In the increasingly complex environment in which utility providers and electric cooperatives operate, finding additional ways to expand operational capabilities is a major focus. Electric, gas, and water utilities of all types—investor owned, public power, and cooperatives—can improve efficiencies, seize new revenue opportunities, and maximize communications systems by developing wireless broadband networks in their service areas. The question is how to best enhance and grow communications networks to accommodate this new wireless service, whether to lease space on an existing tower in your community or build a new one.
Modern communications networks enable real-time, data-driven business insights that allow energy providers to optimize mission-critical operations and improve the reliability of their service. Whether monitoring systems to reduce the impact of outages and emergencies, balancing supply with demand to prevent system overloads, or safely collecting usage data to help customers be more efficient consumers, today’s networks drive operational efficiency and business resilience.
Low-latency, high-speed, secure networks present an opportunity to maintain quality service. The escalating data demands of a growing population explain the increased interest among all utilities in providing wireless internet to customers as an additional service. Thinking through how to meet the associated network infrastructure requirements in rural, suburban, and dense urban areas raises a series of questions for energy providers keen to use financial resources responsibly and meet established timelines.
No matter where a wireless network rollout is occurring, energy providers need to decide whether to build a new structure or use an existing one. Will existing structures meet coverage and capacity needs, including in the country's hardest-to-reach locations? If choosing to build, do you have the expertise needed to acquire land and obtain zoning approvals and permits?
American Tower has released an e-book that asks and answers the questions decisionmakers must consider in evaluating build and lease options. In this blog, we zero in on the key issues explored in chapter three: the factors that inform whether to collocate on existing towers.
Rollout Considerations
Wireless network planning can be complex. What’s easier to understand is that speed and cost, simplicity, and infrastructure availability are important factors in deciding how to execute on network rollouts.
Speed and cost: Building a new tower is time-consuming and expensive, which may argue for accelerating last-mile deployments through use of existing infrastructure. Speed and cost are important in every network rollout, but especially so when funding program deadlines for coverage and service in rural areas are in play.
Simplicity: Management of landowners, infrastructure owners, local councils, regulatory bodies, and construction firms adds considerable complexity to network rollouts. Leveraging existing towers can reduce approval burdens and unanticipated roadblocks and put ongoing maintenance responsibilities in the hands of tower experts.
Infrastructure Availability: Tens of thousands of towers are available, many in suburban and rural areas where broadband networks are being extended. The tall heights of these towers increase flexibility and coverage area.
Tapping Into Expert Resources
Tower companies have programs, resources, and expertise to ensure proper maintenance of towers and rapid resolution of site issues. A collocation decision is a choice to leverage their expertise and resources to meet your network expansion goals and those of funding programs.
Leasing vs. Building Responsibilities
Our e-book is designed to help decisionmakers evaluate the lease versus build options holistically. The Leasing vs. Building Responsibilities Chart, found in chapter three, provides a tool that allows you to think about this decision from the perspective of which responsibilities you would assume and which a tower company would assume in the two scenarios.
Wireless communications networks seen as an essential utility—both for you and your customers. Access the e-book and make informed decisions to accelerate network deployments, meet budget and operational goals, and grow your bottom line.
About the Author: David Flint
David has more than 25 years of telecommunications industry experience. As a long-time member of the American Tower sales organization, he’s had both regional and national responsibilities. Today, he’s leading business development for our energy initiatives, including the Oil & Gas and utilities markets.
