This year Saab Grintek again joins the Cape Argus Pick 'n Pay Cycle Tour as the official technology partner, bringing a communications solution worth R1.5 million to the tour.
"This is the fifth year that we are providing communications infrastructure for the tour," said Maijd Mowzer, regional manager at Saab Grintek Cape Office. "Every year we take what we have learned from the previous tour, update and expand on the technology to ensure the communication systems continue to support the world-class organisational reputation the tour enjoys."
Saab Grintek will install communications equipment at the Venue Operations Centre (VOC) at Green Point Stadium and at the Joint Operations Centre (JOC) at Tygerberg Hospital. During the tour, the facilities will be supported by Saab Grintek engineers stationed at the two centres.
A Nortel Meridian 11C PBX will be installed at Green Point Stadium to handle all voice communication. Closer to the race, one dedicated Telkom telephone number will be announced. This number will give the public, field personnel and participants access to over 40 tour officials manning the call centre operation. For safety and organisational purposes, all calls will be recorded and stored on a Nice Voice recorder system which makes calls easy to retrieve should it become necessary.
The Nortel Meridian 11C PBX is one of the most advanced of its type supporting voice messaging, call centre operation, PC-based system management and multimedia applications. The unit handles digital and IP phones, IP gateways and can interface with WiFi mobile systems.
The Joint Operations Centre is situated at the Emergency Call Centre recently taken into service by the Department of Health. It is strategically situated at Tygerberg hospital.
The Department of Health of the Cape Provincial Government last year awarded a contract to Saab Grintek for the supply, installation and integration of a Nortel 61C PBX into its state-of-the-art emergency call centre.
Medical emergencies received at the Green Point VOC will be relayed using wireless communications systems to the JOC where the appropriate medical staff is despatched. All vehicles are equipped with satellite tracking and visual displays. The Saab Grintek PBX is integrated with the total emergency management system which means that emergency vehicles are despatched in the direction from where the call came and guided by the satellite tracking system to the accident site as quickly as possible. The tracking system automatically displays the map of the area and location. This is also tracked by the dispatcher which is in continuous voice communication with the vehicle.
"The Cape Argus Pick 'n Pay Cycle Tour enjoys the participation of many overseas riders and has built up an international reputation as one of the most exciting yet safest cycle races in the world. We are proud to be associated with the tour and proud that the organisers have again chosen Saab Grintek as their technology partner," Mowzer said.
Share
Grintek is a leading empowerment technology group and employs 1 300 people, most of whom are engineers and technicians. The company is a privately held partnership between Kunene Bros Holdings (29.7%) and Saab AB (70.3%) of Sweden. The group specialises in three main market segments, namely telecommunications and selected niche opportunities within industrial and defence electronics. Saab Grintek is a business unit of Saab.
Saab
Saab is one of the world's leading high-technology companies, with its main operations focusing on defence, aviation and space. The group covers a broad spectrum of competence and capability in systems integration.
Saab Grintek Technologies
Saab Grintek Technologies applies the Saab Grintek Group's core technologies in the ICT, transport and energy sectors through the development of its own products as well as partnerships and distribution agreements with world-class suppliers.
The division provides tailored and innovative solutions from initial project and business requirement consulting, through to implementation, integration, ongoing support and training.
The company focuses on providing high-end communications solutions in the following areas: transmission, voice, data, wireless, and convergence services, antennas, RF components, DC power systems, pre-payment electricity meters, electric load management systems and a full range of professional avionics and aeronautical electronics.
The division's solutions have been implemented in over 500 top South African companies and in more than 22 African countries. Over 25 leading international vendors have selected Saab Grintek Technologies as a South African service provider and partner. Saab Grintek Technologies' head office and support centre is located in Centurion, Pretoria, and it has full regional support offices in Cape Town and Windhoek.
Editorial contacts