High Voltage Tunnels Rely on RF over Fiber Links for Mobile Radio Coverage

A new tunnel complex carrying high voltage power lines under the Thames in East London will help supply the city’s growing demand for electricity. Built for UK Power Networks and carrying 132,000 volt cables, the tunnels will bring an extra 400 megawatts of electricity into the capital.

The system integrator supplying the mobile radio system for the tunnels is Stockport-based CommTrack, who designed the overall system and its integration with commercial PMR base stations and repeaters. They asked ViaLite to provide RF over fiber links to extend the range of the critical maintenance and blue-light communications system so that it operates throughout the 8 km length of the tunnels.

ViaLite  is seen by CommTrack as the industry standard for RF over fiber links in critical communications systems.

“If the communications don’t work, you can’t work safely in the tunnel complex,” commented Paul Birbeck, Technical Director at CommTrack.

The equipment supplied included ViaLiteHD 1U rack chassis units and cards, providing slim line integration into the communications racks.

“Following successful testing by CommTrack, we were able to fine tune the gain settings to reduce or eliminate any weak points along the tunnels,” said ViaLite Director of Sales Richard Jacklin.

• RFoF for Mining and Public Safety
• For more information about ViaLite RF over fiber systems in harsh environments, please contact us.
• CommTrack website