TETRA  |  2018-06-27

Powertrunk and Diverse Power EMC Recognized for “Best Use of Critical Communications in Utilities” International Award

Source: The Critical Communications Review | Gert Jan Wolf editor

At the 2018 International Critical Communications Awards held on May 15th in Berlin, Germany, PowerTrunk Inc. received the award in recognition of its TETRA network project for Diverse Power EMC in the State of Georgia.

The award was with respect to the 2017 expansion of the Diverse Power TETRA network provided by PowerTrunk. The Diverse Power network was noted as a model example of a TETRA system for utilities deployment, providing not only the essential mission-critical voice and data services required for such a scenario, but also remarkably demonstrating how TETRA can be successfully offered and operated as a shared network across a wide geographic area.

Diverse Power provides electric utility services to over a dozen counties, but rather than limiting the roll-out of the communications network exclusively for their own use, they had the vision to join forces with other neighboring electric cooperatives to provide coverage into their service territories as well. As a result, the network has presently grown to 50 site base stations covering to approximately 60% of the State of Georgia, with even still further expansion foreseen for the future. A shared, wide-area, critical communications network for utilities was proven to be a major advantage in the aftermath of the hurricanes that struck the state last year since it allowed the various member cooperatives to deploy resources to lend support to their neighbors, but while still maintaining full and transparent access to all voice and data services with which they were normally accustomed.

Accepting the award at the ICCA ceremony in Berlin, Keith Ammons, VP of Market Development for PowerTrunk stated, “Diverse Power has been very enthusiastic at every step along the way in the roll-out of TETRA technology for this project and deserve enormous credit for this award.”

The judges for the International Critical Communications Awards (ICCA) complimented Diverse Power for its “great and pioneering use of TETRA in the US.”