How resilient is your communication network in a Black Start scenario?
A total or partial shutdown of the national electricity transmission system (NETS) is an unlikely event. However if such an event happens which triggers a shutdown, a contingency arrangement is in place to ensure electricity supplies can be restored in a timely and orderly manner. Black Start is the process of restoring and electric power station or part of an electric grid to operation without the reliance of external power transmission networks to recover from a total or partial shutdown.
(more…)
- Published in Utilities
Why utility companies trust Simoco Wireless Solutions with their mission critical communication requirements
Simoco Wireless Solutions has been working with utility companies around the World spanning over seven decades. We work in conjunction with our customers to find the best fit solution for their requirements. Although we work with large customers such as Western Power Distribution (WPD) and Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE), Simoco can provide mission critical communication solutions to small or medium sized utilities. The below will outline the top reasons why utilities companies trust Simoco Wireless Solutions for their communication requirements.
- Published in Utilities
Extending the life of your SCADA system with wireless mesh networks to meet today’s mission critical requirements
Companies have used SCADA systems for many years and many different purposes to monitor systems and maintain their infrastructure in real time. Many are now finding these SCADA systems are too old to meet modern, mission critical requirements and have high maintenance demands. These networks are rapidly coming to the end of their effective lives.
The optimal solution would be a phased upgrade to a modern, future proofed radio network using staged funding and available manpower. This would allow the scaled upgrade to be completed in a well-managed way with no network outages in the legacy network. Simoco’s wireless mesh networks are designed to handle this type of scenario.
- Published in Unified Communications
Get smart: visit us at UTC 2018
UTC 2018 is coming up at the beginning of May in Palm Springs, California, with the usual mix of workshops, technical education sessions and summits from thought leaders throughout the utilities industry. Simoco Wireless Solutions is exhibiting, and we can’t wait to share our mission-critical communications solutions with decision makers and delegates across the sector.
- Published in Events
Placing communications infrastructure at the heart of oil and gas production
With news that the USA is ‘forging ahead with a plans to boost oil and gas exports’, the country is set to become the world’s biggest oil producer this year.
The sudden jump in production has been largely driven by the process of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, whereby pressured liquids are used to extract oil and gas from shale rocks.
- Published in Utilities
Showcasing critical comms at the Low Carbon Networks & Innovation (LCNI) Conference
Simoco Wireless Solutions took a trip to Telford recently for this year’s Low Carbon Networks & Innovation Conference (LCNI).
Aimed at organisations working in the energy sector, the conference looked at driving innovations and efficiencies that can power a low carbon future – one of today’s most important global priorities.
- Published in Events
European Utility Week 2017: A view from the show
European Utility Week is one of the biggest events in the utilities calendar, and this year’s event was no exception. Held earlier this month, EUW saw more than 12,000 of the industry’s leading professionals, from over 100 countries, gather in Amsterdam for three days of networking, sharing insights and learning about the newest and most exciting developments in the utilities industry.
Attendees included representatives from over 480 utilities, 550 speakers and over 600 world-class exhibitors, of which Simoco Wireless Solutions is proud to have been one.
- Published in Events
Could our utility networks be held to ransom? How legacy communication technologies are leaving critical infrastructure at risk
It seems like we’ve barely drawn breath from the Wannacry ransomware attack, which swept across the world in May, and yet already another insidious form of ransomware is wreaking international havoc. Originally assumed to be a variant of an older form of malware called Petya, the attack has crippled the computer systems at, among others, the advertiser WPP, law firm DLA Piper, food company Mondelez and Danish shipping company Maersk.
Ukraine has been particularly badly affected, with the company’s national bank, Kiev airport, metro system and a state-owned aircraft manufacturer all coming attack. Why Ukraine? According to the Ukrainian Cyber Police, the attack was originally spread via a software update in an accounting program that all organisations working with the Ukrainian government need to use.
- Published in Utilities
Heating up: how smarter mission-critical communications are helping tackle climate change
The drive for more environmentally friendly worldwide energy policies hit a major bump in the road last month when the USA announced plans to pull out of the Paris climate accord.
The agreement was drawn up within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It is due to kick off in the year 2020, responding to the growing climate threat with greenhouse gas emissions mitigation, adaptation and finance. In short, it has become a key building block in the global fight against climate change.
- Published in Utilities
Why water companies need to plug the communication gap to tackle the rising cost of leaks
The water industry is facing increasing pressure to modernise and revitalise much of its core infrastructure. In addition to pipelines, treatment plants and sewage systems, this also includes the need to upgrade the communication networks used in day-to-day operations, particularly those used to facilitate the transmission of reliable data.
At the same time, water companies are also facing the growing challenge posed by regulator fines for service disruption. This year is already proving to be particularly difficult, with a series of record fines being imposed due to illegal spills, overflows and leaks.
- Published in Utilities
- 1
- 2