CPS Energy Plans to Deploy 900 MHz Private Wireless Broadband
Anterix, which is exhibiting this week in Booth #1028 at DTECH, and CPS Energy announced a spectrum purchase agreement on Feb. 2. This agreement will enable the utility to deploy a mission-critical 900 MHz private wireless broadband network to help strengthen grid operations, enhance resiliency and reliability and accelerate the digital transformation of the utility’s infrastructure.
With access to 900 MHz of Anterix broadband spectrum, CPS Energy is positioned to implement a private wireless network purpose-built for the demands of modern grid operations. The wireless network will support advanced field automation, faster outage detection and restoration, real-time situational awareness and the operational resilience and reliability needed to safely integrate new technologies as the grid evolves.
The agreement places CPS Energy among a growing group of utilities investing in utility-owned communications infrastructure. With this transaction, eight utilities now leverage 900 MHz private wireless spectrum across 15 states. According to Anterix, this reflects a national shift toward secure, utility-controlled broadband networks that deliver the performance, coverage and reliability required for critical infrastructure. The agreement also represents a key milestone for the AnterixAccelerator funding program, with CPS Energy becoming the first utility to advance under the initiative, activating Anterix’s commitment to accelerate private wireless broadband deployments for utilities across the country.
As the nation’s largest community-owned provider of electricity and natural gas services, CPS Energy serves more than 970,000 electricity customers and 390,000 natural gas customers across the San Antonio, Texas, region. This agreement underscores the expanding scale and momentum of 900 MHz private wireless in Texas. In combination with other Anterix Texas utility partners, more than 93% of the state’s counties will now be served by 900 MHz private wireless networks, enabling greater interoperability, consistent performance across service territories and coordinated response capabilities. This expanding footprint supports shared resilience, local operational control and a more secure, reliable and future-ready electric grid for communities across the state, according to Anterix.
“CPS Energy’s investment in 900 MHz private wireless broadband spectrum underscores what we are seeing across the industry: utilities are choosing communications networks they can own, secure and evolve — because the grid can’t wait,” said Anterix president and CEO Scott Lang. “With Texas as a banner state for utility-led 900 MHz private networks, CPS Energy can tap into a ‘network of networks,’ collaborating with fellow Anterix utility partners like Oncor, LCRA and Xcel Energy to deliver measurable benefits to customers, including enhanced reliability, safer operations and the ability to fully harness advanced energy technologies as the grid evolves.”
“CPS Energy is committed to grid innovation to enhance resiliency and reliability. This investment in grid connectivity and modernization is key to our operational evolution, which will help us better serve our customers,” said CPS Energy president and CEO Rudy D. Garza.
“As part of our Evolve strategy, CPS Energy is committed to digitally transforming operations, modernizing IT systems and strengthening grid management. This investment will improve field communications and provide enhanced reliability during major weather. The private wireless network that we intend to deploy with the purchase of Anterix’s 900 MHz broadband spectrum will be a critical part of modernizing our operations while mitigating risk,” said CPS Energy chief information officer Evan O’Mahoney.
Anterix continues to expand beyond spectrum, delivering a complete private wireless platform for utilities through an evolving ecosystem of technology partners and deployment-focused capabilities that accelerate planning, reduce implementation risk, and support long-term network operations at scale.
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