Maximizing coverage and cost efficiencies with frequency shifting repeater solution

Combas Frequency Shifting Repeater solution maximizes coverage and yields a 60 percent cost savings for Vodacom
Client Vodacom Group Limited, South Africa

Background
The Sabi Sand Game Reserve is a 650 km2 wildlife sanctuary that resides in the 230,000 km2 Kruger National

Client Needs 900 MHz GSM cellular network solution 1800 MHz repeater solution with 10 watt output Small, unobtrusive, easy to install units Cost effective yet provide necessary network coverage

Park game preservation area in South Africa. Several luxury lodges are located at Sabi Sand which cater to upmarket adventure seekers looking to holiday amongst the Big Five of African safaris.

The Problems
Few lodges had access to telecommunications systems. Of the ones that did, other than a DECT, point to point, Repeater point to two-way radio system for local communications, each campsite had only five phone lines wired, analog system for both staff and guest use. To exacerbate matters, phone lines were out of commission 30 percent of the time and no cellular network was available. As guests who frequent the Sabi Sand are mostly business professionals, lack of communications was a major source of frustration

Solutions Implemented Frequency Shifting

multipoint master unit working to five remote units, master and remote link antennas, remote service antennas and directional coupler

Vodacom Group Limited 5/ 2006

Comba Telecom Limited 2006. All Rights Reserved

for travelers who needed to keep in touch with the outside world. Each campsite had only five phones lines which were out of commission 30 percent of the time and no cellular network was available.

Vodacom. In assessing repeater solutions available in the market, both parties discovered that Combas Channel Selective Frequency Shifting Repeater (FSR) was the only product that fulfilled all of Vodacoms requirements. While competing products could only generate an output power of up to 2 watts, Comba fulfilled Vodacoms need for 10 watt output at the 1800 MHz band level. A five times greater output power level coupled with its point to

The Requirements
Vodacom, South Africas leading pan-African cellular communications company, was commissioned to install a 900 MHz GSM cellular network covering six campsites in the northern region of the Sabi Sand game reserve. Key challenges faced by Vodacom in addition to the wild terrain of the game reserve included the restriction of only being able to mount small, unobtrusive telecom equipment on already existing communications towers; establishing line of sight was an issue; equipment that could operate in the 1800 MHz band and provide a 10 watt output signal; equipment that was cost effective and easy to install; and equipment that could withstand not only the 45 degrees Celsius heat of a South African summer, but also the occasional rough handling by the local wildlife.

multipoint capability meant that Vodacom could achieve a wider network coverage area at a much lower cost. Additionally, Combas small, flexible units were easy to install, unobtrusive to the local environment and could withstand heat of up to 55 degrees Celsius which made the units ideal for network setup in the remote, South African game reserve.

Combas FSR was the only product able to meet Vodacoms technical specifications, said Francois van Niekerk, Vodacoms Radio Planning Engineer. We also needed a solution that could be implemented quickly, provide as much coverage as possible and could be completed cost effectively - Combas solution fulfilled all our requirements.

We needed a solution that could be implemented quickly, provide as much coverage as possible and could be completed cost effectively.

Vodacom utilized the following equipment from Comba to complete its GSM cellular network at Sabi Sand: RF9122-R (G9-G18, 10W) FSR Remote units RF9122-LD FSR Local Direct ODP-030V20-C0 Link Antenna at master site ORA-011V23-C0 Link Antenna at remote site OOA-360V11-G0 remote site Directional coupler 30dB Service Antenna at

Choosing Combas Frequency Shifting Repeater as a Solution

AlanDick, the global broadcast, cellular, radar, enterprise and communications infrastructure specialist, was

commissioned to be the turnkey solution provider, including design and equipment selection, of the GSM network for

Vodacom Group Limited 5/ 2006

Comba Telecom Limited 2006. All Rights Reserved

Combas FSR solution was the only product that could fulfill all of Vodacoms technical requirements.

FSR Solution Represents Significant Cost Savings Over Conventional Network Build Outs
Combas FSR solution is easy to install and reduces site deployment costs by eliminating donor antenna isolation problems. Additional features include: High link power gives maximum link distance between master and remote units Supports various output power levels and up to four carriers Designed for all-weather outdoor installation waterproof, damp-proof and omni-sealed Permits local monitoring via notebook computer or remotely by wire or GSM modem Easy operation and maintenance through remote monitor and control Alarm data can be transmitted to optional OMC via SMS data call Internal battery backup ensures alarm

Comba Delivers Strong Repeater Solution that is Unobtrusive, Easy to Install and at a 60 percent cost savings
Requiring just 2-3 erlangs of traffic capacity, the cost effectiveness and the ease of installation of Combas solution were ideal to service the game reserves low capacity needs. Not only was Combas FSR solution technically superior to competing products, it also represented a cost savings of over 60 percent compared to conventional methods of extending network coverage, added van Niekerk. Additionally, the small dimensions of the hardware units which were mounted on the existing towers helped Vodacom deliver its promise of an unobtrusive cellular network that would not diminish the escapist atmosphere of the wild for Sabi Sands adventure seekers.

Since the cellular network was implemented at Sabi Sand in February 2004, traffic has grown 30-40 percent per year. Not only was Combas FSR solution technically superior to competing products, it also represented a cost savings of over 60 percent compared to conventional methods of extending network coverage.

messages are transmitted when power fails Convection cooling minimizes breakdown due to overheating, thus, reduces

maintenance costs

________________________
For more information, contact your Comba representative, or visit http://www.comba-telecom.com

________________________

Vodacom Group Limited 5/ 2006

Comba Telecom Limited 2006. All Rights Reserved