Arcadian Networks Launches The First Private, Secure Wireless Data Communication Carrier For Dispersed Asset Industries In Rural U.S.
Starts Network Build-Out with Great River Energy as First Client Funding Group Includes Goldman, Sachs and Co. and Gilo Ventures
Arcadian Networks, Inc., a telecommunications carrier, has rolled out the nation's first private, secure wireless data communication network for utilities and other 'dispersed-asset' industries. Arcadian Networks (www.arcadiannetworks.com) will provide its clients with access to broadband coverage in the 700-megahertz range, enabling them to collect, monitor and respond to mission-critical data in a real-time. Arcadian Networks service is available in 23 states comprising more than 60 percent of the continental U.S. Arcadian Networks is funded by Goldman, Sachs and Co. and Gilo Ventures.
"Arcadian Networks' service addresses a proven need for a truly customizable, secure and reliable, end-to-end solution for any industry looking to capture data from the field and manage assets remotely," said Gil Perez, chief executive officer of Arcadian Networks. "Our wireless network is the foundation for a reliable, secure, agile and robust digital network backbone for organizations serving large geographic areas with widely dispersed physical assets, mission-critical data and facing harsh weather conditions. Working hand-in-hand with our prospective clients allowed us to develop and design the Arcadian broadband network to meet their current needs while enabling them to plan for the next generation of smart applications."
As a wireless carrier, Arcadian Networks' licensed 700-megahertz spectrum provides its clients operational capabilities via the company's broadband network. The company's offering is designed to reduce operational costs and increase productivity by enabling real-time monitoring, control of operations, field services and management applications.
"Existing communication alternatives are often cellular networks, leased telephone company landlines or un-licensed wireless and satellite services. For many rural areas of the country, these alternatives are not available, and what is available may not meet the requirements for security, reliability, speed and cost," Mr. Perez continued. "Utilities, public safety agencies and other companies with assets across large areas need to have a carrier that provides a private network that meets their criteria for reliability and security. Arcadian Networks is the only carrier focused on this market and is the first with a complete and proven offering."
Industries that will use this network include electric, oil, gas, water and other base infrastructure utilities, governmental agencies and mining and environmental organizations. When these industries build-out their data networks today in rural areas, they often have a low density of users/sites serving a large territory and therefore a diseconomy of scale.
Arcadian Networks' core solution provides a completely integrated wireless broadband network with equipment and licensed spectrum for operational and mission critical applications such as Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), security surveillance, Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP), control area operations, automatic meter reading (AMR) and workforce management. The service allows utilities and dispersed assets industries to maintain their existing communication infrastructure while upgrading to an IP-based communications network. Arcadian Networks is the first carrier to provide a secure two-way private licensed broadband radio spectrum to substations, feeders and meter sites, allowing utilities to monitor mission-critical assets in real-time, detect problems proactively and respond to the growing security requirements of their facilities and assets.
Initial Network Build-out
Great River Energy (www.greatriverenergy.com), the fourth-largest U.S. wholesale power cooperative, is Arcadian Networks' anchor tenant in Minnesota. A not-for-profit generation and transmission cooperative, Great River Energy provides wholesale electric service to 28 distribution cooperatives serving about 1.7 million people in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
"Our approach at Great River Energy is to find great opportunities that create value for our members by leveraging our assets," said David Saggau, chief executive officer, Great River Energy. "Arcadian Networks' business model is unique because it solves real problems faced by many utility companies that don't get a lot of visibility. We all talk about the same challenges in this industry - geography and the need to manage highly dispersed assets, aging communications systems, security and cost. Arcadian Networks has created an offering that can have an immediate and significant impact for Great River Energy and regional entities with similar needs. They are our partner in bringing an improved service level to customers throughout our service area."
"The Arcadian network provides us with significant cost advantages to our current solution," said Jim Jones, chief information officer, Great River Energy. "In today's environment, provisioning, monitoring and controlling mission critical assets must be done in real-time. Arcadian Networks is the only network provider who is focused on the requirements of building and maintaining a full network for mission critical assets in rural America. The fact that they bring the spectrum and the equipment helps mitigate our risk."
"Dispersed asset businesses and in particular electric, gas, and water utility companies are in the process of migrating their data communications backbone and remote monitoring of fixed sites to an IP based network. This is a huge undertaking which will take many years to complete. With so many viable urban telecommunication alternatives today, it is good to see companies developing a new business model to address the needs of rural and secondary markets. The requirements of such mission critical data networks are quite different than the consumer based networks available today. Many utilities will have now an additional communications media choice rather than buying and building the network themselves, often over extensive, challenging rural terrains," said Rick Schmidt, an industry communications expert from Power System Engineering of Madison, WI.
Strong Management Team
Arcadian Networks is headed by proven technology industry executives whose careers have focused on building successful companies. Mr. Perez has extensive experience managing successful high-tech companies and building them into sought-after businesses with highly attractive and profitable services, technologies and solutions. His experience spans companies involved in enterprise software, networking, medical imaging and medical devices, among others.
David Aber, chief financial officer, has handled financial operations as the CFO for public companies on NASDAQ, LSE and NYSE as well as privately held businesses. His experience spans companies involved in semiconductor, security and storage industries among others.
About Arcadian Networks
Arcadian Networks is a telecommunications carrier providing the first private, secure wireless data communication network for utilities and other 'dispersed-asset' industries in a wide portion of the rural United States. Through its unique 700 MHz-based network, the company offers utilities such as electric, oil and gas, and water with a turnkey flexible high-speed broadband network allowing real-time monitoring and control of operations and management applications. Arcadian Networks provides the foundation for reliable, secure and efficient network focused on operational, mission critical assets and infrastructure. Based in New York, Arcadian Networks is funded by Goldman, Sachs and Co. and Gilo Ventures.
For more information, please visit www.arcadiannetworks.com.