Fiber Expansion Needs Power Too: The Roles That Keep Networks Alive

Fiber expansion is accelerating across the United States. Billions of dollars in broadband funding, rural buildouts, and private infrastructure investments are pushing networks deeper into communities than ever before.

But here’s what many organizations underestimate: Fiber doesn’t run on glass alone. It runs on power.

Behind every successful fiber deployment is a workforce that understands both telecom infrastructure and the electrical systems that keep it operational. Without strong power staffing and electrical staffing, fiber networks stall, delay activation, or fail under load.

If fiber is the backbone, power is the heartbeat.

Let’s break down the critical roles that keep networks alive, and how the right staffing strategy ensures fiber expansion succeeds.

As broadband demand increases and public funding accelerates deployment timelines, the margin for workforce error becomes smaller. Organizations can no longer afford to treat power staffing as secondary to fiber installation. Both must scale together to meet activation deadlines and reliability standards.

Why Power Staffing Matters for Fiber Expansion

Fiber optic cable carries data, but the equipment that sends, receives, and routes that data must be powered 24/7. That includes central offices, remote cabinets, data centers, and edge facilities. Each of these environments relies on properly installed and maintained electrical systems.

Telecom infrastructure depends on:

• DC power plants that provide -48V power to network equipment
• Battery backup systems that protect uptime during outages
• Generators and automatic transfer switches (ATS)
• Power distribution panels and grounding systems

If these systems are not installed correctly, fiber networks cannot activate or operate reliably. That is why electrical staffing is just as important as fiber technician staffing.

In many expansion projects, power work becomes the final step before activation. If electrical roles are understaffed, everything else slows down. Turn-ups get delayed. Inspections fail. Equipment cannot be energized safely. Strong energy staffing solutions prevent these bottlenecks before they happen.

For organizations scaling rapidly, partnering with a specialized provider like Broadstaff’s telecom workforce solutions ensures that fiber and power roles are aligned from the start of the project.

Understanding why power staffing matters is only the first step. The next question is clear: which roles actually keep fiber networks energized and operational in the field?

The Critical Roles That Keep Fiber Networks Operational

Fiber expansion requires an integrated staffing approach. Telecom and electrical professionals must work in coordination to meet activation deadlines and maintain safety standards.

1. Fiber Technicians & OSP/ISP Specialists

Fiber technicians install, splice, test, and troubleshoot fiber cable. They manage both Outside Plant (OSP) and Inside Plant (ISP) environments. Their work includes cable routing, termination, certification testing, and signal troubleshooting.

While these professionals focus on connectivity, they operate within powered environments. If electrical systems are not ready, fiber crews may complete installation but still wait days or weeks for activation. That gap creates scheduling conflicts and cost overruns.

Close coordination between fiber crews and power teams reduces downtime and improves project flow.

Organizations that rely on structured fiber staffing strategies ensure that OSP and ISP teams are deployed in sync with electrical crews, reducing activation delays and field conflicts.

2. DC Power Technicians

DC power technicians are critical to telecom infrastructure. They install and maintain -48V DC systems that power switches, routers, and network hardware. Their responsibilities often include rectifier installation, battery string testing, grounding verification, and power distribution setup.

Without experienced DC power specialists, newly installed fiber equipment cannot be energized safely. In large fiber expansion efforts, these technicians often become the gating factor between “installation complete” and “network live.”

Because DC power experience is highly specialized, power staffing for these roles requires recruiters who understand telecom environments. Organizations that rely on general staffing models often struggle to find candidates with both electrical and telecom experience.

Companies expanding their hiring strategy often benefit from Broadstaff’s electrical staffing services, which focus specifically on skilled power professionals.

3. Electrical Engineers

Electrical engineers design the systems that support fiber expansion. As fiber networks scale, power demand increases. Engineers must evaluate load capacity for new equipment, design redundancy systems, and ensure compliance with NEC and safety standards.

They also plan for future expansion. A central office that supports 1,000 connections today may need to support 5,000 tomorrow. Without proper planning, infrastructure must be rebuilt, adding cost and delay.

Engineers play a key role in preventing these setbacks. Strong energy staffing solutions ensure that projects are supported by professionals who understand telecom-specific electrical loads and uptime requirements.

4. Power Systems Project Managers

Fiber expansion projects involve multiple moving parts. Telecom contractors, electrical subcontractors, utility providers, and equipment vendors must work on a coordinated timeline.

Project managers with power expertise ensure that installations happen in the correct sequence. They oversee commissioning schedules, confirm safety protocols, and reduce scheduling conflicts.

When power and fiber timelines are misaligned, the entire deployment slows. Experienced leadership helps prevent rework and ensures that fiber networks move from construction to activation smoothly.

5. Generator & Backup Power Specialists

Network uptime depends on redundancy. Backup power specialists install and maintain generators, battery systems, and automatic transfer switches. They conduct load bank testing and verify that systems perform during outages.

In rural or edge deployments and remote expansions, backup power becomes even more critical. Many fiber expansion initiatives are supported by funding from programs like the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. These programs prioritize long-term reliability in underserved areas.

Without reliable backup systems, even the best fiber installation cannot guarantee uptime.

Even with the right roles identified, staffing them consistently remains a challenge. The scale of modern fiber expansion has exposed structural workforce gaps across both telecom and electrical sectors.

The Workforce Challenges Slowing Fiber & Power Expansion

Despite record infrastructure investment and broadband funding, workforce shortages remain one of the biggest risks to fiber expansion timelines. Many organizations assume funding guarantees progress. In reality, projects move only as fast as qualified labor allows.

