Slide 4 of 30

Both protocols provide similar application functionality.

They were primarily designed for point-to-point or multi-drop serial link architectures, but can work over radio, LAN, etc.

Both protocols are used worldwide for electric power SCADA. DNP is dominant in North America, Australia, South Africa. IEC is required by legislation in some European countries. It is also common in the Middle East. In most of Asia and South America both are used almost equally.

 DNP has gained wide acceptance in non-electric power applications, where IEC is little used.