At Modern Networks, securing critical communications is at the heart of what we do—and few industries depend on it more than utilities. These essential services power our communities, and any disruption can have serious consequences. That’s why secure, reliable connectivity is vital, especially for smaller providers serving rural areas. We’re proud to share our latest success story: a case study featuring our work with Minnesota Valley Cooperative Light and Power (MVCLP).
MVCLP is a small, local electric company that powers three counties in West Central Minnesota. With security being a top priority, they had been using FirstNet’s private network alongside an IPsec VPN to protect their infrastructure. But as they began expanding into smart city technologies—deploying AirLink routers at power meters and remote substations—they quickly found themselves in unfamiliar territory. Networking wasn’t their area of expertise, and when Sierra Wireless’ professional services division disbanded, they lost their go-to technical support.
That’s where we came in.
MVCLP discovered that the core team behind Sierra’s professional services had launched Modern Networks, and they turned to us for help. We designed and implemented a secure, scalable solution using AirLink Connection Manager on RV55 routers and rebuilt their IPsec infrastructure. Our team closed critical security gaps, simplified their deployment process, and positioned them for rapid growth.
Since partnering with Modern Networks, MVCLP’s router deployment has increased more than fivefold. With several new routers going live each month, they’ve built a robust foundation for smart city expansion—backed by a team they trust.
“Normally, I like to get into the nuts and bolts, but with Modern Networks, I don’t have to,” said Don Snell, IT/Communications Technician. “I know that they have it handled. We have never had a failed communications line or outage, but even if I did, I know the team at Modern Networks would be there to get us going again.”
👉 Read the full case study here.
Need help with secure connectivity? Contact us to learn how Modern Networks can support your infrastructure transformation.”
