, the team has been proactively conducting research on these new uses of 5G, submitting the findings to standards organizations. As a result, 3GPP R16 now includes the concept of high-precision time synchronization over the 5G air interface for an industry first. What’s more, the team has submitted over 40 papers on 5G-based electric power network standards to the 3GPP, prompting to launch a 5G smart grid research project in 3GPP R18.

5G private networks play a pivotal role in integrating 5G with vertical industries. 5G-powered smart grids will be essential to ensuring the efficiency and reliability of our power supply in the future while reducing costs. Thanks to the diversity of 5G applications, power grids can gradually shift to become energy service providers, delivering better services to individuals and other industries.