Among ICT infrastructures, public wireless LAN (Wi-Fi) is attracting increasing attention as a disaster-resistant and effective tool for regional revitalization.
Japan has few Wi-Fi spots among developed countries, and is said to lag behind in the spread of Wi-Fi. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) is developing measures such as the "Public Wireless LAN Environment Improvement Support Project" to increase the number of outdoor Wi-Fi spots for the purpose of disaster countermeasures and educational use.
Company R was preparing a proposal for the "Public Wireless LAN Environment Improvement Support Project. Mr. F, the person in charge of the project, said the following.
The Wi-Fi is installed in preparation for disasters, so it must be able to operate for an extended period of time even in the event of a power outage. Therefore, we were considering installing a UPS and generator as backup power sources.
However, we found that the built-in lead-acid batteries would be very large if we tried to achieve long-term backup with a standard UPS. The location of the generator is limited to the basement or rooftop of the building. We also found that annual inspections are required by law, and that the installation of an administrator is also necessary, resulting in huge maintenance costs."
Mr. F continued to gather information on backup power supplies suitable for outdoor Wi-Fi, but he was unable to find a product that met his needs.
Mr. F consulted SANYO DENKI CO., LTD. and was recommended the SANUPS N11B-Li, an outdoor type UPS equipped with lithium-ion batteries.
"Lithium-ion batteries can ensure the same backup time with half the volume of lead-acid batteries, so they require half the installation space. They also have performance that makes them suitable for outdoor installation, such as dustproofing and waterproofing with an IP65 protection rating. Because Wi-Fi spots are often installed outdoors, another key point was that the UPS can be installed outdoors without any special measures. This means that it can be easily installed on utility poles or streetlights while still ensuring backup time," said Mr. F.
Another key point was the expected significant reduction in maintenance costs.
Conventional UPSs with lead-acid batteries usually require battery replacement after five years. In contrast, lithium-ion batteries can be used for 10 years (*) without replacement, and since they are maintenance-free, a reduction in total cost can be expected. I was also surprised to hear that the batteries can be used in a wide range of operating temperatures, from -20 to 50°C. This operating temperature range can be used in almost all regions in Japan. With this operating temperature range, I think it can be used in most areas in Japan. (Mr. F)
Mr. F, who decided to adopt SANUPS N11B-Li, looks back on the situation as follows:
"Thanks to SANYO DENKI CO., LTD., we were able to make a proposal that suited our needs. We would like to expand into various regions in the future. We look forward to consulting with SANYO DENKI CO., LTD. again in the future."
*Ambient temperature averages 30°C/year and up to 10 power outages.
For more information on the life expectancy of UPSs (Uninterruptible Power Supplies), see "What is the life expectancy or useful life of a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supplies) and when should it be replaced?" for more information on the life of UPSs ().
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