Power and electrical roles are often the most difficult to fill, and delays in these positions directly impact activation schedules.

1. Skilled Labor Shortage

Experienced DC power technicians and telecom-focused electrical engineers are in short supply. Many seasoned professionals are nearing retirement, and fewer younger workers are entering the trade with telecom-specific training.

Because these roles require hands-on field experience, they cannot be filled overnight. When organizations delay recruiting until late project phases, they often face extended hiring timelines. Without proactive power staffing, even well-funded fiber expansion efforts slow down.

2. Cross-Discipline Gaps

Few professionals fully understand both telecom systems and electrical infrastructure. Fiber technicians may focus on connectivity and signal performance, while electrical teams focus on load management and compliance.

When these groups operate in silos, communication breakdowns occur. Power may not be ready when fiber installation is complete. Equipment may be installed without proper load planning. These disconnects lead to delays, rework, and frustration in the field.

3. Certification & Compliance Requirements

Power roles often require multiple certifications and licenses. These may include:

• State or local electrical licenses
• OSHA certifications
• Telecom-specific safety training

Each additional requirement narrows the available talent pool. Candidates must meet both regulatory standards and project demands. This makes recruiting more complex than general electrical hiring.

4. Project-Based Hiring Volatility

Fiber expansion projects rarely scale at a steady pace. They ramp up quickly, peak during installation, and adjust again during commissioning and activation.

Hiring must scale just as dynamically. Organizations need to increase workforce capacity without sacrificing skill quality. They must also avoid overstaffing once certain project phases conclude.

Without strategic power staffing, companies face:

• Delayed turn-ups
• Failed inspections
• Rework
• Cost overruns

Workforce instability becomes a direct threat to deployment success.

Solving these challenges requires more than reactive hiring. It requires structured workforce planning that treats fiber and power staffing as interconnected disciplines.

How Integrated Power & Electrical Staffing Solves the Problem

Successful fiber expansion requires workforce alignment from the beginning. Power and fiber teams cannot operate independently. They must be planned, staffed, and scheduled together.

High-performing organizations approach staffing strategically rather than reactively.

1. Plan Power Early

Electrical engineers and DC power technicians should be engaged during the planning and design phase, not after fiber installation begins. Early involvement allows teams to assess load capacity, design redundancy, and sequence installations correctly.

When power is planned early, activation timelines become more predictable. Projects move from construction to commissioning with fewer surprises.

2. Use Specialized Staffing Partners

General recruiters often lack telecom and energy sector knowledge. Specialized staffing partners understand:

• Telecom power standards
• Electrical compliance requirements
• Project-based workforce scaling

This industry-specific knowledge reduces time-to-hire and improves candidate quality. Instead of screening hundreds of unqualified applicants, organizations access pre-vetted professionals ready to work in fiber environments.

3. Build Talent Pipelines — Not Just Job Fills

Fiber expansion is not a short-term trend. Broadband initiatives and network upgrades will continue for years. That means hiring strategies must focus on long-term pipeline development.

Effective staffing models include pre-vetted electrical talent pools, ongoing workforce mapping, and long-term contractor relationships. These strategies create stability across multiple project phases. A long-term fiber network staffing model helps organizations maintain workforce continuity from initial trenching through final commissioning.

Rather than scrambling to fill urgent roles, companies with structured power staffing and electrical staffing strategies maintain consistent access to qualified professionals.

Best Practices for Recruiting and Retaining Power Talent

Recruiting skilled electrical professionals is only half the challenge. Retention is equally important, especially in competitive fiber expansion markets.

Offer Competitive Compensation

Power specialists are in high demand. Compensation should reflect both technical skill and certification requirements. Competitive pay signals that the organization values expertise and understands market demand.

Prioritize Safety Culture

Electrical professionals assess employers based on safety standards. Clear compliance processes, proper protective equipment, and strong field leadership improve both recruitment and retention.

A visible commitment to safety builds trust with experienced candidates.

Provide Clear Project Visibility

Uncertainty drives turnover. When professionals understand project timelines, scope, and long-term opportunities, they are more likely to stay engaged.

Clear communication about deployment phases and activation milestones strengthens team stability.

Invest in Upskilling

Cross-training improves collaboration. Providing fiber technicians with basic power awareness training, and introducing electrical teams to telecom operations, strengthens coordination in the field.

Upskilling also expands internal capability, reducing reliance on emergency hiring during critical project phases.

FAQs About Power Staffing for Fiber Networks

What is power staffing in fiber expansion?

Power staffing refers to recruiting and deploying electrical professionals, including DC power technicians, engineers, and backup power specialists, to support telecom infrastructure projects.

Why do fiber networks need electrical staffing?

Fiber cables transmit data, but network equipment requires stable and redundant power systems to operate safely and reliably.

What roles are hardest to fill in fiber power projects?

DC power technicians and telecom-experienced electrical engineers are among the most difficult roles to recruit due to specialized skill requirements.

How does power staffing impact project timelines?

Without properly staffed electrical teams, fiber installations cannot be energized or commissioned, delaying activation and increasing costs.

What certifications are required for telecom electrical roles?

Common requirements include state electrical licenses, OSHA certifications, and telecom safety training.

The Bottom Line: Fiber Runs on Power

Fiber expansion is one of the largest infrastructure initiatives in modern history. But cables alone do not create connectivity.

Reliable networks depend on skilled electrical professionals, coordinated project management, and proactive workforce planning. Organizations that invest in strong power staffing and electrical staffing strategies reduce risk, accelerate deployment, and protect uptime.

At Broadstaff, we understand that fiber and power must scale together. The right people, in the right roles, keep networks alive.