Vibrant Broadband, part of Meeker Energy, is another example of how electric cooperatives are taking their rural broadband matters into their own hands.
In 2018, Vibrant Broadband began building its hybrid fiber optic and fixed wireless infrastructure for rural members who had electricity. This hybrid system allows us to offer brilliant speeds throughout a widespread area.
Vibrant Broadband provides fiber-fed Internet to businesses and residents of Meeker, Kandiyohi, Wright, Stearns, McLeod, and Renville counties in Central Minnesota.
Andrew Kalkbrenner, IT Manager at Vibrant Broadband, said that the cooperative’s decision was a response to the limited options its members had.
The connection serves two purposes…
Considering the rural landscape that Vibrant Broadband serves, the cooperative is leveraging fiber for two purposes: gaining greater visibility into its electric business and delivering broadband.
By building out fiber to its electric infrastructure, the cooperative gained greater visibility. Electric providers can use the fiber for Substation Automation and control, enabling SCADA (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition) and supporting modern smart grid functionalities like asset condition monitoring and remote control.
Those purposes opened a third door…
Besides taking care of its electric infrastructure and supporting its FTTH and wireless broadband networks, Vibrant sees several wholesale application opportunities for the middle mile networks.
It is working with other providers using its service to resell the internet to consumers, as well as providing facilities for wireless backhaul. “The middle mile network is mainly for our members, but there are several other opportunities,” Kalkbrenner said. “Also, there are other electric companies we’re able to help tie some of their facilities together to operate more efficiently and have private connectivity between locations to help with security.”