THE STORY

A large national telecommunications provider operates a network of facilities that house and power the equipment required to deliver reliable communication services. These sites support continuous operations across a broad geographic footprint and demand high levels of consistency, performance, and uptime.

To support ongoing performance needs and ensure systems operate as efficiently as possible, the provider partnered with Franklin Energy to evaluate energy use across its telecommunications facilities.

THE GOAL

As the telecommunications provider modernized its network and migrated to newer technologies, there was a clear opportunity to embed energy efficiency into that transformation. The focus was on reducing unnecessary energy load, improving facility operations, and capturing available incentives—without compromising reliability or performance.

THE SOLUTION AND RESULTS

Franklin Energy conducted comprehensive energy assessments and facility audits to identify high-impact opportunities across telecommunications sites in the Midwest. These assessments revealed significant underutilization of outdated switch-related equipment—creating an opportunity to consolidate network traffic, decommission unused assets, and upgrade to more efficient technologies.

Through Switch Peripheral Equipment Consolidation (SPEC) and network combing projects in Illinois and Michigan, Franklin Energy supported site selection, developed business cases, and secured pre-approval for utility incentives. This structured approach allowed projects to move forward efficiently while minimizing operational risk and avoiding disruptions. By consolidating network equipment and retiring unnecessary assets, the provider reduced overall energy load while improving system flexibility and operational efficiency.