MICROWAVES Kenya installs digital microwave system R.S, Aloo and 5, F. Odongo Odera, Kenya Posts & Telecommunications Corp., Nairobi, Kenya and Y. Morice, Société Anonyme de Télécommunications, Paris, FranceMICROWAVES Kenya installs digital microwave system C.R.S. Aloo and 8. F. Odongo Odera, Kenya Posts & Telecommunications Corp. Nairobi, Kenya and Morice, Société Anonyme de Télécommunications, Paris, France Serving the Eastern and North-Eastern provinces of Kenya, the North-East Digital Microwave System of the Kenya Posts and Telecommunications Corporation uses digital and solar power technology to bring modern telecommunications services to areas where few services were previously available, With the formal putting into service this Jume of the North Bast Digital Microwave Network, Kenya Posts and ‘Telecommunications Corporation (PTC) will have fully entered the era of digital transmission. Carrying both voice and digitally enonded TY and sound program channels, the North- ast system forms the backbone for the provision of telecommunieations ser- ‘vices tothe Northern and Eastern areas of Kenya where previous service was by means of HY radio. Serving a number of ‘exehanges, rural public eall offices and providing ‘program transmission. ser- viees for the broadeast authority, the Voice of Kenya, the system marks major advance in the development of services in the area. The route to Liboi forms Kenya’s part of the fubare Panaf- tel link with Somalia. Figure 1 shows the areas served by the system. The inauguration of the North-Bast system represents more than just the completion of a radio system installa- tion as it also markathe completion of successful transfer of digital system Knowledge from the manufacturer to ‘KPTC. KPTC staff have participated in system design, have performed all the installation tasks, have developed an independent training capability fr aye tem planning and operation, and now ‘operate & complete depot level repair centre for system electronic equipment. ‘The radio equipment for the system is the FHD 234 family of digital micro wave equipment, operating at 2GHz with a capacity of 24Mbit’e manufactu- red by Societ# Anonyme de Telecominu- nications (SAT) of Franco, Each aF ‘channel can accomodate the equivalent ‘of 480 voice channels or one digitally ‘encoded color TY signal plus associated sound program channels, This capacity and frequency band wore chosen he- canse of the nature of propagation The panels arearranged along a North South axis ta minimise shadouwing by the tower. =e “The abundant sunshine is used for solar power for repeater stations’ conditions in the semi-decertie North- East area as well as the requirement for relatively long hops. The system works in an initial 1 4 1 configuration with protection switching between the ehan- nels. Telephony is assigned to the primary channel and the TV signals are carried on the cecondary channel, Sy3- ‘tem expansion to ap ultimate capacity of 5 + Lispossible. Space and frequency diversity wero not required in. the system, but 8 Watt output high power amplifiers are used on certain difficult hops. ‘There are 40 radio stations in the system, of which 22 are through repea ‘ters without demodulation, Of the re peater stations seventeen are solar powered and the romainder are at ‘existing sites where a power supply is already available. There is one exten- sion of the 34Mhit's digital streams from a radio terminal station to a multiplex contre over coaxial cables. SAT’s MX-304 primary PCM multiplex equipment and 'TNM 1.2.3 higher order multiplexers are used for the initial analogue to digital conversion of the input telephone channels and their multiplexing to the 34MbiUs digital rate. Signalling interface unitsare used for other than inter-exchange connec- tions to allow termination of remote subserihers and publie call offices. Tn ‘major nodal stations circuits are trans- ferred at 2Mbitisto allow great flexibili ty in network reconfiguration. Kenya is blessed with abundant sun- shine and this is taken advantage of in the use of solar power for repeater stations. All new repeater stations in the system use solar power. The design of the solar systems was based upon extensive available meteorological data and measurements made during the aystem survey. Beeause of the situation of the system near the equator and thepattern of sunlight and space availabili ty, asomewhat unusual arrangement of the solar panels in the array’ has been adopted. As shown in the photograph the panels are arranged along a Narth- South axis to minimise the effect of the shadow of the tower crossing the array ‘The solar power systems have been ‘There are 41 stations, 22 are unattended, over 1600 