A Midwestern nuclear power facility that employs more than 1,000 workers and covers a campus of more than 5,000 acres. Among the world’s top reactors, it provides enough electricity for 780,000 average homes per year.
The System
The facility was served by a TE Fusion DAS system that had been designed in conjunction with Cingular/AT&T and was locked at 850 MHz. Due to AT&T’s phase out of their GSM 2G services the facility required an upgrade to their DAS system to accommodate multiple carriers and 4G. They also wanted to be able to operate their own system and perform their own maintenance in case of emergency, while providing coverage to all on-site personnel regardless of provider.
The Challenge
Because of the security protocols in place for the power plant, this project presented unique challenges beyond the scope of the network. Security escorts were required for all non-employees and it was difficult for non-US citizens to gain access to be part of the project.
When it came to the installation, the size of the campus and its remote location presented challenges. Because of nuclear requirements, the structure itself was extremely dense, with deep concrete and metal that had to be accommodated. There were also specific cabling requirements for the facility that had to be met.
The Solution
Tessco replaced the existing TE Fusion System with a TE/CommScope Spectrum System. The Spectrum System is well-received by carriers and is approved by all four national service providers. The DAS remotes used on the project did not have AC or DC power available so a Line Powered solution was needed. They were able to utilize existing cable, saving money, and additional cable was pulled using existing pathways to help speed up installation. Finally, the fiber plant used consisted of Multimode and Single mode fiber, which provides the industry’s best support.
Why Tessco Proved to be the Best Choice
Having an existing relationship with the team managing the plant helped Tessco understand the scope and needs of the project from the start. Tessco Solution Architect Tom Ulrich collaborated with the customer and determined that TE’s DAS solution would be the best fit because of the existing TE installation and because of single mode/multimode limitations. As part of Tessco’s single source, end-to-end solution, Ulrich then helped the customer scope the project and worked to meet their budget, coordinating communication with TE, the customer, Tessco, and AT&T to align on a system that all parties could agree on.
Once the system was agreed on, Ulrich traveled to the customer for an on-site survey and walkthrough with the manufacturer to develop a final system design and comprehensive Bill of Materials, meeting the customer’s sole source guidelines to issue a no-bid PO to Tessco. Once the PO was received, Tessco delivered materials within the customer’s tight timeline.
In addition to fulfilling the network installation needs, as a total source supplier Tessco was also able to supply additional equipment and services to the customers following the installation. Tessco provided spare equipment, antennas, cables, and connectors and, because the customer was installing and maintaining the system on their own, Tessco provided on-site DAS training for their employees. During the course of the training the customer was introduced to the Keysight FieldFox® Tester and subsequently purchased one for their use as well. Tessco was able to use their extensive network of VARs to introduce the customer to a provider for commissioning and maintenance services.
The installation was successfully completed ahead of schedule in February 2016. Tessco’s strong industry relationships helped the customer facilitate adoption among multiple carriers.
The Results
By working with Tessco the customer gained experience installing a DAS system that they can utilize in other areas. They’ve also realized the benefits of faster and better communications by extending their 4G coverage throughout their facility and implementing LTE, and they can project future returns thanks to the scalable DAS system that will grow with their communications needs.