Fortune News | Apr 16,2022
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.
“Our approach to safety led us to choose a system deployed by top mission-critical users globally,” Shiferaw added.
Motorola, a data communications and telecommunications equipment provider, also built a public safety radio communication system for the Federal Police Commission. It allows for the integrated communication of the police, fire rescue, ambulances and other rescue workers.
"We are proud to partner with Ethiopia's national electrical utility company, helping them in their mission to provide better service to their customers while maintaining the safety of their employees," said Yuval Hanan, East Africa regional manager for Motorola Solutions.
Experts in the area understand the reason why the Utility wanted to move away from its analogue system.
“The analogue system had a high energy consumption and a weak software management system,” said Yihenew Wondie (PhD), a lecturer at Addis Abeba Institution of Technology's School of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
However, the expert has concerns on why the EEU deployed a system developed by an international company.
“Ethio telecom has an already established and mature network-compatible platform for the digital radio system,” the expert added.
In Ethiopia, the demand for electricity increases by 13pc each year, and the electricity coverage of the nation has reached 58pc.
The country currently generates 4,300MW of power, of which 90pc is produced from hydropower, while eight percent is generated from wind and two percent from thermal sources.
Ethiopia has a potential of generating over 1.4 million megawatts from hydroelectric, solar, geothermal and wind sources, according to internal studies.
Currently, 58,000 households are waiting to get electric service in the country.
PUBLISHED ON
Sep 28,2019 [ VOL
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