Equipment in the field.
WHAT IS EXPOSED
Towers and masts Antennas and radios Fibre routes and cabinets Power equipment Site buildings
WHAT DAMAGES IT
Weather: wind, lightning, rain
Theft and vandalism Road works and excavation Vehicle impact Vegetation
WHY EXCAVATION DESERVES EMPHASIS
Fibre cuts from unrelated construction are the commonest cause of major outages.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH
Accurate route records Marking where required Relationships with authorities and contractors working in the area
WHAT TO DO
Register your routes with whoever coordinates excavation, where such arrangements exist.
WHAT TOWERS AND MASTS REQUIRE
Structural adequacy for the loading Proper foundation Lightning protection and earthing Aviation marking, where required Periodic inspection
WHY EARTHING SPECIFICALLY
Lightning destroys network equipment, and inadequate earthing is the usual reason.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH
Proper earthing at every site, tested.
WHAT TO PROTECT
Equipment behind surge protection.
WHAT SECURITY REQUIRES
Fencing and locking Anchoring of removable equipment Monitoring, where justified Local arrangements
WHY LOCAL ARRANGEMENTS
Community relationships protect sites more effectively than fences.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH
Relationships with people near unattended sites.
WHAT TO MAINTAIN
An asset register: what is installed, where, when, and its condition.
WHAT TO INSPECT
Sites, on a schedule.
WHY
Deterioration is invisible remotely.
