M25 TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROJECT WINS AWARD
28 Jun 2002 03:11 PM
The M25 motorway's new telecommunications system, which enables
emergency services to respond quicker to incidents in the interest of
motorists' safety, has scooped a top communications industry award.
The agency has won the Networking Industry Project of the Year Award
for its successful use of telecommunications networks incorporating
the latest digital equipment connected to close circuit TV cameras on
the M25.
The cameras were installed as part of a £6 million project to provide
full CCTV coverage of the motorway in the interests of safety and to
help manage traffic flows on the motorway, which can be around
200,000 vehicles a day. The project received the accolade for meeting
an essential transport need.
The award was run by the magazine Network News. It recognises the
Highways Agency's achievement for its efficient use of optical fibre
in the transmitting of video pictures on the motorway.
Richard Eastman Highways Agency's divisional director for Network
Strategy, said:
"This scheme provides much needed CCTV coverage around the M25 and
will help the emergency services to quickly assess difficult
situations and respond faster to incidents as well as allowing the
five motorway traffic control centres to observe, more fully, what is
happening on the roads.
"We have worked in close partnership with 10 organisations, whose
assistance has been vital to ensure success. I would like to thank
everyone for their input.
"Transmission distances can be extended with digital technology
because the signal is easily regenerated. Changing to digital
technology was the most efficient way of working because this ensures
better use of fibre capacity."
Telecommunications network specialist Telindus designed a system
where the fibres used for transmission were reduced from eight to
six, allowing two fibres to be freed for use by the National Roads
Telecommunications Services (NRTS) project.
Peter Deacon, managing director of Telindus said: "This award
recognises Telindus' innovation and technical achievement in
providing a network that not only benefits the police and drivers but
gives good value for money."
Notes to Editors:
1. The Highways Agency is an Executive Agency of the Department for
Transport, which manages, maintains and improves the network of
trunk roads and motorways in England on behalf of the Secretary of
State. It works closely with other transport operators and with
local authorities to integrate the trunk road network with the rest
of England's roads and other forms of transport. More information
is available at www.highways.gov.uk
2. 70 additional CCTV cameras were set up around the M25 to add to
185 already operating on this route. For new HA initiatives such as
the Traffic Control Centre Project (TCC) and the National Radio
Telecommunications System (NRTS), the Highways Agency decided to
release extra fibre capacity using the CCTV scheme. The HA
converted the existing analogue transmission to a fully digital
system that included video compression technology.
3. The contract was awarded to Nuttall in February 2001. The main
contractor was Nuttall; the overall project designer and supervisor
was Atkins; the CCTV System Sub-Contractor: Tyco Integrated Systems
and the transmission network design sub-contractor was Pan-
European network integrator and solutions provider Telindus.
Issued on behalf of the Highways Agency by
South East Press and PR Team.
Media enquiries to Cosima Duggal on 01306 878442, email:
cosima.duggal@highways.gsi.gov.uk, or David Sanders on 01306 878160
email: david.sanders@highways.gsi.gov.uk
For Telindus contact Adele McIntosh at GCI UK on 0207 072 4148 or
email: amcintosh@gciuk.com