Page 49 - AIB | The Chanel | Issue 1 2012

The initial contract was awarded in
November 2007 for 470 sites. A
further contract was awarded in
March 2009, following Arqiva’s
acquisition of the former National
Grid Wireless, to extend the number
of sites to just over 1,000, significantly
increasing the programme for both
Arqiva and Babcock.
Babcock’s work allows the
delivery of DSO to mainly rural
areas, complementing the coverage
from the UK’s main TV
transmitting stations, making
Babcock a critical part of the overall
programme. For example, in the
area of Selkirk, within the Border
region, over 50% of terrestrial
television viewers live in rural
areas and rely on the relay stations
for digital coverage.
CHALLENGING SITES
The installation of the first Borders
site at Bonchester Bridge was a
tense experience, with the site
needing to be back on air in time
for the six o‘clock news, ten hours
after the work started. Installations
continued through the summer of
2008, with each site providing its
own unique challenge – from
extensive tree cutting to fitting
temporary mains supplies.
Bryan Coombes,
Communications Director at
Babcock, said: “Babcock goes
beyond the delivery of traditional
ww
w.babcock.co.uk
“
”
Viewers
in rural
areas rely
on relay
stations
for digital
coverage
THE CHANNEL | ISSUE 1 2012 | 49
n 2007, Babcock won a
prestigious contract with
Arqiva to install low power
Digital Terrestrial TV
(DTTV) transmitter cabins
at television relay sites in
15 regions throughout the
UK, as part of the Digital
Switchover (DSO) programme to
be completed by the end of 2012.
Babcock was selected by Arqiva,
which is rolling out DTTV to 98.5%
of the UK population, to support
critical engineering, infrastructure
and project management
capabilities. Babcock Project
Manager Simon Adams reports on
what is involved
broadcast services. From the design,
build and systems integration of
bespoke projects like this, to working
in partnership with customers to
plan for the future, we are not
limited by the boundaries of existing
processes, technologies or knowledge.”
1,000MILESTONE
In November 2009, Babcock
completed its 500th installation at
Portishead, Somerset in the HTV
West Region. And two years later
that total reached the 1,000 site
milestone through the completion
of the installation at Portslade near
Brighton.
In early October 2011, the
project’s last rack manufacture and
testing was completed at Babcock’s
Engineering, Manufacturing and
Testing facility located in Ashchurch.
Production was ramped up
achieving an output of eighty sites
a month in 2009. Manufacture has
included liaison with the supply
chain, including those in Europe to
co‐ordinate deliveries, identify
issues and expedite their speedy
resolution.
CRITICAL TASKS
Installations bring together a number
of skills and require careful planning
to bring the disciplines together at
the same time. Replacement cabin
sites often require extensive civil
engineering works in advance of
the installation to extend concrete
bases and install feeder ducts as
well as installation of new RF
feeders. On installation day, several
critical tasks must be completed for
a successful installation. These key
tasks include: offloading a new
cabin by lorry mounted cranes or
other specialist vehicle; testing and
connection of electrical supplies;
refection of gantry and installation
of feeders; and the installation of a
broadcast rack and equipment and
commissioning of the complete
system.
With its broad expertise in
wireless infrastructure, engineering
and programme management,
Babcock is delivering all aspects of
the low power requirement ‐
logistics, low power transmitter
cabins and associated system
integration, and asset
decommissioning. Babcock and
Arqiva have developed a
partnering programme to ensure
successful delivery of this project,
on time and within budget.
TEAMWORK
From my perspective, this has been
a very challenging and busy
project. I think success has been
achieved through good teamwork,
partnering with Arqiva, and a lot of
hard graft. And a goodmanufacturing
team at Ashchurch and a hard‐
working project management team
have kept the installers really well
supported. Installation teams have
travelled the length and breadth of
the country carrying out work in all
weathers with locations ranging
from windswept hills and wet
islands to rooftops and even a
cathedral. All in all, it is a great
achievement that everyone should
feel proud of. ■
I
DELIVERING
DSO