Battcon 2026: Our CTO Simon Boivin Explores the Next Evolution of OSP Maintenance
As communications networks continue to expand and become increasingly critical to business operations, ensuring the reliability of outside plant (OSP) power systems has never been more important. Yet, many maintenance programs still rely on fixed inspection schedules designed for a very different era.
At Battcon 2026, Simon Boivin, CTO, will join Marcell Tucker of Cox Communications to explore a new approach in their technical session:
Evolving OSP Maintenance Programs: A Data-Driven Path to Reliability and Cost Optimization
Rethinking Traditional OSP Maintenance
For decades, OSP power infrastructure has been maintained through calendar-based inspection programs, with cabinets typically visited on a semi-annual schedule regardless of their actual operating condition.
Today, however, the technology inside OSP cabinets has evolved significantly. Modern deployments generate vast amounts of operational data through:
- Battery monitoring systems
- Intelligent power controllers
- Environmental sensors
- HVAC monitoring systems
- Remote telemetry units
- Remote load testing capabilities
The question facing network operators is straightforward: Are fixed maintenance schedules still the most effective way to ensure reliability?
Moving Toward Condition-Based Maintenance
In this session, Simon and Marcell will present the initial framework for a data-driven maintenance strategy that leverages real-time operational data to make smarter maintenance decisions.
Rather than proposing a fully finalized model, the presentation focuses on:
- Defining key hypotheses for condition-based maintenance
- Identifying the most valuable operational data sources
- Establishing measurable indicators that correlate with reliability
- Exploring how centralized software can support maintenance optimization
- Evaluating opportunities to reduce unnecessary site visits while maintaining service availability
Key performance indicators under investigation include battery health trends, environmental conditions, intelligent power alarms, HVAC performance metrics, and remote testing results.
Balancing Cost Optimization and Reliability
The goal is not to eliminate preventive maintenance entirely. Instead, the research seeks to determine whether organizations can safely transition from multiple scheduled inspections per year to a model centered on:
- One planned annual maintenance visit
- Continuous remote monitoring
- On-demand condition-based interventions
If successful, this approach could significantly reduce operational costs while maintaining—or even improving—network reliability.
Building the Foundation for the Future
As OSP networks grow in scale and complexity, operators need smarter ways to allocate field resources and prioritize maintenance activities. Centralized software platforms that consolidate operational data, maintenance records, and alarm management are becoming essential tools in this transformation.
The outcomes of this initiative will help shape future maintenance strategies and provide the foundation for follow-up research focused on measured results, validated metrics, and lessons learned from real-world deployments.
Meet Our Experts at Battcon 2026
Battcon is the perfect opportunity to discuss the future of OSP power systems, battery monitoring, and condition-based maintenance with industry peers and technology leaders.
Attending Battcon 2026? Stop by and meet Simon Boivin and Bernard Methot, our Chief Revenue Officer, onsite.
Whether you’re looking to improve network reliability, reduce operational costs, or explore the latest advances in battery and power system monitoring, we’d love to discuss your challenges and share our insights.
Connect with our experts during the event and discover how data-driven maintenance strategies can help optimize your OSP operations.
We look forward to seeing you at Battcon 2026
