Build versus Buy

Traditionally, energy companies interested in building a communication platform have typically had two choices:

• Build and manage their own network
• Buy from a public carrier to build and manage it (provided service is available in the field territory)

Build Your Own
Enables energy companies to control the timing, equipment, and chosen technologies. Together with control, however, are the challenges of technology obsolescence, how to acquire private, secure licensed radio spectrum, ongoing management of wireless radio spectrum, re-banding risks and management of large up front fixed capital budgets. Additionally, expert skills are required to design, engineer, and integrate the systems, as well as manage and maintain the network.

Buy From a Public Consumer Carriers
Initially require lower capital outlays, because the carrier’s infrastructure is already in place. Frequently, however, the infrastructure cannot meet the needs of energy companies. Originally built to service consumers in populated areas (not assets in remote regions), public carriers’ services focus on higher-margin content services and not on securing mission-critical applications. Public carriers’ decisions are thus driven by consumer needs rather than field asset needs. As a result, carriers are often incapable of providing the security, performance, and reliability needed to monitor and control remote SCADA applications and mission-critical devices. Lastly, the public terrestrial and wireless carriers provide “best-effort” communications versus a “committed information rate” which means that their voice and data service is unpredictable and can easily be over-subscribed during peak-periods of need.

Today’s Available Options
Options are choices. Your answers to three questions can best determine the option for you:

• As a utility or energy company, are your field communications a core competency that must be fully owned and operated?
• Does your existing field communication network provide the option value of a broadband, wireless, digital, TCP/IP based network with—fixed and mobile; data and voice capabilities—delivering a “smarter” fieldforce and infrastructure?
• Is your culture willing to compliment existing skills with external expertise to help innovate operations and focus on core energy-related activities?

Arcadian Networks: The Smart Option
With the introduction of Arcadian Networks, energy companies now have a third choice: Engage a private, specialized, managed network solution provider to help build and manage the wireless network based on your exclusive specifications.

Arcadian Networks provides private, custom, wireless, managed services specifically tailored to the needs of energy companies. Flexibility and control are maintained by the customer, with the continuous expertise and support of Arcadian Networks’ professionals. Throughout the network’s planning and construction, priorities are set to minimize project and technology risks. Service levels are guaranteed in writing with a client-specific SLA (Service Level Agreement). The end result is a wireless, homogenous network is created that delivers the highest option-value for the customer today, coupled with broadband capabilities for future innovations.