The company has installed communication points in around 50 grid nodes for the French rural communities in the Somme and Cambraisis region.
Following the successful pilot, conducted jointly by Alstom Grid telecommunication teams and SICAE technicians, the two firms plan to extend their collaboration to include several new sites as of 2013.
Alstom has developed the technology which utilizes broadband medium voltage power line carrier over 20kV networks integrating digital information together.
It allows the integration of a range of services through the same backbone such as telephony, video surveillance, remote meter reading, and real-time data exchange with grid controls.
In addition, the technology will facilitate the deployment of smart grid solutions to better support distribution network reliability.
Alstom Grid Power Electronics and Automation division senior VP Patrick Plas commented the introduction of the technology is critical to power operators.
"It opens the way for real-time information management in secondary networks, which is a critical factor in deploying the smart grid," Plas added.
SICAE de La Somme et du Cambraisis MD Christophe Chauvet said, "Our partnership with Alstom in deploying this new technology will help the SICAE become a leader in the integration and utilisation of autonomous telecommunication solutions for electric power distributors, while helping us to get ready for an optimal integration of renewable energy."
