Recent developments in smart grid technology have initiated interest in the use of phasor measurement units (PMUs) to help to create a reliable, secure power system transmission and distribution infrastructure. Wide Area Monitoring System (WAMS) utilizing synchrophasor measurement technology can help with understanding, or monitoring the status of health of modern power grid in real time, which is not possible without secure and reliable information and communication infrastructure. The phasor information can be exchanged between customers and utility operators with the WAMS. The reliable and effective information based on analysis of measurements from PMUs and PDCs, is a key to the success of the future WAMS. In this paper, requirements and challenges of PMUs communication technologies, employed for WAMS are discussed that will act as basis of selection of communication system for WAMS.

WAMS, PMUs, PDCs, smart grid, fiber optic communication, satellite communication.