With an increasing demand for reliable, secure and cost-effective information, Eskom has begun to embrace alternatives to its traditionally UHF (Ultra High Frequency) dominated network.
"Despite having excellent UHF infrastructure in place, there are certain limitations with our current network, the most obvious being that it does not allow one to use remote monitoring," says Allan Roberts of Eskom. "For this reason, we decided to look for a partner that could integrate with our systems and, where necessary, help plug the gaps."
Metacom's GPRS technology leverages its MC402 router linking to the company's various communication networks. Through the dual port router, Eskom for the first time is able to access both telecontrol and remote engineering.
According to Roberts, this enables the engineers to monitor information in real-time regardless of location. "In theory, you could be an engineer monitoring power supply in Pretoria from your office in Pietermaritzburg, no more driving between offices. By having access to this information we move from a reactionary to a preventive model, where the engineer can track potential faults before they occur."
"GPRS technology allows for remote, reliable, secure, affordable and widespread coverage. Best of all through our routers we can integrate with Eskom's current UHF system, filling the role of a primary, complementary or redundant system," says Metacom's Jako Winter.
"Until recently, having remote access to power supply systems has been somewhat of a luxury. This, however, has all changed with the development of various alternatives. Depending on your needs you can switch to GPRS, ADSL or satellite, you simply use the network most relevant to your needs," says Roberts.
Roberts adds that with a number of different technologies to choose from, they can now provide world-class industrial communication services in real-time, preventing network downtime and power outages, ensuring maximum productivity.
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Metacom
Metacom, founded in 2001, is a specialist information and technology company focused on the conceptualisation, development, implementation and support of machine-to-machine (M2M) communication solutions and wide area networks. Predominantly active in the wireless communication market, Metacom pioneered a number of innovative solutions in the industrial, retail and banking environment for some of the largest organisations in the country. With a highly professional team of specialists, Metacom continuously researches new technology and develops solutions and expertise, in order to stay abreast of global trends. With its local production facility and service centres, Metacom delivers and maintains the highest quality products and services. As a customer-focused organisation, Metacom partners with its customers to bring them solutions that optimise business revenue and customer service through increased efficiency and reduced costs. This allows their customers to focus on their core business and to gain a competitive edge on their competition. http://www.metacom.co.za
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