Mani Vannan’s Post

🌐 The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) is advocating for a boost in minimum uplink standards for broadband networks funded by the federal BEAD program. NRECA believes a 100 Mbps symmetrical requirement would empower electric co-ops in competing for BEAD grants, especially as they prioritize high-speed broadband for rural areas. 💡 Joe Trammell from Netceed highlights the potential for speeds to jump up to 25 Gbps and 50 Gbps, emphasizing the need to avoid restricting users to outdated speeds. He recommends electric co-ops offer broadband at a minimum of 100/100, with optional services up to 10 Gbps. 🔗 Electric co-ops, often governed by boards of their members, are uniquely positioned to deploy fast fiber networks, owning power poles without additional lease fees. Despite limitations on using electricity customer funds, co-ops can establish telecom subsidiaries for broadband initiatives. 🚀 The push for faster, reliable internet in rural areas continues, with many electric co-ops already offering speeds surpassing 100 Mbps symmetrical. The Fiber Broadband Association notes the significant growth of rural electric co-ops as broadband providers, with at least 200 of the 900 co-ops in the U.S. offering some form of broadband service. #Broadband #RuralConnectivity #BEADProgram #ElectricCoops #FiberNetworks 🚀🌐

"Money from electricity customers can’t be used to subsidize broadband builds, but electric co-ops can create telecom subsidiaries, which can hire the people who work for the co-op to deploy fiber. Another advantage for electric co-ops is that they typically own the power poles, so they don’t have to pay lease fees in order to hang fiber there. https://hubs.la/Q02jh2Qn0

🚀Smart Poles: Revolutionising UK's Mobile Network Infrastructure🚀 In a groundbreaking move, Virgin Media O2 successfully deployed 4G and 5G smart poles, integrating them within its pre-existing fibre network, marking a UK first! These innovative smart poles, powered by Virgin O2's fibre network using VoltServer's cutting-edge "digital electricity" solution, require no planning permission and can be set up within a few hours ⏰. With around 25,000 cabinets already in place across the UK, this could revolutionise network expansion, drastically reducing costs and expediting the process. By seamlessly integrating fixed infrastructure with smart poles, Virgin Media O2 aims to enhance mobile coverage nationwide. This initiative not only improves network efficiency but also sets the scene for further innovation as these smart poles are rigged for additional advancements to be attached to them. They have potential to fuel smart city solutions and electric vehicle chargers using Virgin Media O2's existing duct network. #VirginMediaO2 #5G #SmartInfrastructure #Innovation #Connectivity

In March 2022, the Commonwealth Government and nbn® Australia announced a $750 million co-investment commitment to upgrade nbn’s Fixed Wireless and Satellite networks to help meet the growing needs of homes and businesses in regional Australia. This is enabling nbn to upgrade its Fixed Wireless network using state of the art 4G and 5G technologies which is on track for completion in December 2024. To ensure nbn continues to progress our efforts to improve the energy efficiency of its network, we have installed Ericsson’s innovative equipment with Microsleep Tx software on 2,400 Fixed Wireless towers which services rural and regional communities across Australia. In line with our commitment to reduce annual energy use by 25 GWh per annum by December 2025, nbn is reducing power consumption by five per cent across its Fixed Wireless network which is the equivalent of powering 200 Australian homes.   Our national fibre upgrade program is central to our plan to enable long-term reductions in network power demand and improve customer experience. nbn is on track to enable over 10 million premises – or up to 90 per cent of the Fixed Line network – to access close to Gigabit speeds by the end of 2025.   Read more https://lnkd.in/gDnU8keG

