Infrastructure development services company Broadspectrum New Zealand, formerly Transfield, has been selected by electricity utility and gas distribution company Powerco to design and build a private, digital, secure, mobile radio network across the North Island electricity distribution area.
Under the Broadspectrum 12-month contract, Hytera, the world’s second largest provider of private mobile radio equipment, will provide the DMR Tier III trunked system hardware.
The contract covers Powerco's around 435,000 consumers connected to its electricity networks in Western Bay of Plenty, Thames, Coromandel, Eastern and Southern Waikato, Taranaki, Whanganui, Rangitikei, Manawatu and the Wairarapa, and its gas pipeline networks in Taranaki, Hutt Valley, Porirua, Wellington, Horowhenua, Manawatu and Hawke’s Bay.
Broadspectrum New Zealand’s Executive Manager Business Development, David Johnston, said: “We are excited to work with Powerco to provide such a critical telecommunications system at such a technologically advanced level across their North Island Network.
{loadposition peter}“This work builds on our existing telecommunications and intellectual property services where we provide comprehensive infrastructure support for some of New Zealand’s most critical networks.”
Powerco Network Operations Manager Phil Marsh, said, as the project manager, Broadspectrum will design the radio coverage, and install 35 VHF DMR radio base stations, with the main network control base located at head office in New Plymouth with a back-up base in Tauranga.
“Through the new network’s advanced features our staff will be connected at all times and consequently be a lot safer, particularly when working in remote areas with significantly improved coverage across Powerco’s electricity assets. Our customers will benefit from more immediate service if an issue arises,” Marsh said.