The Invisible Backbone: Why Telecom Runs the Modern Grid | Grid Mod Pod Ep. 87 with Francis Frank

The Invisible Backbone: Why Telecom Runs the Modern Grid | Grid Mod Pod Ep. 87 with Francis Frank

by AEIC

Applied Sciences & Engineering Energy THEnergy technology and engineeringTHYEnergy, power generation, distribution and storage
🎙 AEIC 👥 981 📅 June 30, 2026 ⏱ 44 min 👁 204 📄 expert opinion 🧭 2026-08-16
Available in: English (current) Français

Keywords

telecommunicationsgrid modernizationIT/OT convergenceSCADAcybersecurity

Summary

In this episode of the GridMod Pod, Dr. Elizabeth Cook and Francis Frank discuss the critical yet often invisible role of telecommunications in modern grid operations. They explore why telecom systems are overlooked despite being essential for carrying protection signals, SCADA traffic, and real-time data. Francis explains the physical and functional concealment of telecom infrastructure, such as optical ground wire and fiber optics, and the high reliability standards (five nines) that make failures rare and thus unnoticed. The conversation highlights the growing dependence of the grid on communication infrastructure due to two-way power flow, distributed energy resources, and phasor measurement units that report data 30 to 100 times per second. They emphasize the risks of blind spots when the transport layer and control layer fall out of sync, including cybersecurity vulnerabilities and weak root-cause analysis. The discussion also covers the importance of IT/OT convergence, not just as an organizational structure but as operational alignment across telecom, operations technology, planning, and asset management. The episode underscores the need for telecom specialists to have a seat at the table and for utilities to understand the full operational ecosystem rather than modernizing systems independently. The overarching theme is that the knowledge of one becomes the knowledge of all, and that people and relationships are as crucial as technology.

215 words

Critical Evaluation

Value of the Information & Strength of the Argument

The value of the information lies in its practical insights from a utility professional directly involved in a major grid modernization program. Francis Frank provides concrete examples from the Bahamas’ $1.75 billion ’new energy era’ project, illustrating how telecom is integral to new SCADA, AMI, GIS, solar, and battery storage systems. The argumentation is coherent and well-structured, with clear explanations of why telecom is invisible (physical concealment, high reliability, and lack of awareness) and why it is critical (two-way power flow, real-time data needs, and safety). The discussion on risks, such as cybersecurity blind spots and root-cause analysis challenges, is compelling and grounded in real-world concerns. However, the arguments are based on anecdotal experience rather than empirical data or formal research, which limits the depth of evidence. The episode also emphasizes the human element, arguing that relationships and cross-functional alignment are as important as technology, which adds a valuable perspective but is more opinion than fact.

Scientific Rigor, Source Quality, Title Accuracy

The scientific rigor is moderate; the content is based on expert opinion and professional experience rather than peer-reviewed research. The podcast does not cite specific studies or standards, but it references industry concepts like SCADA, AMI, PMUs, and IT/OT convergence, which are well-established in the field. The sources provided in the description are the AEIC website, LinkedIn, and Spotify, which are organizational links rather than direct references to the content discussed. The title accurately reflects the content, focusing on the invisible backbone of telecom in grid operations. The discussion is internally consistent and aligns with known industry challenges, but the lack of formal citations reduces its scientific rigor. The episode does not present original research but rather synthesizes practical knowledge, which is appropriate for a podcast aimed at industry professionals.

301 words

Title / Content Match

The title accurately reflects the content, which focuses on the critical but often overlooked role of telecommunications in modern grid operations.

Quality & Reliability

7/10

The discussion is based on the professional experience of Francis Frank, an executive consultant for grid modernization at Bahamas Power and Light, and Dr. Elizabeth Cook, VP of technical strategy at AEIC. The content is practical and grounded in real-world utility operations, but it lacks formal citations or references to specific studies or standards. The information is presented as expert opinion rather than peer-reviewed research, which is appropriate for a podcast format.

Chapters

Cited Sources

  • AEIC Website — Organization behind the podcast, providing context on the Association of Edison Illuminating Companies.
  • AEIC LinkedIn — LinkedIn page for the organization, offering additional resources and updates.
  • GridMod Pod on Spotify — Podcast series on Spotify, where this episode is available.

Concurring Sources

Dissenting Sources

  • Potential source of disagreement: Some experts argue that telecom is not the primary bottleneck in grid modernization, but rather data management and analytics. — This perspective is not directly contradicted in the episode, but the episode strongly emphasizes telecom as the backbone, which might be seen as overstating its role compared to other challenges.

Contribution & Novelties

The episode provides a practical, insider perspective on the often-overlooked role of telecommunications in grid modernization. It highlights the ‘invisible backbone’ concept, explaining why telecom is critical yet underappreciated, and offers real-world examples from the Bahamas’ grid overhaul. The discussion on IT/OT convergence and the need for operational alignment across functions is a valuable contribution to the conversation on grid modernization. The emphasis on the human element—relationships and cross-functional collaboration—adds a unique angle not often covered in technical discussions.

Pour aller plus loin :

  • SCADA — Overview of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition systems, central to the discussion.
  • Phasor measurement unit — Details on PMUs, which are mentioned as reporting data 30-100 times per second.
  • IT/OT convergence — Explains the integration of information technology and operational technology, a key theme of the episode.

133 words

Radar Profile

The radar profile shows balanced scores across all dimensions, with slightly higher scores in quality and reliability, reflecting the expert nature of the content. The lower score in technical depth indicates that while the discussion is informative, it does not delve into highly technical details, making it accessible to a broader audience.

Reliability 7/10

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