Case Study – Keeping Networks Online During Extreme Weather Conditions

Main Solutions Categories
- Power Systems Control
- Generator Management
- HVAC Control
- Access Control
- Site Security
- Environmental Monitoring
- Networking Communications
- Legacy Alarms
Customer at a Glance
- Industry: Telecom, Mobile Network Operator
- Location: North America, Great Plains
- Network size: 500_ sites
Project at a Glance
- No of sites: ~10 to start
- Project duration (# of days): 6 months in service
- Installed products: SiteBoss340
- Included services: Installation & Configuration, Systems Integration
- Solutions/s: Power System Management, Generator Management
- Main Benefit: Site visibility and control to improve network resilience and reduce costs.
Case Study Introduction
Arguably the most critical time to keep a cellular network up and running is during an emergency situation like extreme weather or a natural disaster. This is not only when problems are most likely to occur, but also the time when fixing problems takes the most time, has the highest cost, and could be risky or impossible to accomplish. It is during emergency situations that cell site automation, not just simple alarming, is most important. Asentria has decades of experience creating solutions that allow a mobile network operator’s remote sites to be as “hardened” as possible for any situation.
Customer Challenge
A regional mobile network operator (MNO) in the Great Plains region of the United States came to Asentria looking for an inexpensive and simple solution to help assist in keeping their network online during extreme weather conditions. From flooding to blizzards to tornadoes this region of the United States is struck by extreme weather conditions on a regular basis. This MNO had invested greatly in backup power solutions like generators and batteries, but was finding that they had little visibility into how ready these backup power solutions were to handle a power outage or other crisis.
Project Objectives
- Fuel Level Visibility
- Remote Generator Visibility
- Remote Generator Reset
- “Flatten” Generator Data
- Inexpensive and Simple
Solution
Asentria quickly identified the SiteBoss 340 as the best fit for this project. This unit doesn’t have the same modular card architecture nor can it handle as much I/O or have as many communication ports as larger SiteBoss units, but with the same scripting abilities and powerful Linux based OS it is an ideal unit when only one or two functions are needed. In this case, both generator control and fuel level monitoring were needed features. If additional features, such as advanced communications like Ethernet switches or wireless modes, HVAC control, or site access were needed, larger versions of the SiteBoss could have been used.
Customizations were also make for the customer that would make training their technician as simple as possible.
Summary
This is a Case Study Summary. A companion Case Study provides more details, screenshots, and detail into the solution and customizations. You can download the PDF for it here: