Challenge details:

Electric utility field operations often take place in large, remote, and geographically dispersed locations where mobile network coverage and internet connectivity are extremely weak or completely unavailable. In these environments, field teams are required to carry out critical electrical activities such as testing, maintenance, fault response, and restoration. However, the absence of reliable connectivity makes it difficult to enable real‑time or near‑real‑time monitoring of electrical systems and associated field operations from central control or supervisory teams.

At present, most monitoring, safety, and operational workflows assume the availability of mobile data, Wi‑Fi, or other communication infrastructure. In remote locations, this forces field devices and teams to operate in isolation, relying on manual processes, locally stored data, or delayed reporting once connectivity becomes available. This lack of real‑time visibility impacts the ability to supervise field activities, issue and manage permits to work (PTW), ensure compliance with safety procedures, and respond promptly to operational risks. The challenge is further intensified by the scale of operations, where large numbers of teams are deployed simultaneously, making continuous connectivity‑dependent solutions impractical and costly.

We are seeking solutions that enable reliable monitoring of electrical systems and field operations in environments with little to no network connectivity. The solution should support autonomous or offline operation, allow secure local capture and validation of operational data, and enable synchronization with central systems when connectivity becomes available. It should be scalable across a large workforce, cost‑effective, and capable of maintaining safety‑critical functions such as PTW/LOTO and supervisory oversight without depending on continuous internet or mobile network access.