For Central Alabama Electric Cooperative (CAEC), expanding broadband isn’t simply about adding miles of fiber. It’s about ensuring members across rural Alabama have access to the same digital opportunities as those in more densely populated communities while continuing to deliver the dependable service co-op members expect.
Delivering on that mission has meant building a broadband network capable of serving nearly 24,000 subscribers across 10 counties while preserving the local, member-focused approach that sets the cooperative apart from larger providers. As the fiber network expanded, so did the complexity of managing it. Keeping customers connected across such a large service territory required greater network visibility, faster response times, scalable technology and partners that understand the co-op way of doing business.
“Broadband is no longer a luxury. It’s more of a necessity. It’s a utility, just like power is.”
– Nate Merrell, manager of broadband network operations at Central Alabama Electric Cooperative
Keeping pace with growth
Since launching Central Access Network, the cooperative has grown rapidly, bringing high-speed broadband to rural communities throughout central Alabama. But with a service territory that can take nearly two hours to drive across, responding quickly to outages became increasingly challenging. As the network continued expanding, gaining greater visibility into the health of the fiber infrastructure became just as important as extending service to new members.
To support that growth, the cooperative turned to Adtran. Building on a trusted relationship and a proven portfolio of access solutions, it deployed Adtran’s ALM to gain real-time visibility into its expanding fiber network. Adtran’s technology has helped the cooperative shift from a reactive approach to a more proactive way of managing its network, with the ability to track faults down to the meter.
That visibility has transformed the way crews respond to outages. In one instance, after a backhoe severed a fiber line, ALM pinpointed the fault within one meter, allowing technicians to head directly to the location instead of spending valuable time searching for the break. With crews receiving the information they need before leaving the office, CAEC can reduce troubleshooting time, unnecessary truck rolls and the time required to restore service.
The new operational model delivers value on both sides of the business. Faster fault identification helps restore service sooner and protect the subscriber experience, while reducing manual troubleshooting and unnecessary truck rolls, saving valuable time and operational resources. For a growing co-op competing with larger providers, those savings can be reinvested in the network and other priorities while reliability remains a key differentiator.
Creating value beyond the network
Investing in network visibility has done more than improve outage response. It has strengthened the co-op’s ability to serve its members while creating new opportunities for growth.
With greater confidence in its network, the cooperative is expanding beyond residential broadband to support schools, businesses and other community organizations. It now includes proactive fiber monitoring as part of its value proposition in competitive RFPs, demonstrating the reliability and operational visibility it can provide. Those capabilities also reinforce the co-op’s reputation as a trusted technology provider throughout its service territory.
Members have noticed the difference as well. Faster restoration times and improved communication have strengthened the cooperative’s brand reputation and expanded their competitive outlook, without sacrificing on service quality for rural Alabama.
The right partners for the job
As the broadband network expanded, choosing the right partners became just as important as choosing the right technology.
Adtran has supported the co-op’s broadband journey from the beginning, providing reliable access solutions and network monitoring technology that continue to evolve alongside its needs. The partnership is more than meeting specifications, it's collaboration from planning to maintenance, with a focus on co-creating the solutions that are truly needed.
An equally important part of that success is Gresco, the cooperative’s primary supplier and a key Adtran partner. As a fellow co-op, Gresco understands the unique needs of electric co-ops in the broadband market and provides local support as CAEC continues expanding its fiber footprint. Working with organizations that understand those needs has helped keep broadband expansion moving forward while staying focused on serving members.
“Gresco is another cooperative, so they understand how we operate. They’ve been a great partner as we’ve continued to grow.”
– Nate Merrell
Together, the cooperative, Gresco and Adtran have built a collaborative approach that combines innovative technology, co-op values and trusted support to help deliver reliable broadband throughout central Alabama. Each organization brings unique strengths to the partnership, fortifying Adtran's mission for a collaborative and open ecosystem of fiber access technology.
“CAEC, Gresco and Adtran are working together to bring dependable broadband service to Central Alabama, combining advanced technology with trusted partnerships to strengthen local communities.”
– Phillip McLendon, sales director at Adtran
For Merrell, those relationships are built on trust. “Working with companies like Adtran, trust is like a credit score,” he said. “It takes forever to build, but if something goes wrong, your trust score drops significantly. Adtran has never done anything that made us lower that trust score.” That confidence has given the cooperative peace of mind as it continues expanding its broadband footprint and investing in the future.
Looking ahead
The cooperative’s investment in innovation is continuing alongside its network expansion. As it upgrades its network from a 100Gbit/s core to a 400Gbit/s MPLS architecture, it is expanding its deployment of Adtran ALM to provide even greater visibility across its transport network.
The organization plans to build on its monitoring capabilities with Adtran Ensemble Fiber Management. By providing the network operations team with a centralized view of network intelligence and fiber monitoring data, Ensemble will help streamline operations and simplify day-to-day management as broadband services continue expanding across Alabama.
As the network continues to grow, Merrell says having the right tools in place will become even more important. “The farther we build from our network, the more fiber we have to monitor,” he said. “We have to make sure we have the right tools in place so we can respond in a timely manner.”
As broadband continues to evolve, CAEC remains focused on delivering the reliable connectivity its members expect while preparing for future growth. With Adtran’s technology, Gresco’s support, and a shared commitment to serve communities, the cooperative is poised to keep central Alabama connected. By investing in the right technology and fostering trusted partnerships, CAEC ensures its broadband network will keep creating opportunities for its members and communities for years to come.