Connexa rolls out new technology to strengthen resilience
In a significant step towards strengthening the resilience of its mobile tower portfolio, Connexa is launching OMNI, a new technology platform that provides real-time monitoring and alarming of critical power systems across its sites.
OMNI (Operations Monitoring & Network Intelligence) manages and optimises backup power availability during power outages and emergency events. This technology helps communities stay connected for longer, and if there is an outage, restore services faster.
Recent severe weather across the country has again highlighted the importance of connectivity and resilient mobile infrastructure. Power outages are the leading cause of mobile sites going offline during emergencies, particularly in remote and hard-to-access locations where restoring power can be challenging. In these situations, understanding how much backup power remains available at each site is crucial.
Until now, accurately determining remaining battery capacity at a site has been challenging, often requiring generators to be deployed in advance as a precaution. But sending teams to deploy these ahead of weather events is not always possible, especially when the site is in rugged terrain - and only reached by helicopter or barge - or when conditions are adverse.
OMNI removes much of this uncertainty. The technology provides real-time visibility of site power systems across Connexa’s portfolio, including battery charge and health, mains power availability, generator operation, and fuel consumption. This allows Connexa to accurately monitor remaining battery capacity and notify customers in real time, enabling them to dynamically manage equipment electrical load to maximise site uptime. Automated alerts are triggered when battery levels reach defined thresholds, supporting earlier intervention and more targeted responses during outages.
“Severe weather events are becoming more frequent, and the expectation that mobile networks remain available during those events is only increasing,” says Rob Berrill, Connexa CEO. “As a tower company, we have a responsibility to plan for those scenarios, invest ahead of time, and give our customers the tools they need to provide power support in advance of a potential outage. OMNI is a significant investment and a key part of our commitment to building infrastructure that New Zealand can rely on when it matters most.”
Beyond improving network resilience, OMNI also delivers ESG benefits. Smarter power monitoring prevents unnecessary generator use, enables more efficient power management practices, and reduces travel to sites.