Digital Transformation in Substations Using Mesh Networks: Telecommunications Infrastructure for the Advanced Monitoring Era

The solution is based on IEEE 802.11 standards for Medium Access Control (MAC) and

Physical Layer (PHY), complemented by industrial-grade features that ensure robustness and resilience in critical electrical environments. Devices certified for harsh conditions and advanced interference mitigation mechanisms were deployed to guarantee service continuity in the switchyard. For cybersecurity reasons, specific details about architecture and vendor names are not disclosed.

To address cybersecurity concerns and traffic segregation, the Mesh infrastructure operationally supports two logically segmented networks through VLANs:

• OPER-IoT: A dedicated network for Operational Technology (OT), supporting sensors, cameras, and mobility applications essential for operation and maintenance. • WLAN09: An Information Technology (IT) network deployed within the same perimeter for secure connection of corporate computers in yards and relay houses. This VLAN segregation, combined with MAC-based access control and WPA2/AES encryption, ensures the integrity of critical systems. Security mechanisms are aligned with the requirements of IEEE Std 1686-2022, which defines cybersecurity capabilities for Intelligent

Electronic Devices (IEDs) in terms of authentication, integrity, and resilience.

Performance tests validated the network’s ability to support critical applications such as remote assistance with smooth real-time video transmission. Field measurements confirmed adequate signal levels and average speeds that guarantee high availability and technical feasibility of the solution, without compromising information security.