TELECOMS
Smart call
Industries such as oil and gas, that demand reliability and good coverage in remote
regions, are fast adopting mobile technologies. Julia Pierce reports
WHEN IT comes to installing
telecommunications networks, the
energy supply and distribution sector can
be one of the most demanding clients.
40
Communication between command
centres and engineers is vital, not only to
safety but also to the maintenance of a
network that supplies fuel and power to
millions, and failures cannot be tolerated.
No wonder then, these industries have
been keen to adopt new mobile
technologies, particularly those that do
not rely on sharing masts and other
infrastructure with other users and can
be deployed reliably in remote regions.
To ensure their network is running
24/7, Far East energy company engineers
are now turning to alternative mobile
networks that do not rely on civilian
masts to communicate.
EADS Defence and Security was
recently chosen by the Korea Electric
Power Corporation (KEPCO) to install a
‘TETRA works in parallel to GMS technology
and provides secure information in a very
user-friendly way’ Jean-Marc Nasr, EADS
nationwide radio communications
network. It will use PMR —
professional mobile radio —
technology, which is now used by
public safety bodies such as the police
and is being expanded into industry.
‘People can use technologies such as
TETRA in the field. It is particularly
useful in the oil business, chemical
plants and for electricity companies
such as this,’ said Jean-Marc Nasr,
president of EADS secure networks.
‘These are areas where you need to
be sure that you have the appropriate
information via both voice and data
when you need it in your hands. For
instance, at midnight at Christmas or
New Year it is almost impossible to
send an SMS as the network is
overloaded. TETRA works in
parallel to GSM technology and
provides secure information in a very
user-friendly manner.’
The KEPCO network will be the first
nationwide digital TETRA network in
South Korea and will empower all
professionals caring for the power
distribution and transformation
network. The project will be completed
by Nuri Telecom, EADS Secure
Networks’ Value Added Reseller for
PMR solutions. It will continues 42 ➜
the EnGIneeR 16–29 JUNE 2008
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