Winter Whiteout Demonstrates Power of 3G Networks

The great blizzard of 2010 has socked the Northeast. More than one-foot of snow layers the landscape between Philadelphia and Boston. So treacherous were the conditions that major highways were shut down, airports closed and sporting events rescheduled. Homebound residents glued to their televisions for weather updates were warned of potential power outages as winds whipped to speeds upward of 60 mph. 

So, here’s the funny part: In the event of a power outage, utility companies were asking subscribers to notify them via their websites.

Let’s say that again: “If you don’t have power, please log on to www.idonthaveelectricity.com” – of course, after putting your kids on the treadmill to generate a little juice to power up your PC and sneak a signal across the dead wires. Wait, that won’t work either, will it. So I guess the only other option is using a smartphone with Web access.

All this got me thinking about connectivity redundancy and how persistent connectivity enables solutions. Sometimes there is absolutely no tolerance for losing connectivity to network resources or network assets. Sometimes a business or individual user needs more than just broadband connectivity, and that redundancy – or in some cases, primary access – is coming via 3G wireless cards.

In the early days of broadband connectivity, network equipment manufacturers offered redundant PTEN modems as an alternative means for reaching devices for management, maintenance and troubleshooting. Broadband wasn’t a proven technology, so the conventional phone modem provided a safety net in the event of a broadband outage.

3G cards can do the same for critical systems. Just as some Northeast residents are discovering under their blanket of winter snow that 3G smartphones are a window to the world regardless of disruptions to broadband carrier service, 3G broadband cards for network devices can act as connection back-ups, redundant access methods and service extenders.

But 3G service isn’t just for backup and continuity. It can act as a service extender, providing connectivity to devices that are out of reach of power supplies and network cables.

TransNet, a New Jersey-based integrator, used 3G cards to automate the monitoring and management of remote public drinking water wells. The pumphouses were too far to run a conventional cable for Internet connectivity. Instead, TransNet deployed a 3G transmitter to a locally installed router to provide connectivity. With little cost, the pumphouse was connected to the Internet, allowing public works managers to remotely monitor well activity.

Another example is Consert, a North Carolina-based solution SaaS provider which uses Honeywell 3G cards to connect power monitors to household appliances. The monitors transmit electricity usage to Consert, which aggregates the data and sells it to electricity suppliers for more efficient production planning. The monitors also can reset appliances to manage household power consumption.

Several security vendors such as Watchguard Technologies are shipping appliances with 3G cards as standard equipment. In the event of connection outage, administrators can use the 3G connection to ensure security protections remain in place and working properly.

If travelers stranded on snowbound subway cars can transmit photos of their plight via their cellphones, why can’t networks stay operation with the same technology? It’s time to start thinking beyond the end of the cable. Wireless is more than just the local router and access points, and it can be so much more than wide-area WiFi networking. Solution providers can provide businesses with greater peace of mind by including 3G connectivity as part of their total connectivity package.