Executive Summary

Working in remote and unpredictable conditions exposes utility crews to significant risk—from extreme weather and difficult terrain to limited communication and oversight. For employers, the responsibility to protect these workers is more than regulatory—it is a moral imperative.

This whitepaper examines those risks across Canada and the United States, outlines the limits of traditional protocols, and shows how keeping isolated workers continuously connected—via automated monitoring and satellite-backed communications—turns safety from policy into practice.

By operationalizing connectivity through pairing OK Alone’s lone worker monitoring and global satellite coverage, organizations can become more efficient, reduce incidents, speed response, and improve workforce stability and absenteeism, while maintaining compliance and employee trust.

The Coverage Gap: Cellular Limitations

While North America is often perceived as a region with advanced telecommunications infrastructure, a stark difference exists between population coverage and true geographic cellular reach—especially for utility workers operating beyond city limits.

Geographic Coverage: The Real Challenge

Canada: Despite high population coverage, only about 28–30% of Canada's vast landmass is actually covered by cellular networks. The majority of Canada's geography—northern territories, forested regions, mountains, and rural zones—remains outside mobile network reach.
United States: Geographic coverage is broader, with roughly 55–70% of the U.S. land area falling within a cellular footprint, depending on the carrier and network technology (4G LTE being more widespread than 5G).

Blind Spots: In both countries, coverage is prioritized along major transportation routes and urban corridors, leaving gaps in less-travelled or remote regions. These are precisely the locations where utility workers are frequently deployed.

This creates a significant and ongoing challenge for utility organizations charged with maintaining the lifelines of modern society, especially when worker safety, regulatory compliance, and rapid response are non-negotiable.

What this report will tell you:

Why utilities matter & who’s at risk: Utility crews keep power, gas, water, and telecom services running—often alone or in small teams in remote, high-risk environments (line techs, pipeline inspectors, telecom engineers, restoration crews).
Remote-area risks & pain points: Harsh weather, difficult terrain, isolation, communication blackouts, delayed emergency response, compliance pressure, and operational inefficiencies.
Limits of legacy tools: Radios, cell-only phones, and manual check-ins don’t provide continuous visibility or timely escalation for off-grid field work.
Satellite devices: Rugged hardware with global messaging, GPS, and SOS, designed for harsh environments with long battery life—keeping workers connected when cellular isn’t available.
Technology that closes the gap: OK Alone delivers automated check-ins, high-risk timers, man/worker-down, live GPS, alert loops, and a real-time dashboard—integrated with satellite connectivity so check-ins, locations, and SOS continue seamlessly beyond cellular coverage.
Better outcomes & safety culture: Transparent monitoring and reliable tech enable precise locationing, rapid dispatch, fewer incidents, improved workforce stability, and a stronger culture of safety and compliance across utility teams.