Lafayette Utilities System

Organization Profile: Municipal Utilities Provider

Industry: Local Government

Solution:

• Development of business, technical and marketing plans surrounding new telecommunications network
• Management and support services through GDS' state-of-the-art Network Operations Center (NOC)

Result:

• Success deployment of revenue-generating telecommunications network

Lafayette Utilities System (LUS) provides electric, water and sewer services to homes and businesses in the Lafayette, La., community. LUS wanted to replace its aging microwave system —used to connect 13 substations with the utility's central supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system — with a fiber-optic network. The SCADA system required 12 strands of optical fiber, and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette asked that LUS add six strands of 'dark fiber' that the university could purchase.

Upon further study, however, LUS learned that the number of optical strands had little impact on cost. LUS decided to go ahead and install 96 fibers and sell wholesale broadband Internet service in the community.

LUS created a special team of public- and private-sector telecommunications experts to develop a business plan for generating revenue from the optical fiber. Glenn Lambert of GDS was asked to join the original team and helped us write the business plan behind this project.

With the business plan in place, LUS needed technical and marketing consultants to get the project under way. LUS soon signed a contract with GDS. GDS designed the SONET-based system, helped develop a marketing plan, and handled various logistical issues. GDS also supplies operational services through its state-of-the-art Network Operations Center (NOC) and provided training to LUS staff.

The LUS fiber-optic loop, dubbed the LUS Powered Network, is used by ISPs and CLECs who sell connectivity at the retail level and need to buy bandwidth in volume. Companies that offer wireless solutions are also utilizing the new LUS fiber-optic infrastructure. The LUS Powered Network also supports a 100MB shared-packet municipal area network (MAN) for Lafayette governmental entities. It allows local government workers to have high-speed interconnection for data transfer as well as high-speed Internet connectivity.

As a taxpayer-supported utility, LUS has a mandate to serve the public's interests. However, LUS Powered Network is also a revenue-generating business with a solid business plan and state-of-the-art technology offering. The keys to success have been careful planning, hard work and a strong partnership with highly skilled consultants at GDS.