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Utility Broadband Evolution

Explore how utility broadband networks are evolving from legacy, vendor-locked infrastructure toward open, flexible, and converged network architectures. This course covers open networking, MPLS and Segment Routing, rural broadband, OT/IT convergence, and the virtualization of substation infrastructure.


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  • Instructor 1
    Andrew Scruggs
  • Instructor 2
    William Graves
  • Level
    Beginner
  • Study time
    ~ 55 min
  • Video time
    42 min
  • Lessons
    9

Certification included

Earn a certificate upon successful course completion to showcase your skills.

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About This Course

Target Audience

Prerequisites

Related Courses

About This Course
This course provides an introduction to the changing architecture of utility broadband and communications networks. It begins with the transition from legacy TDM/SONET systems to packet-based networking and examines how disaggregation can separate hardware from the Network Operating System to reduce vendor dependency and increase flexibility.

The course then explores MPLS, Fast Reroute, Segment Routing, and resilient WAN architectures designed to support critical utility applications. It also examines the convergence of traditionally separate OT and IT environments, including the security and isolation considerations that come with operating them over shared IP infrastructure.

The later modules focus on rural and industrial broadband deployment, the business case for network convergence, logical segmentation, operational resilience, and the use of whitebox hardware and a common NOS to create virtualized, data-center-like environments at substations.
Target Audience
  • Utility and telecommunications professionals
  • Network, engineering, and technology professionals
  • Professionals involved in broadband, grid modernization, or network transformation
  • Anyone interested in the evolution of utility communications and open networking
Prerequisites
No formal prerequisites are required. Basic familiarity with utility communications or IP networking may be helpful but is not required.
We're continuously expanding the UTC Academy with new courses and industry expertise. Check back soon to discover more related learning opportunities.

What you´ll learn

  • Describe the evolution from legacy TDM/SONET networks to modern packet-based utility networks.

  • Explain how network disaggregation separates hardware from the Network Operating System and reduces vendor dependency.
  • Identify how MPLS, Fast Reroute, and Segment Routing can support resilient utility WANs.
  • Explain the opportunities and risks associated with converging OT and IT networks onto a shared IP infrastructure.
  • Recognize key architectural considerations for rural, industrial, and multi-service broadband deployments.
  • Describe how whitebox hardware and a common NOS can support virtualized, data-center-like substation environments.

   Self-pace-learning

    Resume anytime

  Access on mobile

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Course Content

Your Instructor

Andrew Scruggs

Partner Manager

About the instructor

I have been in the networking industry for over 26 years working directly for service provider and manufacturing companies assisting with connectivity solutions for broadband service providers, utilities, critical infrastructure and data center networks. The majority of my experience has been developing and supporting a partner ecosystem of resellers, distributors and technology companies to provide edge to core solutions, that fit the network's demands and requirements.

William Graves

Technical Solutions Lead

About the instructor

As the Technical Solutions Lead for PartnerInfusion, William leverages his extensive experience in networking, honed at Cisco Systems and Telco Systems, to guide IP Infusion's channel partners in capitalizing on open networking opportunities. With expertise in both traditional and open technologies as well as expertise in network automation, he offers invaluable insights into integrating and leveraging these solutions within existing network infrastructures.
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Earn a career certificate and PDH hours

  • How does it work?

    UTC provides Certificates of Completion for Professional Development Hours (PDHs) for all education we provide. You must check the regulations in your state’s licensing agency to ensure you meet the requirements.

  • PDHs & Certificate - Just a Click Away

    After completing the course - and passing a short quiz, if required - participants will earn Professional Development Hours (PDHs) and receive a certificate of completion or a career certificate, which can be downloaded directly from the course player or shared on platforms like LinkedIn.

What Our Learners Say

Simple to understand!

This is for me a very valuable experience and I would recommend this training to other organizations.

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Your commitment, passion, and delivery were really amazing. We had a great start and the speed as well as intensity with which we rolled out globally over 3 years was unbelievable.

Concise and practical content

I learned a lot and now feel ready to implement these techniques into my organization. 

Very Professional!

It was an excellent training program, and I am very pleased. The instructors were very knowledgeable, and the content was relevant to our industry.

Simple to understand!

Armed with the knowledge and techniques obtained from your school, I feel more equipped to navigate the challenging social aspects of the real world and become a professional in my field of choice.

Excellent Training Program!

The presenters were amazing. They were engaging, timely, and knowledgeable

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