QUALCOMM’s OmniTRACS mobile communications system helps electric cooperatives run their businesses more efficiently

(Business News & Technology News, 20 Mar 2007)

QUALCOMM Inc., a leading provider of business-to-business wireless enterprise applications and services, has announced that its OmniTRACS mobile communications system is helping both Carteret-Craven Electric (North Carolina) and South Central Power Company (Ohio) electric cooperatives to better communicate with their crews in the field, improve workforce management and eliminate time-consuming paperwork. The OmniTRACS system also provides reliable two-way satellite communications and position location reporting in rural areas and improves disaster preparedness by enabling communications when terrestrial cellular and radio communication systems are unavailable.

"We chose QUALCOMM's OmniTRACS system because it helps us stay in contact with our crews," said Cathy Bitler, Vice President, Administration, South Central Power Co. "Being able to communicate with our crews in remote areas, especially in the event of a natural disaster, is invaluable to us and helps us better serve our customers."

Both Carteret-Craven Electric and South Central Power are electric co-ops located in rural areas where cellular and radio coverage is not always available. The OmniTRACS system works via geostationary satellites, so it does not rely on the availability of radio towers or cellular base stations. It is backed by the fully redundant QUALCOMM Network Operations Center to ensure reliable service. The OmniTRACS system also helps the co-ops to send data more efficiently from the office to their crews in the field, allowing workers to track and process orders from the truck cab. If a customer makes a service or reconnect request, the order can be sent near realtime to a crew in the field for improved workflow management.

"We are completely satisfied with the OmniTRACS system because it seamlessly integrates with our CIS software," said Randy Carr, director of IT for Carteret-Craven Cooperative. "It also is helping us eliminate unnecessary paperwork in our vehicles. We can foresee a paperless process soon."

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