Renewable Energy Provider Optimises Connectivity in Remote Sites

A leading renewable energy provider required a reliable, secure, and high-performance connectivity solution to support their OT (Operational Technology) and IT (Information Technology) systems across multiple remote sites. These locations included solar farms, wind turbine installations, and battery storage sites – often greenfield and completely off-grid.

The infrastructure needed to be operational from day one, with connectivity supporting multiple OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturer), including SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems, radio networks, CCTV (Close Circuit Television), and local site teams.

Fixed-line broadband was not a viable option due to the isolated nature of the sites. At the same time, each location required a public routed IP subnet to integrate with their perimeter security systems. Traditional IoT SIMs weren’t suitable for this type of setup due to their limitations in routing flexibility and fault tolerance.

CSL implemented its Outpost solution – an advanced SDN-based connectivity platform that brings together the resilience and flexibility needed for complex, remote deployments. The Outpost hardware features a quad-radio design, allowing the use of four independent 4G IoT SIMs. These were deployed alongside satellite connectivity to deliver a high-speed bonded connection with sub-second failover. This ensures seamless performance even if one or more of the mobile or satellite paths drop out.

Crucially, CSL’s SDN overlay network enabled the delivery of a routed public IP subnet directly to the site’s perimeter firewall. This meant each asset—regardless of the OEM—could be brought under the client’s unified security and network model, removing the need for multiple independent connections across vendors.

CSL’s Outpost solution transformed how the customer could manage connectivity across their estate. Previously, each OEM would have deployed their own access solution, often outside the security perimeter and with minimal visibility or centralised control.

Now, the entire site is integrated into the customer’s existing IT and OT systems from day one, supported by a secure, resilient connection that behaves like a traditional fixed-line service—only with the added reliability of multiple mobile and satellite paths.

CSL also provides proactive monitoring and remote management, enabling rapid resolution of any issues, including out-of-band access when required. In rare cases where on-site intervention is necessary, CSL’s engineers are able to attend quickly.

This deployment showcases the flexibility and power of CSL’s Outpost solution, made possible by CSL’s unique ownership of both the hardware and the network core. The SDN architecture allows CSL to design and deploy bespoke, routed networks over mobile infrastructure—an offering few others can match.

Explore how our IoT Routers can deliver seamless and secure connectivity for your business.