route kilometers, and seven major sections’ signed with fourteen days’ solar aute- nomy in the batteries and sufficient power in the arrays to both meet the load and recharge the battery under ‘minimum sualight conditions, During system dosign the alternatives of dual diesel engine-generatar sets and solar power were considered for the repea- ‘ers, Solar power won outon the basis of cost, maintenance liability and the problems of fuel transportation. and storage. The first solar stations have ‘beon on-line for over one year and are performing well. Initial concerns about sssible dust accumulation on the sur- face ofthe celle have proved unfounded. Specially designed solar power system regulators are employed to control the output of the arrays and the charging of the batteries. They control the charge of the battery 20 as to reduee the loss of electrolyte and are interfaced with the network supervisory system to give overall visibility of power ae wall ae radio equipment performanee, ‘The batteries used are of a type with tubular electrodes and have an extra large reservoir ofeleetrolyte. Because of the extra volume of electrolyte only one station visit per year is required. Du ring each visit the level of electrolyte in the baltery is checked as is the output power of the radio transmitters. No routine maintenance is required. In addition to carrying telephony and data circuits, tho systom is used for television and radio program distribu tion. The TVD 34 digital TY and sound code operating at 4 Mbit’ from SAT is ‘used throughout the network as shown in Figure 2. Major stations contain both an enender and a decoder to allow MICROWAVES Ethiopia Figure The arrangementof te North-Bast digital microwave sytem with 17 solar powered repeaters. Tt may be the largest solar ponerod system ss operation. signals to be both originated and recei- ved while at minor stations a decoder anda branching unit allow the signal to be fed to the local transmitter. Because of the size and complexity of | andis su the netwark (41 stations, 22 of which fre unattended, over 1600 route kilo- meters, and seven major sections) the network supervision system isextreme- ly important. The TCS-200 alarm ond supervisory system has been adopted ‘which provides observation of up to 2 Figure 2, rv and sound signals distribution network. Major stations can receive and originate programs Mado Gasti Mandera Somalia Future Panattel link| teSomalia alarms, events or conditions per station and six remote commands per station. For supervision purposes the network is divided into two roughly equal halves vised from centres in Neiro- bi and Meru. Bach supervisory centre consists of the supervisory master unit with control keyboard and Visual Dis play Unit as well as an event. printer wwhich zecorde all alarms and actions in the network. An additional printer is remoted from Meru to Nairobi to give Maniera — C) neaterMICROWAVES overall network visibility there, ‘This sume oy naetwork will aso be used soon in the North of Kenya to provide common supervision and control of all majer digital microwave links in Kenya. AsKPTC’s first major digital transmis- sion eystem, the North-East network hhas served a’ the vehicle for training in digital technology. Near tho beginni of the project a number of high level staff engineers went to the manufactu- rer for several months of intensive study of digital equipment and techno- logy, as well as system installation and ‘operation. Upon their return, two stat? ‘members were charged with developing complete trainingsyllabus for KPICS Central Training School equipment for practical training. As a result, a complete in-country ‘training course ow runs regularly at the Central ‘Training School to provide fully trained staff for system planning, installation, sand operation. sponsibility for system installation and operation, with one engineor serving as KPTC's Clerk of Works for the project. ‘The Central Ropair Depot of KPTC is « very well equipped high level workshop capable of repairing virtually all equip ment in use within the Kenya network Although complete analogue transmis. sion equipment repair capability wasin place, a similar eapability for digital radio and multiplex was devoloped as n part of the North-East system. Inthe first step four experienced iechni- cians went to France for a period of theoretical and factory training. on equipment repair. This was followed by setting up and putting into operation a special section for the repair of digital radio and transmission equipment in- cledingall spares compensa et juipment that are required for the Sttonomous dopot Tovel spats of the equipment, 7 Reprinted from Comununications bnternational, May 1986