Backup Power Operations

Uninterrupted power is paramount for communication networks, particularly in critical locations like datacenters, headends, outside plants, mobile cell sites and rural areas. A power loss impacting the transmission of high-speed data or voice services that results in a service disruption can damage the reputations of communication service providers, especially as reliable broadband service becomes more and more critical to both business and residential subscribers. Given the potential reputational repercussions of a service outage, MSOs are elevating the strategic importance of energy storage mediums designed to ensure continuous service in the event of power disruptions.

The challenge is that the energy storage medium most communications service providers rely on for backup, or standby, power operations is lead-acid batteries, which share the same foundational technology as batteries invented more than 2000 years ago. Lead-acid batteries, similar to common car batteries, rely on electrochemical reactions to store and discharge energy, making them susceptible to leakage and other hazardous and environmentally harmful events. In addition, lead-acid batteries require frequent maintenance, degrade with usage, or even when idle, and must be replaced every 3-5 years.

Recently, lithium batteries, which last longer and offer more discharge/recharge cycles than lead-acid batteries, have emerged as a potential replacement. While offering some improvements over lead-acid-based storage mediums, lithium-ion batteries are also susceptible to safety issues, including thermal runaway, a potentially hazardous condition that occurs when batteries overheat due to overuse or physical damage.  

ATX’s Areca™ family of energy storage modules are based on hybrid supercapacitors, a breakthrough energy storage technology that blends the best attributes of lithium batteries and capacitors. Unlike lead-acid or lithium-ion batteries, hybrid supercapacitors enable MSOs and other communication service providers to ensure continuous operations without risk to property or the environment. Largely a “set it and forget it” proposition, hybrid supercapacitors can deliver more than 20,000 discharge/recharge cycles over their maintenance-free, 20-plus-year lifespans.

Areca Hybrid Supercapacitors offer a game-changing solution by providing robust backup power capabilities in even the most challenging environments. Whether it’s protecting inside plants, outside plants or mobile sites, Areca Hybrid Supercapacitors ensure uninterrupted operation, empowering communication operators to deliver consistent, safe and environmentally friendly services to end users.