Client Overview

A full-service retirement and long-term care facility located in rural Minnesota provides 24/7  care for residents, including medical services, emergency response, and essential communications. Forthe organization, consistent power and network availability are critical to maintaining safety standards, regulatory compliance, and daily operations.

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Challenge: Maintaining Uptime in Extreme Conditions

The facility operates in a region known for severe winter weather, including heavy snowfall, subzero temperatures, and frequent strain on local power and telecommunications infrastructure. These conditions present ongoing risks, including:

• Power outages caused by ice, high winds, and utility equipment failures
• Network disruptions affecting internet, VoIP phones, and emergency communication lines
• Increased risk to resident safety when communications and monitoring systems are unavailable

The facility’s existing infrastructure could not consistently maintain service continuity during extended outages, creating operational and safety concerns.

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Solution: SPARK from UCC Networks

SPARK is a next-generation connectivity and uptime solution designed for environments where continuous communications are essential, including healthcare facilities, senior living campuses, and emergency services providers.

Key Capabilities

• Multi-Path Internet Connectivity
  
   
  • Combines separate carriers (fiber, wireless LTE/5G, satellite)
  • Automatic failover if primary connection becomes unavailable

• Integrated Power Resilience
  
   
  • Built-in UPS (battery backup) plus scalable generator support
  • Intelligent power switching to keep systems live through outage
 
• Network Continuity & Redundancy
  
   
  • Self-healing network routing
  • Hardware and software redundancy to eliminate single points of failure

• Priority Communications Support
  
     
  • Maintains availability of voice systems, alarm systems, and nurse call system
  • Direct routing for emergency alerts and 911 access

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Implementation

Phase 1: Assessment & Design

UCC Networks field services performed an on-site assessment of the facility’s network infrastructure, analog lines, power sources, and operational requirements.Based on these findings, a SPARK configuration was designed to:

• Operate reliably in extreme cold-weather conditions
• Sustain critical systems during local utility power or network failures
• Integrate with existing phone and monitoring systems

Phase 2: Installation & Integration

Installation included:

• Dual network feeds (primary fiber + cellular backup)
• Onsite resilience hardware (uninterrupted power supply)
• Automated failover configurations for mission-critical systems
• Testing under simulated outage conditions

Phase 3: Monitoring & Support

Following deployment, UCC Networks provides:

• 24/7 remote system monitoring
• Real-time alerts for power or connectivity issues
• Proactive maintenance before outages occur

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Results & Impact

100% Network & Power Uptime

Since deploying SPARK, the facility has experienced:

• Continuous connectivity during multiple winter-related outages
• Automatic service switching from primary to backup systems without interruption
• Ongoing availability of emergency communications and voice services systems (phones, alarms, nurse calls)

Resident Safety and Staff Operations

The SPARK solution has enabled:

• Reliable voice communication between staff and residents
• Continuous operation of monitoring and alerting systems
• Consistent access to emergency services during outages

Operational Continuity

SPARK has supported uninterrupted operations by allowing the facility to:

• Maintain access to electronic health systems without downtime
• Support staff communications during extended power disruptions
• Avoid costly disconnections and service disruptions

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Why SPARK Works for Healthcare Facilities:

Multi-Carrier Connectivity

Avoids reliance on a single provider  - eliminates network outages

Power Resilience

Keeps systems live during local  utility failures

Automation Failover

No manual intervention needed -  services stay up automatically

24/7 Monitoring

Issues are detected and resolved  before they impact operations

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Client Testimonial

“SPARK isn’t just technology - it’s peace of mind. When power lines were down for hours, our phones and emergency systems never missed a beat. Our residents’ safety comes first, and UCC Networks delivered.”— Healthcare Administrator

Conclusion

UCC Networks’ SPARK provides a resilient, intelligent infrastructure that ensures 100% uptime for power, network, and emergency communications - even in the most challenging environmental conditions. By combining redundancy, automation, and proactive support, SPARK enables organizations to maintain essential services, protect residents, and sustain operations during power and network disruption.