power to the internet

Thu Dec 26 19:18:26 UTC 2019

On 12/26/19 10:55 AM, Michael Thomas wrote:
> Here in California, you're going to need a lot more than 8 hours. We had 
> one that lasted 3 days, followed by about 8 hours of power, followed by 
> 2 days of no power. If this is the new normal, and I'm afraid that it 
> is, that's probably going to require some pretty hefty backup. Not to 
> mention expensive.
> 
> The one "good" thing that PG&E did is expose all of these 
> vulnerabilities. Every neighborhood probably knows whether their carrier 
> is naughty or nice now.

Here in Nevada, specifically at Lake Tahoe, power is less reliable 
because of heavy snow and sliding trucks (the power equivalent to a 
backhoe disconnect).  One of the cell sites is on the top level of a 
casino parking garage.  I found out about this when the casino went 
bankrupt, the parking garage was blocked off, and I joined the security 
guard crew to protect the on-site gaming equipment.  Months into the 
project, the cell company in question begged the bankruptcy court for 
access -- to replace the empty propane cylinders in their shack.  That's 
right, no mains tap at all.  When the casino lost power because of bill 
non-payment, the cell site stayed up.

A network operator will need to look at the total cost, including labor, 
of backing up mains power. versus using local genertion exclusively -- 
or using mains power as the backup!  Factor in any upcoming fines for 
service outage, re 911.  (Try to avoid piped natural gas as the fuel for 
onsite generation.)

Longer term, review your backhauls and interconnects.  Dark fiber would 
be preferred here, because you would be controlling backup power at both 
ends, and not depending on intermediate nodes.