Unique GSM coverage deployed at Sabie

In the Kruger National Park, South Africa, animals can be tracked by GSM cellular units. This enables the park keepers to keep a record of where the animals are at all times for security and safety.

The tracking project is supported by the latest technology in the shape of a high power point-to-multipoint frequency shifter repeater system – the first that AlanDick has commissioned for a client in South Africa.

The repeater system deployed for the telecommunications operator in the Sabie Game Reserve on the border of the Kruger National Park uses a master repeater module and five remote units to allow cellular users visiting the park to enjoy high levels of coverage - as well as animals to be tracked.

AlanDick recommended the use of high power frequency shifting repeaters as a cost-effective alternative to installing extra base stations as the telecommunications operator has an existing base station at Tsakani (in the reserve) and the costs of implementing five additional base stations at Elephant Planes, Chtwa-Chtwa, Nkoro, Vuyatela and Gowry Gates could not be justified by the amount of traffic they would each generate.

The contract gave AlanDick the perfect opportunity to demonstrate its expertise in designing and commissioning multipoint high power frequency shift repeater systems to provide the necessary coverage at the right price.

The system in active use in Kruger National Park takes the innovative approach of re-transmitting the GSM 900 signals from the original base station at GSM 1800 frequencies.

These GSM 1800 signals are then broadcast to the remote sites, where they are re-transmitted once again, this time at the original GSM 900 frequencies.

Using this innovative approach means that full use of the available GSM 900 and 1800 wavebands can be made, without any risk of interference between competing base station signals.

The client chose AlanDick for this contract because of our vast experience in repeater deployment across Africa, our design and commissioning team is probably the most experienced on the continent.  Our unique solution gave them a coverage pattern, which exceeded their expectations for the project.