How Mountain Ltd. Modernized Pole Inspections with IKE GPS

Since 2009, Mountain Ltd. has supported a leading national telecommunications provider responsible for maintaining critical aerial infrastructure nationwide in various capacities. What began as a staffing relationship has evolved into a strategic partnership for engineering services, driven by a shared commitment to innovation and safety.

Like many utility providers, the client manages a vast network of pole infrastructure. These poles are often shared with third-party companies that install fiber optic or wireless equipment. However, not all installations adhere to National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) standards, which are critical for ensuring safe construction and minimizing liability. Traditional inspection methods, such as relying on manual height sticks and spreadsheets, provided limited visibility and often led to disputes over compliance violations.

To address this, Mountain proposed a transformative solution using IKE GPS technology. During an in-person field trial, Mountain demonstrated how IKE could capture high-resolution images and precise measurements of pole attachments. This data can then be reviewed remotely, allowing for faster and more accurate assessments. Working closely with the client, Mountain developed a tailored checklist to ensure all necessary data points were captured in the field.

The first trial project was a success, revealing opportunities to refine the data formatting for easier integration into the client's workflows. By the second project, these refinements were in place, and the results exceeded expectations. The client now supplies clear, photographic evidence of violations to third-party partners, expediting the review/resolution process by minimizing the need for joint-field inspections.

Today, the partnership continues to grow. The client has already handed off a third project and is exploring more ways to further scale the solution. They describe their relationship with Mountain as a true partnership, one built on flexibility, strong communication, and deep NESC expertise. Most importantly, the collaboration has reduced liability, improved compliance, and streamlined their approach to the inspection process.

By aligning innovation with real-world needs, Mountain has positioned itself as a trusted partner in infrastructure safety and modernization.