Icon Water completes major comms network upgrade

Vertel, a leading Australian communications company, has successfully executed a major upgrade to the communications network for ACT water utility Icon Water. At the core of the new network is the Airbus Agnet MCx, a 3GPP standards-based system, marking the first known deployment of this platform in Australia.

Icon Water is the ACT’s supplier of essential water and sewerage services, comprising the territory’s network of dams, water treatment plants, sewage treatment plants, reservoirs, water and sewage pumping stations, mains and other related infrastructure. Prior to the recent upgrade, the primary means of communications for the 24/7 field operations staff was an old analog MPT system that provided unsecured voice-only communications that was well past end of life and about to be decommissioned by the existing operator. 4G was an alternative, but it did not provide coverage in all of the areas that Icon Water operates in.

In mid-2022, Icon Water sought submissions from interested parties to deliver a replacement communications network that included the following:

• A mission-critical push-to-talk (MCPTT) system
• Push-to-talk handsets and accessories
• A 4G/satellite vehicle connectivity solution
• Vehicle installations
• 4G coverage extensions in a number of their buildings
• Enterprise mobility management and application compatibility
• Support, training and documentation
   

Following a successful proof-of-concept deployment in early 2023, Vertel was chosen to design, deliver and manage the network upgrade, featuring the Airbus Agnet MCx at the core. Hosted in a highly secure, multi-zoned, fully redundant data centre environment, this secure, flexible and futureproof SaaS-based platform provides 99.99% availability for meeting all critical communication needs by leveraging the benefits of cloud technology, mobile broadband and satellite communication.

The Airbus Agnet MCx is designed to transmit and receive secure data, video and voice to all relevant stakeholders at once in a secure and reliable way. It allows smartphone, tablet and laptop users to communicate individually or in a group. Compatible with both Android and iOS, the mobile application features a web-based dispatcher, end-to-end encryption, emergency calling, remote and lone worker safety functionalities, along with advanced location tracking and other capabilities.

Icon Water’s fleet of around 100 vehicles were fitted with Vertel’s Enhanced Mobility Solution, enabling ubiquitous network connection anywhere within and beyond Icon Water’s operating geography. High gain antennas fitted to each of the vehicles also enables connection to corporate apps using laptops, tables or smartphones within an extensive Wi-Fi zone that is created outside of the vehicle.

To provide 4G connectivity in critical Icon Water buildings, Vertel engineers initially validated the existing coverage then designed and implemented Vertel’s Connectivity Enhancement solution at the required locations. The solution was designed to meet the bandwidth, latency and simultaneous user needs.

“Vertel’s extensive experience and their breadth of knowledge in being able to address Icon Water’s requirements enabled the development of our next-generation network, ensuring we are not only responsive to the needs of the Canberra region, but also enabling us to remain compliant with our OH&S policies, procedures and compliance guidelines,” said Icon Water CTO Dr Tony Pollock.

Vertel CEO Theo Belekas added, “Our partnership with Airbus was key to delivering the comprehensive list of mandatory requirements outlined in the Icon Water RFQ. Our work in wireless and fixed network communications over the past 50 years has positioned us a partner of choice for a wide number of government, enterprise and service provider organisations.”

Airbus APAC Vice President Alain Ruinet concluded, “We are proud to have successfully contributed with Vertel to Icon Water’s network upgrade to our broadband platform Agnet MCx. Our expertise in critical communications solutions globally with mission-critical push-to-talk over broadband (MCx) ensures Icon Water can deliver group communications, workplace safety and multimedia capabilities such as video streaming, file sharing and messaging anywhere they operate with LTE and satellite backhauls.”