Ethiopian Electric Utility (EEU) set up a radio communication system, Astor, at Entoto, built by Motorola Solutions at a cost of 1.8 million dollars.

The system, which is effective in Addis Abeba and its surroundings, is expected to assist in improving the safety of grid operations and maintenance.

The communication system is equipped with digital radios: 300 hand radios, including 200 types of equipment that will be customised to be used on cars and others that will be fixed on call centres and random maintenance centres.

The site, which is located at the highest point in Addis Abeba, is also powered by a hybrid-electric and solar-powered system and includes a backup energy solution to ensure communication at all times.

The Motorola system will replace the current analogue system that has been out of service since 2014 because of a lack of spare parts. The company has been using cell phones for communication purposes since then.

“Using a cell phone for communication has many challenges, since it is a one-to-one communication system,” said Chumala Samuel, automation technology and energy manager of Addis Abeba. “However, the new system quickly connects with others through compliant interoperability.”

The radio communication system uses eight radio channels simultaneously programmed in six different groups.

The Israel subsidiary of the US-based global electronics and telecommunication corporation, Motorola Solutions, signed an agreement with EEU after winning the tender for the radio communication project in July 2017. The project is being implemented in two chapters.

The first chapter, inaugurated last week, covers Addis Abeba and its surroundings, while the second chapter will be covering another 13 selected places outside of the capital.

The full implementation of the system is in its second phase, which is set to cost EEU 4.2 million dollars and will begin in the current fiscal year.

“As a grid operator, two of our major concerns are the safety of our employees and the level of service we provide to our customers in order to achieve a reliable communications system to support our teams’ mission-critical needs," said Shiferaw Telila, CEO and automation chief of the EEU.

The Utility believes the new system will facilitate its services to its customers and speed up the time used to require maintenance and reduce the danger that may be caused because of the information gap.