THE POWER BEHIND THE FIRST 3G NETWORK IN EUROPE

The launch of Manx Telecom`s third generation (3G) mobile phone service - the first in Europe - brings the prospect of services such as video telephony, video download and interactive gaming to mobile devices. To maintain the highest availability of power, Manx Telecom, which holds licences to run the fixed, mobile and 3G services on the Isle of Man, has turned to Invensys Powerware to provide power protection solutions for its core IP.

Phase two of the 3G switch is planned to be powered by an Invensys Intergy midi system, a high capacity 24V or 48V DC power system, designed for central office, tandem, regional, gateway and other major switches. Built for master/slave parallel connection for higher outputs, the midi system has the versatility and ease of commissioning of the Invensys Intergy range, while providing sufficient capacity for large communications power applications.

Manxs network development manager Roy Maddrell picked Invensys Powerware from a choice of three recommended suppliers based on their record with Manx Telecoms former parent company BT. Now part of the mm02 group, Manx have continued their relationship with Powerware. We chose Invensys Powerware because they offered the best deal value-for-money wise as well as in terms of product. I was satisfied that their products have already been through all the technical evaluation procedures required by BT for their preferred suppliers," said Roy.

As well as Manx Telecom retaining over 50,000 mobile phone customers on the island, it also has a high quality internet services portfolio and is a key player in the Isle of Man governments strategy to develop the islands potential as an offshore e-commerce centre. As the islands sole telecommunication provider, Manx Telecom has the responsibility of keeping its phone systems operational and its network servers up 100 percent of the time. A fundamental ingredient necessary to achieve this is reliable power.

A discussion about Manxs power protection needs with Bata Matic, key accounts manager at Invensys Powerware, was followed by a site visit to assess the suitability of the location for the UPS units. A UPS was needed to support Manx Telecoms core IT operation including their billing and customer care systems and IP services, and would replace an older UPS which no longer had the capacity to protect the diverse equipment now needed to supply 24/7 internet services for the islanders. With many critical servers to be kept up and running, Manx Telecom chose the Powerware® 9315 (80kVA) UPS to support its mission critical services. The PW 9315 is a series 9 three-phase double conversion online UPS, delivering industrial performance and advanced communication capabilities for critical information technology applications. The PW 9315 was an ideal solution for Manx Telecoms IT operation. The highest availability of electrical power is what matters most here. The double conversion technology in the 9315 converts AC power to DC and back to AC again, producing clean, pure power to the equipment eliminating common power problems like surges, spikes, brownout and other such conditions," said Bata.

With the continuing growth of Internet services and introduction of web hosting facilities, further new power protection systems with additional capacity to support the new equipment now in place was needed. Once again, Manx turned to Powerware to provide the solution and purchased two 9340 80KVA UPS working in a parallel mode.

Demand for our web hosting facilities is growing rapidly and with many large organisations such as leading e-gaming companies and finance corporations relying on us, we cannot afford to have any equipment at anytime down due to power problems. The cost for the two units is a secondary issue when you consider how much is at risk, " said Roy Maddrell, Manx

Our working relationship with Powerware was very easy during our initial installation," said Nick Atcheson, power engineer for Manx Telecom. He continued, The field engineers were very professional and approachable, so we had no doubts about asking them back to work with us again."

The most recent installation, a Powerware® 9305 (30kVA) unit, replaced an older non Invensys UPS with to protect the equipment in Manx Telecoms satellite earth station. The PW 9305 is specifically designed to protect computers and other critical equipment in todays centralised server rooms from the nine most common power problems. The PW 9305 can protect a variety of servers and communication devises located in a single room or limited area, which results in cost savings in power protection.

To sustain peak performance, power protection equipment, just like all other machinery must be regularly maintained. Even the most superior UPSs need to be serviced, whether its preventive maintenance or an urgent need. All the PW UPS units and the DC equipment at Manx Telecom are covered by a full service contract with Invensys Powerware service organisation in the UK. This includes batteries, parts and labour with a 24/7 six-hour response. Powerwares service packages are managed centrally but delivered locally having enormous benefits for customers whom can now centralise the management of their service agreements. Designed to provide all essential services, customers can add a variety of options to tailor the packages to their specific needs, including services like Powerware's Full On-line Remote Service (FORS), whereby the UPSs connect directly to the nearest Powerware service centre for remote monitoring and maintenance.

We have the confidence that Invensys is a major player and can provide the support we require together with routine maintenance, said Roy Maddrell. If you consider how much is at risk and why you purchased a UPS in the first place, running your UPS without regular maintenance is a recipe for disaster." He added, Invensys have understood all of our requirements, responding positively to our enquiries and have worked with us to resolve issues."

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For more information about Powerware UPS and other power protection products, please visit www.powerware.co.uk

Invensys Powerware
Invensys Powerware is a leading global provider of power solutions. Offering the broadest range of product and services available today, Invensys Powerware integrates a full line of AC and DC power systems, power conversion products, telephone line surge suppression, power management software, remote monitoring, turnkey integration services and site support, providing a seamless solution. Powerware systems and services increase enterprise-wide systems availability and are utilised in local and wide area networking, data and voice over IP, co-location facilities, fixed-line and wireless communication networks, and industrial manufacturing. Invensys Powerware is headquartered in Raleigh, NC, and is part of Invensys plc.

Invensys plc
Invensys plc, the international production technology and energy management group, specialises in helping companies to improve efficiency, performance and profitability. With close to 76,000 employees, Invensys is headquartered in London, England. Our Production Management businesses work closely with customers in order to drive up performance of their production assets and maximise the return on investments in product technologies. The division includes Foxboro, Wonderware, Triconex, APV, Eurotherm and Baan and it addresses the oil, gas, and chemicals; food beverage and personal healthcare; and discrete and hybrid manufacturing sectors. Our Energy Management businesses actively work with clients involved in both the supply and consumption of energy, developing systems using innovative technologies that improve the reliability and security of power supplies. The division includes Energy Solutions, Metering Systems, Home, Appliance and Climate Controls and Powerware and focuses on markets connected with power and energy infrastructure and commercial and residential buildings.