The Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) has successfully completed initial testing of its new Substation-Hardened JumboSwitch Tele-Protection Relay Network from TC Communications.

“Our communications guys were concerned about real time latency issues on IP networks,” said Clive Wright, manager, Electronic Communication systems, “but, after extensive testing, I am pleased to report that the round-trip delay is within tolerances specified for the JPS protective relays.”

The JumboSwitch Turbo Serial interface card is designed for real-time critical communication between protective relays with a maximum signal latency of less than 10ms. It is approximately four times faster than a standard serial-over-IP interface card.

The Tele-Protection Relay Network is only part of the JumboSwitch fiber optic backbone network that JPS will eventually install. Testing and related trials for the SCADA, T1-over-Ethernet (legacy T1 multiplexers) and Ethernet (administration, etc.) portions are still in progress or planning stages.

When finally installed, the JumboSwitch will transport Ethernet, Data and T1 over two existing fiber optic redundant ring networks, one for the City of Kingston and one for the entire country of Jamaica. The JumboSwitch Multi-Service Access Platform integrates up to seven hot-swappable, copper/fiber Ethernet, Voice & Data interface cards onto a Gigabit Ethernet fiber optic backbone.

The Jamaica Public Service Company Limited (JPS) is an integrated electric utility company and the sole distributor of electricity on the island of Jamaica. It generates, transmits & distributes electricity. It also purchases power from a number of Independent Power Producers.

JPS owns and operates 28 generating units, 54 substations, and approximately 14,000 km of transmission and distribution lines. It has a workforce of about 1,600 team members provides service to approximately 570,000 customers.