Zetron's Acom providing resilience to Ergon Energy

Queensland is now host to one of the most advanced communications networks in the world, with work complete on the first stage of Ergon Energy’s streamlined, high-resilience radio communications upgrade.

The project, which includes Zetron’s Project 25 (P25) Console Subsystem Interface (CSSI) connected to multiple Zetron Advanced Communications (Acom) P25 console systems, demonstrates how an APCO P25 digitally encrypted radio communications network can be leveraged to optimise advanced monitoring, control, tracking and communications across widespread delivery infrastructures.

Ergon Energy’s field crews are required to move within the state to respond to emergencies and system faults and to support and bolster local area resources, particularly during natural disasters. To support Ergon’s field crews and the power network, an advanced communication network is being built using a software-defined radio communications architecture.

Zetron, a provider of command-and-control integrated voice-and-data communication systems and radio dispatch consoles, has previously supplied Ergon with an Acom fully digital switching and multiplexing system console system.

Commissioned in June 2012, stage one of the network built by Airwave Solutions Australia already covers 177,000 square kilometres in the southern Queensland region including Toowoomba, Warwick and Darling Downs.

The next section of the network, between Townsville and Cairns, will see additional high-availability P25 Radio Frequency Subsystem (RFSS) cores installed at Ergon’s data centres in Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton and Maryborough.

Zetron Australasia Vice President and General Manager Ranjan Bhagat said that, as a result of the RFSS deployment, Ergon Energy’s system-wide resilience will be reinforced by having each of the existing Acom systems connect directly to each of the P25 RFSS cores via a resilient IP WAN.

“In this configuration,” said Bhagat, “which is the first of its kind in the world, in the event of a radio systems failure, no intervention is needed on the Zetron CSSI-connected Acom P25 console system. The net outcome is that state-wide Ergon operations can continue seamlessly, even in the unlikely event of a system failure.”

Airwave CEO Malcolm Keys said that the additional RFSS cores would make Ergon’s network one of the most resilient private mobile radio (PMR) networks in the non-military world.

“Our primary role is to bring together the different components of the solution into a single, unified network,” said Keys. “We are working in partnership with Ergon Energy, Auria Wireless, Tait Communications and Zetron, who are also technology partners within the P25 Solution Centre. Together, we are emphasising the benefits of a common industry approach within the APCO P25 standards to achieve optimum interoperability efficiency.”