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The good type of communication coverage

When it comes to operating within the energy and utilities sector, good coverage is vital when you consider the surroundings of which businesses are operating in. 

You have workers across vast wind farms (onshore and offshore), often working at a height within in the turbine itself. You then have workers on nuclear power plants, where tasks are critical and often dangerous, but people are spread far and wide. 

• The size of your site, for example how many square feet does it cover
• Physical obstacles, such as trees, hills, and dense steel structures
• Virtual obstacles such as blackspots in remote area where coverage is hard to come by
• How many sites you need to communicate with each other

Once these elements have been considered, you can then start to map out the exact type of network infrastructure you need. And this is where we come in - as building a network infrastructure can be a complex process, and you may not necessarily know all the coverage pain points you currently face on a daily basis. 

Here is a list of all the seamless network infrastructure solutions we can provide for your needs. 

Direct Mode

This is a simple solution that allows radio-to-radio communication between up to 200 users - offering basis voice, data, text, and applications support in the process. If your site is small in size and radios are in close range of each other, then this is the perfect option. 

Single Site Conventional

This option is again available for up to 200 users, but it brings repeaters into the mix, in order to boost coverage in difficult areas of your site. Using a network of repeaters, hard to reach areas can be a thing of the past. So if you're currently experience coverage blackspots then this may be a viable option for you. 

IP Site Connect

We now enter the world of internet protocols (IP) and connecting multiple geographical locations together. Voice and data capabilities are enhanced thanks to a series of repeaters being connected to an IP network. The system will connect up to 200 users across 15 independent locations. So, if you have multiple sites that need to communicate, then this could the solution for you. We can assist with site linking, in order to give you excellent coverage across a wide area. 

Capacity Plus for Single Sites

This a cost-effective solution that provides wide range, quality coverage. This is achieved via the use of a digital trunking system. If you have one site where workers are operating across a vast amount of space then this could be the solution for you. 

Capacity Plus for Multiple Sites

If you have multiple sites that need to be connected together, then the same digital trunking system can connect 15 locations together and still be a cost-effective solution for your business. 

Capacity Max

Capacity Max is independently connected using IP architecture and brings two-way radio communications and commercial operations into the digital world. It is the most sophisticated infrastructure solution we offer, and allows us to create multiple layers of system redundancy, with no point of system failure, for your two-way communication system needs. 

It saves you a significant amount of money without the need for upfront expenditure on infrastructure. Administration requirements in obtaining Ofcom licences are also reduced. An uninterrupted service is always experienced, and you get access to the latest software and features. 

The bad type of communication coverage

The definition of bad communication is subjective. And by that we mean, what you think is bad, or what you currently experience right now, may differ to other businesses within the sector. But as a general rule of thumb, bad coverage comes in the form of: 

• Too many physical obstacles to overcome
• People operating in hard to reach areas
• Congested radio channels 
• Using the wrong device, e.g., licence-free radio where power output isn't strong enough
• Not having the right communication system in place that factors in challenging surroundings

When you have bad or poor coverage, the implications can be severe. Worker safety can suffer, as well as productivity and overall operational efficiency. Picture a scenario where you have lone workers operation on their own. If they're working up at a height, in an underground facility, or in outdoor spaces, and they're unable to contact another member of staff instantaneously then the ramifications can be (in extreme cases) fatal. 

Statistics in 2021 showed that falls from a height were the most common cause of fatal accidents in UK workplaces. With working at a height quite common in the energy and utilities sector, it's important that every measure is taken to avoid this being an occurrence that goes above 0.  

From a productivity perspective, the energy and utilities sector operate in a high-pressure market. People, households, and businesses across the UK rely on the sector to heat their homes and power their everyday life. If workers on site are unable to be productive because they cant communicate effectively, then reputation and (most importantly) level of service can suffer dramatically. 

The sector employs around 738,000 people, and invests £13 billion per annum to power 28 million homes and businesses. It's vital that productivity does not suffer because a suitable two-way communication solution isn't in place. 

Book a FREE demonstration

Want to know more about how we create seamless infrastructure network systems for businesses across the UK? Book a FREE, no obligation demonstration of our TRBOCALL system where will show you how your site(s) can be connected with instant, reliable voice and data capabilities.