Steeves Agencies supplies Southco solutions that help 5G network providers meet industry standards and NEMA, IP and UL Type ratings, while adding value to their design, manufacturing and product evaluation processes. Southco knows telecom enclosure applications and we’re happy to offer these solutions to western Canada.

Per Southco’s Mike Fahy:

“Within the next four years, global spending on 5G infrastructure will exceed $10 billion.[1] A majority of leading telecommunications providers have committed to launching 5G commercially by 2020. Of the 15 largest providers worldwide, nine have public plans to launch 5G by this date, including all of the major providers in the United States, China and Japan.

This high-value, cutting-edge, digital cell technology will be woven through and added to our existing physical telecommunications environment. However, it’s not just a simple upgrade of existing cellular base stations and antennas.

5G cells are generally referred to as small cell wireless facilities (SWF). They are much smaller than typical enclosures, with dimensions that enable them to attach to walls and streetlight poles—or can even be integrated into the pole itself. With the introduction of 5G, networking equipment, storage and computing hardware, other valuable infrastructure will now be located closer to the end user, increasing the need for advanced, physical security.

Electronic Access Solutions (EAS) provide versatile security for small cells and other 5G equipment, as well as offering an intelligent way to efficiently and comprehensively manage physical access to these systems. Electronic access systems consist of integrated electromechanical locks and latches that can be used to secure enclosures in remote locations. Networked electronic access control systems provide significant benefits for physical security management, providing simplified credential management and audit trail monitoring for small cells.”

Upgrading Enclosure Security

Concealed access solution

Concealed electronic access solutions, like Southco’s AC-EM-10 series provide an effective physical security solution for small cell enclosures. The sealed AC-EM-10 features a compact design that takes up minimal application space and facilitates the electronic actuation of mechanical latches.

Electronic access solutions provide an effective physical security solution for these new enclosures. Compared to mechanical locks, which must be accessed by a physical key, EAS provides a digital credential that can be easily issued, traced and even revoked from anywhere in the world.

An electronic access solution is composed of three primary components: an access control reader or input device, an electromechanical lock and a controller for monitoring the status of the access point. When designing an EAS, choosing the appropriate electronic lock for the specific enclosure will provide the intelligence, flexibility and security needed for the small cell.

The most basic type of electronic access credential is an RFID card, which is widely used in many building management and technician management operations today. Many telecom service providers and the contractor vendors who service them already use RFID cards for accessing central and local offices, data centers and other operational locations.

Conclusion

5G technology promises a major transformation in the way our networked, mobile computing world operates. Newly emerging concepts such as autonomous vehicles and smart cities will need the bandwidth and millisecond response time 5G offers to move from vision to reality. The IoT will also demand more bandwidth: It’s estimated that there were 8.4 billion connected “things” in 2016, which is expected to grow to 20.4 billion connected elements by 2020.[source]

As 5G equipment is deployed, it needs to be both fully secured and easily accessed on an ongoing basis. Electronic access solutions provide significant benefits for physical security management, providing simplified credential management and audit trail monitoring. By using EAS platforms to better secure these enclosures, valuable and sensitive equipment can be better protected, and maintaining and servicing the equipment protected by these enclosures can be managed with efficiency, flexibility and maximum security.

Steeves Agencies offers numerous secure and rugged electronic and conventional access solutions. Contact us to review your desired applications.