Enhancing Resilience in Critical Applications through hybrid Optical and PLTE Networks

This paper examines a hybrid communication architecture that integrates optical fiber network with Private Long-Term Evolution (PLTE) technology to improve the reliability, performance, and resilience of critical communication services for electric power utilities, particularly

Distribution System Operators (DSOs). Optical fiber networks offer high bandwidth, low latency, and deterministic performance, making them well suited for primary communications.

In contrast, PLTE provides wireless mobility, redundancy, and rapid deployment, enabling enhanced flexibility and backup capabilities. By combining these complementary technologies, the proposed hybrid approach addresses the limitations of standalone wired or wireless systems. The study includes a comparative analysis of wired and wireless communication technologies and presents the implementation of a hybrid architecture in a controlled laboratory environment that reflects real-world DSO operating conditions. The architecture uses Multiple Protocol

Label Switching – Transport Profile (MPLS-TP) optical links for primary communication paths and PLTE as a secondary or backup channel. Performance validation focuses on latency, delay symmetry, packet loss, and failover duration. The results provide a practical framework and empirical evidence for DSOs seeking to modernize infrastructure for decentralized energy systems.