Utilities

Keeping essential information flowing at all times

The UK’s utility companies operate in a highly competitive field with a wide number of statutory obligations as well as millions of customers to satisfy with their demands for secure electric, gas and water supplies.

As in so many other areas of commercial activity, clear communication is an essential requirement for business success in the world of Utility management and supply. Once again, operating in remote locations, when so many people now rely on Internet access for information and communications, presents companies with severe problems.

That’s where Excelerate steps in to demonstrate the remarkable capability and capacity of their broadband satellite communication solutions. Take Yorkshire Water, a subsidiary of Kelda, by way of example. This major utility company manages the collection, treatment and distribution of water to domestic and business customers across Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire and parts of Derbyshire.

The company operates more than 700 water and sewage treatment works, 120 reservoirs and over 40,000 miles of water and sewerage mains, with many pipes dating back a hundred years. It’s up to Yorkshire Water to monitor and maintain the flow of water from inaccessible locations.

Using a combination of static and mobile broadband satellite solutions, this utility company is now able to send small endoscopic cameras down pipes,while the water is still flowing to inspect for problems. Real-time video footage is then relayed back to the operator’s lap-top or directly to HQ. Data capture and transfer has never been so easy.

Moreover the static satellite broadband solution that Excelerate provided also proved its worth during recent floods when it became the primary communication back-up system for Yorkshire Water’s HQ enabling all business continuity and contingency planning requirements to be met.