# Every Drop Counts: Building Resilient IoT Connectivity for Public Utilities ![Every Drop Counts: Building Resilient IoT Connectivity for Public Utilities](https://flolive.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Webinar-Water-System-Reliability-May-2026-1.png) Public utilities are under increasing pressure to modernize critical infrastructure while keeping costs under control, reducing operational risk, and improving service reliability. In our recent webinar, we explored how [Rugged Telemetry](https://www.ruggedtelemetry.com/), [Velocity IoT](https://velocityiot.io/), and FLOLIVE® came together to support more reliable, resilient, and scalable connectivity for municipal water and wastewater systems. [Watch the full event](https://go.flolive.net/every-drop-counts-how-rugged-telemetry-powers-reliable-water-system-connectivity)which brought together Jason Carabet of Rugged Telemetry, Anthony Pappasaltis of Velocity IoT, and Curtis Govan of Flolive to hear why connectivity is now a foundational part of industrial IoT success, and why the right ecosystem of partners matters as much as the technology itself. ### The challenge: outdated systems, limited visibility, and unreliable communications For many municipalities, legacy infrastructure still depends on older communications methods such as phone lines, point-to-point systems, relay logic, and single-carrier cellular setups. These systems were not designed for today’s real-time operational needs. As Jason explained, when communications go down, operators can quickly become blind to critical events. For water and wastewater teams managing lift stations, pump stations, tanks, and other remote assets, delayed alerts can turn a manageable issue into an overflow, service disruption, or costly emergency. Rugged Telemetry built Rugged Connect to address these recurring issues with a purpose-built, industrial-grade solution for harsh environments. The goal was both to modernize monitoring, and to give municipalities a more proactive way to manage infrastructure through reliable data, remote visibility, and resilient communications. ### Why connectivity is the backbone of the solution A recurring theme throughout the webinar was that if connectivity fails, the whole solution fails. In this scenario, Rugged Telemetry provides the industrial hardware and application layer. Velocity IoT supports the connectivity strategy and adds the communication piece, deployment planning, and customer enablement. Flolive provides the [core network infrastructure](https://flolive.net/blog/glossary/core-network-in-2025/) that supports localized connectivity, multi-network access, and centralized connectivity management . Curtis described Flolive’s role as the heart of the solution. A global-local model combines owned core network infrastructure with access to multiple leading mobile operators in key regions. This enables devices to connect across multiple networks, fail over when needed, and maintain service without requiring every deployment site to be manually surveyed in advance, sidestepping custom engineering. For municipalities, that matters because coverage is not optional. Public works teams need confidence that devices deployed in remote or challenging locations can stay online and continue transmitting the data required to manage essential services. ### Reducing complexity for public works teams One of the strongest messages from the webinar was that public works teams should not need to become IoT experts to use modern IoT systems. Anthony emphasized that successful deployments are “90% planning and 10% execution.” The complexity should be handled before the device reaches the field, through product design, connectivity planning, testing, and infrastructure strategy. That shared approach means municipalities can focus on what they do best: operating water systems, maintaining infrastructure, and responding to issues. They do not need to understand SIM profiles, roaming rules, carrier behavior, satellite backhaul, or regional connectivity requirements. As Jason put it, the end user wants to “mount a box and have reliable communication.” No one wants to have to become an IoT expert overnight. Everything behind the box, from cellular, and satellite, to network selection, failover, connectivity management, and support, should be handled by the ecosystem delivering the solution. ### Balancing cost and resilience Municipalities are often working within tight budgets, so resilience cannot come at any cost. The panel discussed how the partnership model helps reduce cost without sacrificing reliability. For Rugged Telemetry, working with Velocity IoT and Flolive provides access to deep connectivity expertise without having to build that capability in-house. That helps lower development burden, simplify deployment, and keep the end solution more cost-effective. Anthony highlighted the cost savings that come from avoiding unnecessary site surveys, reducing manual effort, and enabling devices to connect autonomously to the best available network. Curtis added that Flolive’s usage-based model can help municipalities avoid paying for services they are not actively using. This is especially relevant for public-sector use cases with seasonal equipment, such as snow plows or street sweepers, where devices may be inactive for parts of the year. ### Preparing for AI, predictive analytics, and future sensors The panel also looked ahead to the role of AI, predictive analytics, and advanced sensor technologies in municipal IoT. Jason noted that for Rugged Telemetry, these technologies are already relevant. Municipalities want better ways to monitor equipment, manage pumps, optimize operations, and make faster decisions. But predictive analytics are only as good as the data behind them. That makes reliable connectivity essential. Bad, delayed, or inconsistent data leads to poor analysis and weaker outcomes. Rugged Telemetry is building with flexibility in mind, using configurable sensor inputs and an open architecture that can adapt as new sensors and use cases emerge. Curtis added that the network itself should no longer be treated as a black box. Real-time network data can become part of the broader dataset, helping customers better understand anomalies and improve future AI models. ### Scaling across regions Rugged Telemetry operates beyond the U.S., including South America and other global markets. That creates another challenge: different countries and regions have different connectivity rules, roaming limitations, operator environments, and local requirements. The partnership with Velocity IoT and Flolive helps simplify that expansion. Rugged Telemetry does not need to become an expert in every country’s network environment. Instead, Velocity IoT helps define the deployment strategy, while Flolive’s global-local infrastructure supports localized connectivity where required, including regions where permanent roaming may not be permitted. This allows Rugged Telemetry to focus on delivering its core solution while maintaining reliable, cost-effective communications across markets. ### Advice for municipalities modernizing infrastructure The webinar closed with practical advice for public works directors, city managers, and municipal teams considering infrastructure modernization. Anthony’s advice was to look for partners, not vendors. IoT has many moving parts, and long-term success depends on trusted relationships with companies that understand the full deployment lifecycle. Jason encouraged municipalities to choose technology that solves today’s problems while remaining flexible enough for the future. That means avoiding systems locked into one communication path or proprietary format, and instead prioritizing open, reliable, redundant architectures. Curtis emphasized that modernization is not a one-time project. Municipal infrastructure needs will continue to evolve, so cities should look at the full foundation behind the solution, including the application provider, the connectivity partner, and the wider ecosystem. [*Watch the full webinar here*](https://go.flolive.net/every-drop-counts-how-rugged-telemetry-powers-reliable-water-system-connectivity)*, and*[*reach out to discuss your own enterprise needs*](https://flolive.net/contact/)*.* 124 views Share this Post: X ### Stay updated and join our newsletter: