Based on a thorough study on the networking schemes for sampled values transmission in the process layers in smart substations，the point-to-point scheme and the interchanger networking scheme are analyzed in detail.Then the major characteristics of existing networking schemes are summarized and analyzed.In light of the shortcomings of existing networking schemes，a new networking scheme for sampled values in smart substations based on distributed synchronization is proposed.Compared with conventional networking schemes，the technology proposed does not depend on the global synchronizing system，thus significantly improving the reliability of the process layer networking.This scheme has been successfully applied in the110kV Shenxiang substation in Suzhou，China.