{"id":3341,"date":"2017-07-12T08:00:01","date_gmt":"2017-07-12T12:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/plugpower.local\/?p=3341"},"modified":"2017-07-12T08:00:01","modified_gmt":"2017-07-12T12:00:01","slug":"case-study-southern-linc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.plugpower.com\/blog\/case-study-southern-linc\/","title":{"rendered":"Case Study: Southern Linc"},"content":{"rendered":"
Southern Linc, a subsidiary of Southern Company, provides wireless communications to Alabama Power, Georgia Power, Gulf Power and Mississippi Power as well as to a wide range of government and business organizations within their 127,000 square-mile coverage area. Southern Linc is currently constructing a new 4G LTE Advanced network, requiring the installation of more than 1,300 eNB communication nodes.<\/p>\n
The Situation<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Southern Linc\u2019s 4G LTE Advanced network is designed to be extremely reliable with redundancies and hardening incorporated into multiple aspects of the network. The network will provide communications coverage for the service territories of Southern Company\u2019s electric utilities and is designed to provide mission critical data and push-to-talk communications for day-to-day operations and for service restoration following emergencies. Specifically, the Southern Company affiliates plan to use the new LTE network for applications such as distribution and transmission SCADA, AMI backhaul, and commercial and industrial metering backhaul. Commercial business and government customers who value the mission critical nature of Southern Linc\u2019s LTE network will also have the opportunity to use this network for voice and data communications.<\/p>\n Network construction has utilized a combination of existing and new tower locations to provide a footprint similar to Southern Linc\u2019s current wireless network for installation of eNB nodes. While existing locations are already equipped with shelter facilities and backup power generators, new sites are not. Since LTE eNB equipment is smaller, more power efficient and does not require air conditioning, a large shelter is not required at new LTE sites. Because of these new factors and the time, resources and cost to maintain the current generator fleet, Southern Linc explored other options for backup power. This exploration led to discussions with Plug Power and, eventually, the decision to implement Plug Power\u2019s integrated cabinet GenSure fuel cell solution and GenFuel hydrogen supply.<\/p>\n