Technological Advance
This development is called OVS (OTN Video Solution) and complements its well established fiber-optic multi-service transmission network allowing various communication equipments and services that are used to ensure the pipeline's security of supply, to coexist on one resilient fiber optic backbone network.

In the context of a new gas field development in the area of Qatif, where Saudi Aramco invested in new gas winning activities, OTN received recently an important order from Saudi Aramco. 
With this order, Saudi Aramco's installed base is to be expanded by another 117 multiplexers. 
The system not only allows expansion in terms of the number of multiplexers- but also in terms of the supported applications.  It allows Saudi Aramco to connect cameras, recorders, monitors and SCADA controls directly to its backbone network.
More than 15 offshore platforms will be closely monitored from the landside central control room (GOSP) thanks to the built-in switching capabilities of the OTN network.  Additional applications include 100 Mbps Ethernet for the RTUs, telephony and low-speed data.
Compared to the traditional approach of having separate security, operational and administrative networks, this OVS technology offers significant cost savings, in initial investment as well as in operational cost. 
Just inserting video cards allows for saving on  the costs of codecs and analog video switching matrices.
OVS embeds video switching and other typical CCTV matrix functionality within the network.  The network becomes the matrix. 
In addition, OVS allows for protocol conversion towards the management system and towards the CCTV equipment (matrices, movable camera control) for true vendor independence.  Thus, with the OVS, the integration of multi vendor video equipment becomes child's play and offers all the benefits of being supplier independent, thus giving the customer the flexibility to select the best supplier(s) for their video subsystems.
''Saudi Aramco relies on the OTN network for more communication applications to come,'' says Jan Dens, OTN Sales Manager for the Middle East, ''and this looks very promising for the future.''
Recently, Saudi Aramco decided to sign a frame agreement with Siemens, covering the supply of another 350 multiplexers in the next years.
''This makes OTN Aramco's preferred supplier in the field of fiber optic multiplexers for voice, data, LAN and video applications, thus supporting the continuous expansion of Aramco's oil and gas winning activities,'' says Dens.
Within the oil and gas sector, much attention has been paid to include video cameras along a pipeline's infrastructure, in pressure and pumping stations, on offshore platforms, well sites, head ends and manifolds.
Cameras are working overtime to collect visual data and provide better information to the operators at the control station, complementing hereby SCADA and PLC controls and voice communications with the remote locations.  ''OTN can cope with these new requirements but also continues to support legacy applications using RS-232/422 (Corrosion detection, RTUs, ...), 4-wire E&M (Radio, modem terminals), party line communication and many other devices,'' he explains.
This frame agreement, together with the other recent realisations in the area (and the planned opening of an OTN international sales office in Abu Dhabi in October this year, are to make OTN the standard solution for fiber optics communication in the pipeline segment in this region.