SA Govt selects Cobham VSAT antennas

South Australia’s Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (DPTI) has selected a solution that includes Cobham Satcom EXPLORER 8120 VSAT antennas to provide broadband data connectivity and voice comms for remote area workers.

The 1.2-metre-diameter, auto-acquire, drive-away antennas feature Dynamic Pointing Correction technology to improve link uptime.

The units were delivered to DPTI this month via a contract with Cobham’s partner, AST Australia.

Until now, DPTI staff, who spend 18 days at a time in the field to provide essential services for remote communities, have had to make do with a combination of fax, satellite phones and HF radio, with limited internet access.

In an effort to improve conditions, DPTI recently began upgrading 11 mobile accommodation units used by the work staff.

Facilities provided now include VoIP, email and social media for off-shift time, in addition to the improved communication with head office and secure remote access to the department’s data network.

“AST Australia was successful in meeting the requirements utilising the Cobham EXPLORER 8120 and our VSAT service provisioning with local support,” said Richard Coston, Managing Director of AST Australia.

Coston said the EXPLORER 8120 was chosen due to its built-in stabilisation system, blocking zone functionality and harmonic drive gearing. Its robust design helps it work in South Australia’s extreme summer temperatures and arid climate.

Image courtesy Cobham Satcom.

Please follow us and share on Twitter and Facebook. You can also subscribe for FREE to our weekly newsletter and bimonthly magazine.