GRA Networks Australia continues to support 5G telecoms network upgrades

On behalf of Ericsson, our GRA Networks Australia team is contracted to upgrade the existing 3G/4G network and install new 5G technology for both Optus and Vodafone (eJV).

The suburb for this upgrade is Delahey North, where there is an existing Broadcast Australia 30m high Rocla concrete monopole, with Optus, Vodafone and Telstra antennas mounts present.

GRA Networks Australia is supporting all aspects of these upgrade works supplying staff including Riggers, Technicians, Electricians and Civil Engineers. Also liaising with Broadcast Australia’s (BAI) communication management team, Melbourne DMC’s team, and the security to plan and coordinate this upgrade work, which is a very important element of eJV’s remit.

The broad scope included, delivering materials including all necessary approvals from Broadcast Australia, working at heights, removing and installation of new steelwork, compound extension works and electrical upgrades.

This was a very demanding site which required a high level of stakeholder liaison and management to ensure it ran as smoothly as possible, in accordance with strict site access protocols and process requirements. The project team also had very challenging weather conditions during these works.

The works were also performed under an SLO (Single Long Outage), meaning the duration of the time both Vodafone and Optus were off air was minimised, whilst upgrading the site.

In completion of this project, the team at GRA Networks Australia completed all works to a high-quality standard, with high levels of professionalism and no reported safety concerns.

The project involved:

• Delivering all steelwork, materials, and equipment. This required careful planning during weekdays to complete the delivery, in full coordination with the BAI communication team to provide the necessary processing lead time prior to accessing site
• An electrical upgrade in order to install the new group meter panel on H frame and new Optus 63A 3P MCB as load control. Also, installation of new 100A site protection device
• Network outages, fully decommissioning existing technologies, and equipment internally and externally. Upgrading all equipment internally and externally, with new steelwork, antennas, RRUs (Remote Radio Units) and internal BBU (Base Band Units), and all DC equipment. Commissioning and integrating the new technology into the Network, via support from the RIC (Remote Integration Centre)
• Compound extension work including extension of existing palisade fencing to the north recline to add a new ICS industries Thermocab 5-bay outdoor cabinet into the BAI compound located inside the Sydenham MF site
• Providing all OHS and HSE standards and submission of post-completion documentation on the client submission portal (site handler)

GRA Networks Australia’s scope included:

• Removing existing antennas and steelwork from the existing monopole
• Installing new steelwork and new lad-saf on existing monopole
• Installing new Optus RRU8863, Vodafone AZQJ and AHPCDB antennas to the newly installed steelwork
• Installing new Optus and VHA ancillary equipment and hybrid trunk cables
• Swapping existing eJV 4G panel antennas with new 4G panel antenna (RRVV2VVT4S$-65DR10) on new longer antenna mounts
• Installation of a new group meter box on new H frame to host relocated Telstra meter plus new Optus meter with site SPD

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GRA Networks Australia Electrical Project progressing well at Belmore

GRA Networks Australia’s Electrical department has completed SEQUENCE-A of its Electrical and Data scope of works at Belmore Special School, as part of the Victorian School Building Authority, ‘Better Schools Project’ for builder S.J Higgins.

The works at Belmore Special School are being conducted in two sequences, which shall enable the normal operation of the school, throughout the entire building process.

The successful completion of SEQUENCE-A comprised of a renovation of the senior staff offices and school administration area and one new building consisting of:

• four new classrooms
• two assisted bathrooms
• two general bathrooms
• two break-out rooms
• two teacher prep rooms
• activity space
• IT Room
• Student library

GRA Networks Australia’s Electrical department started SEQUENCE-B in May 2023, with the anticipated delivery completion date in July 2023.

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Ericsson Optus 5G Project Completion

GRA Networks Australia has completed its 5G upgrade at this first eJV site in just 4-weeks. The site is at the corner of a busy metro area, so stakeholder management was key to its success, with the GRA Networks team liaising with the Town Council, Tram company, Power Authority, Crane Operator and Welding and Traffic Management teams respectively each day. A pre-start meeting was held each morning across all stakeholders, to ensure everyone was working safely and collaboratively.

GRA Networks Australia’s project deliverables included:

• Replacing the existing steelwork frame
• Installation of new trunk cables
• New Antenna installation and RRU’s for VHA and Optus
• A power system upgrade
• Site integration and test calling

GRA Networks Australia is a multi-disciplined provider offering a comprehensive suite of services including design, construction, installation, commissioning and maintenance of both fixed line and mobile communications networks. As a full service telecommunications contractor, GRA Networks provides a comprehensive range of services from upgrading existing infrastructure, to building new mobile phone towers and other wireless network infrastructure.

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Melbourne PTV RAN Refresh – Build Services

GRA Networks Australia is delighted to have been selected as telecoms build partner for the award of a contract for SMR work, to swap out old “end of life” Siemens BTS hardware and install new Nokia Flexiedge BTS hardware within a new Eltek BTS.

There are 109No sites in the program, which will run over the next eight months and the cutovers are limited to a 2-hour window either within ALBF or under occupation of the line. Works include:

• Site make ready works (installation of New BTS and equipment)
• Installation and commissioning
• Integration and activation
• Decommissioning of legacy equipment
• Site acceptance

GRA Networks Australia has a team of highly skilled telecommunications professionals includes project managers, telecommunications engineers, telecommunications riggers, fibre splicers, electricians and technicians.

