One of the biggest multi-node telecommunications systems has been installed in record time at Polifin Midlands site, Sasolburg, by Philips Business Communications, without interrupting working operations.
The entire cutover was completed over a single weekend to allow Polifin staff to return to work on the Monday with a new, fully operational system in place. In all, 1200 Telkom phones were replaced with PBC systems.
Excellent teamwork by PBC and Polifin staff, who planned the operation with military precision, made this achievement possible just four months after finalisation of the contract in order to meet Polifin`s financial year end.
The site, which covers over 16 kilometres, was developed in the late sixties, thus rendering the telecommunications infrastructure obsolete. Facilities were limited and spares not readily available, with prolonged failures and high running costs the end result.
The project was based on Philips` SOPHO iS3000, which is ideally suited for Polifin`s purposes. The specification called for a PBX network, based on a five node system interconnected via the existing fibre optic cable. In order to minimise costs and inconvenience, the existing peripheral cable system was retained.
The signalling system chosen for the Polifin Midland network was DPNSS, giving Polifin flexibility to expand, or alter, the network. Furthermore, DPNSS is an internationally accepted, feature rich signalling system
A number of firsts were achieved on this project including it being the first multi-nodal, management package to maintain the infrastructure needs in a package which gives access to all nodes in a structured method. Furthermore, it utilises free numbering: each extension can be assigned any number, and this extension can be located anywhere in the network.
According to PBC, the new system is a platform for Polifin`s future growth and integration into the overall Sasol network. Not only will Polifin save money and increase efficiencies, but further benefits are ISDN services and digital telephones available throughout the plant.
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