As 2022 comes to an end, the American Products team is taking a look back at what the telecommunications industry experienced throughout the year, as well as what we expect to see in 2023.
Looking Back
2022 turned out to be a big year for the telecommunications industry. The industry was very strong with many organizations across the board expanding their networks.
Much of that strong performance came from the continued push to bring internet connections to rural customers all over the country. About two years ago, the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) program was started. In 2022, many internet service providers began receiving their allotted RDOF funds and using them to expand their networks. While utility companies were some of the main entities extending their networks, the American Products team has worked with wireless internet providers (WISP), telecommunications, cable TV and satellite communications organizations as they also bring their services to outlying areas.
While the industry stayed strong, one continued nuisance from 2022 kept rearing its head–supply chain issues. At American Products, we battled it regularly in regard to electronic components, and we heard from our customers that they were doing the same. This is likely caused in part by the rural communications expansion push-more companies are building out their networks and therefore draining the supply chain with the increased orders.
At American Products, we’ve worked to mitigate these issues by keeping a stock (when possible) of common components we use regularly. This helps a lot, especially as we’ve seen some electronic component lead times go as long as 90 weeks.
Looking Forward
At American Products, we’re continuing to plan ahead because we don’t expect the industry to slow down anytime soon, which means the supply chain issues won’t likely be resolved soon either.
We recommend our customers do the same–plan ahead. If an organization knows of a project coming up, they should go ahead and start talking to enclosure OEMs as soon as possible. Planning ahead will help both parties–the communications organization and OEM–meet the organization’s own timeline by providing more time to work around obstacles.
American Products has actually spoken with a customer who was planning 18 months out. While that might seem excessive to some, it actually helps ensure they receive the enclosures and equipment they need when they want it.
At American Products, our team is working hard to keep common components on hand and increase production to meet the industry’s growing enclosure needs. For those looking to expand their networks, we provide turnkey enclosure solutions that come loaded with all the equipment you need, saving you the time and hassle of hunting down components and installing them yourself.
If you’re interested in learning more about American Products and our turnkey enclosure solutions, please contact the sales specialists at 417.323.6312.