In today’s world, having good, reliable networks is key to a cooperative’s success, whether that be for their own internal use or for providing service to their area’s customers. At American Products, we specialize in ideating, engineering and creating quality solutions that can help, including both internal and external network enclosure solutions for co-ops.
Let’s take a look at the network needs co-ops face and how American Products can help them enjoy success with their network.
Internal Networks
In recent years, customer-facing networks have been getting more and more focus due to the number of government-sponsored funding programs that are available, e.g., RDOF and USDA Electric Loan.
But, just as important is a co-op’s Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) network, i.e., their internal network that allows the organization to monitor, communicate with and control their various systems remotely.
With a quality, reliable SCADA network, co-ops can perform a variety of tasks and duties to ensure their customer-facing electrical networks are functioning properly. They can monitor their systems to ensure everything is working as it should be. They can communicate with their remote equipment at substations to gather and analyze data regarding performance levels. And they can control their systems to divert power in the instance of a power outage.
All of which comes together to help the co-op continue providing service to their customers in the most efficient way.
The only way to do that though is to ensure their SCADA network is properly set up and protected for reliability.
While some organizations will use wireless connections for their SCADA networks, most choose fiber-based networks because they’re more reliable and secure.
Customer-Facing Network
In many areas, e.g., rural communities, co-ops have started expanding their service offerings to include Internet connections to homes.
Some co-ops partner with another service provider to develop their broadband networks, but others will do it themselves.
Either way, the co-op will need to deploy ways to store their fiber or wireless equipment safely. Often, this includes planning ahead to ensure they can also quickly and efficiently connect new customers down the road.
This means that when planning out a new customer-facing broadband network, co-ops need to deploy a number of cabinets and aerial fiber storage solutions.
American Products Solutions
Whether the cooperative is focusing on their internal or external network–or even both–American Products can provide quality, tailored enclosure solutions for co-ops to help them deploy them successfully.
When a customer comes to us seeking enclosures to protect their networks, our team doesn’t just offer them a standard one-size-fits-all solution. Instead, we ask a series of questions to hone in on their needs and which enclosures will help them most.
First, we determine whether they need additional space at their substation. If they need a cabinet, we ask about power needs. If they have space inside an existing shelter, we ask about fiber stubs and patch panels. We also discuss the scope of their project and timeframes.
Then, we work with the co-op to determine how many cabinets, shelters or H-frame fiber storage solutions they will need, and what features to design into the enclosures. We can include battery storage solutions, fiber patch panels, security upgrades and more.
Often, co-ops and service providers will work directly with a project management firm to assist in planning the network and lining up the necessary enclosures. American Products has worked with numerous of those firms to develop solutions that will work for their needs. This means that the co-op just needs to order the recommended solutions.
Whether your co-op is developing its own internal or external networks, working with a third-party broadband supplier or even working with a project management firm, American Products can help as well. We have telecommunications experts on our team who can offer advice and help you determine the right solutions for your special needs. In the end, you’ll have quality enclosures and/or fiber storage solutions that will protect your network and make it easy to provide the service your customers expect.
Click here to contact our enclosure specialists and learn more about our internal and external network enclosure solutions for co-ops.