SA Power Networks adopts Cradlepoint's 5G & satellite solution

Cradlepoint, part of Ericsson, has announced the provision of in-vehicle 5G and satellite connectivity for South Australia (SA) Power Networks. The solution aims to provide time-saving live status updates, thereby improving customer service. It incorporates Cradlepoint NetCloud, which runs on Cradlepoint R1900 and R920 ruggedised routers. The initiative uses Starlink low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite as the primary connection for SA Power Networks service vehicles, which can switch to cellular connectivity when satellite connections are suboptimal.

SA Power Networks is South Australia's only electricity distributor, employing more than 2,000 people and supplying power to approximately 1.7 million customers. The essential service provider operates a 24-hour hotline for faults and emergencies across its network, which spans roughly 178,000 square kilometres.

The business sought a reliable, managed connectivity solution that integrates both satellite and 5G. Paul Salter, SA Power Networks’ Head of Powerline & Electrical Services, highlighted the challenges faced by field crews due to the remote and regional locations where cellular coverage is often lacking. "Our field crews are working in regional and remote parts of the state, some of which have next to no cellular coverage. Without reliable service, crews could arrive at the site to carry out works, but then need to travel to the nearest location with a cellular tower to communicate or access critical information related to the job," Salter said.

Salter further elaborated on the advantages of the new connectivity solution. "If there were further works required, crews would need to travel back and forth to the site until power was restored safely. This connectivity solution with Cradlepoint and Starlink is about improving restoration times and getting better outcomes for our customers," he stated.

In regions where cellular coverage is available, SA Power Networks is using both active cellular and Starlink connectivity, with Cradlepoint prioritising the best-performing link. NetCloud Manager is instrumental for SA Power Networks as it offers centralised visibility and management over the entire fleet of devices, as well as clear visibility over uptime and data usage across cellular and Starlink WAN interfaces. Additionally, the Cradlepoint R1900 routers provide Wi-Fi 6 access for users.

Data from SA Power Networks indicates that the continuous connectivity offered by the new solution results in significant time savings for field workers. According to Salter, "The connectivity solutions we now have with Cradlepoint 5G and Starlink LEO Satellite are saving our field workers significant time on travel and administration effort. For unplanned interruptions in regional areas, continuous connection is saving us an estimated 1,845 hours a year by enabling and improving Digital Field Switching, 1,844 hours a year by making it easier for crews to close out and approve jobs, and 1,230 hours a year in time previously spent travelling to find a connection."

Cradlepoint emerged from a competitive testing process as the selected provider to manage connectivity. It was chosen for its local support, enterprise-grade management, and secure hosting across SA Power Networks’ fleet of cellular and Starlink-connected devices. The rugged build of Cradlepoint devices was another deciding factor, as was the security offered by NetCloud Manager, which includes data and privacy management features, essential for SA Power Networks' operations.

Looking forward, SA Power Networks plans to use the R1900's extensibility capabilities to automate future projects using software development kits (SDKs) or Docker containers. Cradlepoint also offers a limited lifetime warranty with a NetCloud subscription and onshore cloud hosting, a regulatory requirement for SA Power Networks.