The latest addition to our portable telecommunications equipment
Filed under: community, innovation, networks, radio, technology
A couple of years ago we launched our MEOW® (Mobile Exchange on Wheels), a portable ADSL 2+ enabled exchange hut on a trailer that we deploy to provide temporary communication in the event that a natural disaster destroys an existing Telstra exchange.
Following the floods in Brisbane in 2011, we deployed a temporary MEOW® to ensure our customers had service while we fixed the damaged infrastructure. However, these floods got us thinking – what improvements could we make to the MEOW to help us deploy them faster and therefore reduce the time our customers are without service?
I’d like to introduce MEOW® Mark II, the latest addition to our stable of portable telecommunications equipment.
MEOW® Mark II is smaller than its predecessor, constructed from existing ISAM (intelligent services access manager) and CMUX (customer multiplexer) cabinets which not only reduces the cost, but also makes them easier to tow and therefore quicker to manoeuvre into place. Each MEOW® Mark II provides up to 330 landline services and 330 ADSL 2+ services.
The MEOW that we mobilised during the Brisbane floods was a unit from Victoria which was not configured for Queensland numbering, this meant the 07 area code needed to be dialled, even for local calls within the Brisbane area. This was not only inconvenient but also difficult to communicate to customers.
Now with one of these new MEOWs built especially for Queensland and based in Brisbane, customers will not have to dial the full area code when the unit is deployed anywhere in Queensland. We have a similar MEOW® Mark II also setup in NSW ready for action.
We wanted to new MEOW® Mark II to be highly visible and let customers know it’s purpose, I am pleased to say that with its branding and colour we think it will stand out in any terrain. With the highly visible Telstra ‘T’ on the top of the unit it will even be seen by passing helicopters.
® trade mark of Telstra Corporation Limited
Related links:
- Satellite Cell on Wheels or as we like to call it our ‘SatCOW’
- Another technological opportunity for Telstra’s Next G™ network
- SatCoW innovation quickly connects a snow community back on the air
- When disaster strikes, Telstra sends in the TECKs
I was very proud to be associated with the project, as part of the Brand Channels Team at Telstra we worked with the project team to develop appropriate branding for an emergency response vehicle.
Call me a “geek” if you will, but this is so totally cool…
Technology never ceases to amaze. Well done, Telstra!
Congratulations Telstra, I think this is a brilliant concept! As a former emergency services worker in rural Australia I cannot tell you how many times something like this would have helped during various crises that occurred in our area. Communications has always been a problem when something of significance occurs in a community with the biggest problem being isolation. I am curious about one thing, how long does it take to get to an area say 400 -800 klms from a capital city?