MICROWAVES IN THE MOUNTAINS
Images courtesy Fujitsu Australia and TasNetworks.
TasNetworks’ new radio links reduce costs, increase throughput and provide better visibility and performance.
22 Critical Comms - Jan/Feb 2018
A
major upgrade of TasNetworks’ microwave radio network was recently completed. In addition to operating and maintaining Tasmania’s electricity transmission and distribution network, TasNetworks is responsible for a statewide radio communications network. Working together, Fujitsu Australia and TasNetworks implemented a quick, cost-effective and safe upgrade of the backbone radio network, which involved commissioning 18 of Fujitsu’s FRX-3 microwave radio links. The upgrade has brought in a number of key functional outcomes for TasNetworks, including a fivefold increase in throughput and better visibility of service levels which, in turn, will aid the swift resolution of future issues. TasNetworks can now better deliver critical protection and control services alongside next-generation IP services, which can be rapidly deployed and will facilitate a fast time to market for its customers. The implementation methodology used simplified the upgrade process, reduced the number and duration of upgrade-related outages and significantly reduced rollout costs. On the back of this, TasNetworks awarded Fujitsu a five-year support contract to reduce risk and ensure the upgraded network’s reliability. TasNetworks’ collaboration with Fujitsu followed a competitive tender process undertaken after it recognised that its 10-year-old radio backbone network was no longer fit for purpose. Fujitsu’s turnkey solution included its FRX-3 product, which has the capability to carry legacy services and fully IP-based services. Fujitsu also worked with TasNetworks in the pre-implementation stages of the project. The methodology TasNetworks had proposed led to a significant reduction in the time required to work outdoors during the system upgrade, in part as it circumvented the need to install
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