Really interesting announcement today from Virgin Media O2 about small cells directly linked to its streetside fibre cabinets. At the moment this is just a trial, but is notable for a couple of reasons: - Powered by the existing cabinet supply, rather than needing a separate connection. The cringeworthy term “digital electricity” rather spoils it - it’s basically the FTTx equivalent of power-over-Ethernet, although with a parallel cable (it doesn’t deliver power-over-fibre via photons!) - Doesn’t need separate planning permits, which should definitely take friction, time and costs out of the installation It follows on from existing small-cell partnerships VMO2 has with various infracos & neutral host such as Cellnex UK, Freshwave & Ontix which attach small cells to lampposts and bus shelters. A few questions come to mind: - What bands are supported for 4G / #5G? Can they support MIMO radios? - Are the small cells single-MNO or could they support multiple operators on the same pole? - Will VMO2 continue working with 3rd party #neutralhost providers or will this link to some sort of wholesale model of its own? - Does this just support integrated small cells or also disaggregated RUs for open RAN deployments? - Are there some sort of disaggregated fixed network elements like virtual cellsite gateways involved? What’s happening at the OLT to support small cells as well as FTTX? - How much power can be delivered to the poles? Enough for a mmWave radio for FWA for instance? I can see a lot of opportunities depending on the specifics. Some interesting wholesale models certainly, but also outdoor private & local networks / small cells where VMO2 lets an enterprise or local authority build its own radio network. This could even be somewhere NaaS APIs make sense, although maybe not the way GSMA envisaged them. #smallcells #broadband #mobile https://lnkd.in/ekFgBHQA

Using existing infrastructure when building mobile network coverage makes a lot of sense. Smart pole concept has been around for awhile and I guess this is the way outdoor coverage will be built in the future on populated areas. Rural areas could be covered by using satellites and for indoors there is WiFi (homes and offices) and private networks (OT).

Outside of the spoiled grandchildren ;) mentioned at the end of the article, I can relate to all the issues bringing usable 5G to rural America. We can resolve some issues now like no power availability with solar PV/hybrid solutions, and no fiber availability with MW backhaul if there are any scraps of microwave spectrum left in these rural applications. However, carriers often grumble and groan at the expense when you do solve all of the rural issues relating to building the right wireless communications site. We have many (unpopulated southwest US areas) rural highways and interstates that carry upwards to 25,000 cars AADT (average annual daily traffic) with sizable coverage holes, so grumble away. If you still want to cover that 8 mile stretch of highway through public lands with no fiber or power, we got you... #5g4all #5g #rural5G #digitaldivide #5gbrats

"I believe the transition to fiber is inevitable. Low latency and high-capacity data communications are essential for grid modernization and low-cost Passive Optical Networks (PONs) are a suitable solution to reach the growing number of devices across the distribution grid needed for efficient control." You said that right, Steve Maederer! Looking for more on the transition to fiber? Check out the article below. ⬇ https://lnkd.in/eizudJWE

🚨🔌 Big news for electrical utilities and broadband!🚀🌐 The FCC's new pole attachment rules are here, reshaping the nation's journey towards universal national broadband access. Check out our blog to explore how the proposed reforms are reshaping broadband deployment and what it means for electric utilities – and how the Fulcrum platform can help utilities navigate the changes and challenges with ease. 💪💼📊 #FCC #Broadband #ElectricUtilities #PoleAttachment #RegulatoryCompliance #DigitalTransformation #Fulcrum 🌍💡 Check it out now! https://lnkd.in/d8KRqNSj

You might be surprised to find out that ending 3G networks can cut energy costs by 15% - this is just one of the ways the telecom industry is making huge strides towards a greener future. 🌱 From reducing carbon footprints to enhancing energy efficiency, many telecom companies companies have set ambitious targets: 🔧 Copper Switch Off: Transitioning from copper to fiber optics reduces energy use by 80% and saves billions annually for telecom carriers. 🌐 Efficient 5G Technology: New 5G technologies optimize power usage, saving gigawatt-hours annually and offering 90% greater efficiency than 4G networks. 🔌  3G Network Shutdown: Ending 3G networks cuts energy costs by 15%, with rapid shutdowns expected globally by 2025. 🚛 Greening Fleet Operations: Telecoms are electrifying fleets to reduce CO2 emissions, aiming for sustainability in commercial vehicle operations. Although we are dedicated to providing telecom companies with the design, engineering, and field services - we got our roots in green energy and our counterpart division @greenlancer continues to grow in that space.