The range of services GRA Networks Australia offer includes:

• 3G, 4G and 5G equipment installation and commissioning
• IBC and DAS systems installation and commissioning
• ‘Green Field’ builds
• Wi-Fi network installation and commissioning
• Transmission links installation and commissioning
• Earthing systems installation and testing
• Fibre and copper networks distribution and transmission networks
• Tower construction, retrofit, maintenance and inspection
• Condition surveying and reporting
• Emergency response
• Operation and maintenance services
• Consultancy services

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GRA Networks Australia Completes 5G Telecoms Installation for Nokia

GRA Networks Australia has begun works after successfully signing a number of framework agreements with Nokia.

The first installation of New 5G Technology has already been completed on behalf of Nokia for the Vodafone Network. This included the RAN upgrade of existing communication sites to support the new 5G technology, with all works conducted under a 7-day SLO (Single Long Outage).

The completed scope included:

• Removal of all old steelwork and installation of new steelwork
• Removal of all old antennae and installation of new antennae
• Removal of all external equipment and installation of new RRU’s
• Removal of all old feeders/trunk cables and installation of new trunk cables
• Swapping-out of the existing PSU
• Swapping-out of the existing BTS equipment and replacing with Nokia BTS
• Construction of a new hoarding around the shelter
• Site integration and test calling

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Ericsson 5G Upgrade Projects Success for GRA Networks Australia

GRA Networks Australia has been awarded a framework agreement with Ericsson to install 5G Technology on both Optus and Telstra Networks, including the upgrade of existing communication towers to support the new 5G technology.

GRA Networks Australia’s scope covers the upgrade of headframes to accommodate extra equipment inclusive of new fibre trunk cables and also internal power upgrades.

Specific project deliverables include:

• Removal and installation of new headframes
• New RRUs
• Installation of trunk cables, internal DC and patching equipment
• New baseband units for 5G
• New iDCDP for RRU power
• Power system unit upgrades
• Site integration and test calling

GRA Networks Australia is delighted to be delivering this framework for Ericsson as an approved supplier and look forward to being able to develop this relationship over the next few years.

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GRA Networks Australia Awarded “National 2018 Best Technical Service Award” for Huawai Australia

We are thrilled to announce that GRA Networks has scooped the “National 2018 Best Technical Service Award” for Huawai Australia.

Ivan Holloway CEO of GRA Networks said proudly:

“This would not be possible without all the hard work and dedication of the entire team and shows how far we have come as a business over the last few years.  We look forward to successfully continue deploying for Huawei and our various clients across the country, ready for the next big Telecoms Rollout, 5G!”

GRA Networks is a full service telecommunications contractor and provides a comprehensive range of services from upgrading existing infrastructure, to building new mobile phone towers and other wireless network infrastructure. The range of services on offer includes:

• 3G and 4G equipment installation and commissioning
• IBC and DAS systems installation and commissioning
• ‘Green Field’ builds
• Wi-Fi network installation and commissioning
• Transmission links installation and commissioning
• Earthing systems installation and testing
• Fibre and copper networks distribution and transmission networks
• Tower construction, retrofit, maintenance and inspection
• Condition surveying and reporting
• Emergency response
• Operation and maintenance services
• Consultancy services

GRA Networks’ team of highly skilled telecommunications professionals includes project managers, telecommunications engineers, telecommunications riggers, fibre splicers, electricians and technicians.

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GRA Networks Australia Appoint Project Manager for Telecoms Division in NSW

As part of GRA Networks Australia’s continued growth and expansion, Sachendra Shrestha has recently joined its New South Wales (NSW) division and will manage Telecommunications Operations in the state.

Sachendra is a very experienced Telecommunications Professional with nearly 15 years industry experience, having worked on a range of projects overseas and locally.

He has a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering in addition to a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronics Telecommunications.

We would like to take this opportunity to welcome Sachendra and wish him every success.

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GRA Networks Australia Complete Telecoms Project in New South Wales

GRA Networks has completed its first telecommunications job in NSW, the site is located in Hat Head which is on the coast and is 5 hours north of Sydney.

The work was completed on behalf of Huawei for Optus and is part of the RANCAP Project.

GRA Networks deployed a skilled team to complete the works onsite, the work involved the upgrade of an existing Optus site and included the installation of new Remote Radio Units (RRU’s) on an existing triangular head frame.

The work also included the installation of a new trunk cable from the shelter to the monopole and antennas.

The works form part of a geographical extension to the existing Victoria contract held by GRA Networks, which provides their client Huawei with a fully project managed telecoms service, creating a delivery solution for the upgrade and installation of telecoms equipment.

Huawei are the largest telecommunications manufacturer in the world, employing 170,000 people – working on behalf of Optus, one of the largest telecommunications providers in Australia.

As a full service telecommunications contractor, GRA Networks provides a comprehensive range of services from upgrading existing infrastructure, to building new mobile phone towers and other wireless network infrastructure. Our team of highly skilled telecommunications professionals includes project managers, telecommunications engineers, telecommunications riggers, fibre splicers, electricians and technicians.

Colm Shevlin, General Manager of GRA Networks added:

“GRA Networks Australia has shown yet again its versatility in delivering another successful project for Huawei. With offices in Melbourne and now Sydney, we are well placed to continue the regional growth of our telecoms division.”

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GRA Networks Australia Achieve Delivery Excellence Against All Odds

Despite some of the harshest weather conditions, Australian Telecoms Infrastructure Contractor GRA Networks, has achieved some incredible success on behalf of their clients Huawei and VHA with the completion of two mast sites in Victoria: Falls Creek and Bright.

Falls Creek and Bright are resort towns in North Eastern Victoria, Australia and well known as alpine and cross-country ski centres.

Not only was the weather extremely challenging, these high-profile projects were also logistically challenging due to the mountainous location.

Delivering the works, GRA Networks Australia Project Manager Craig Gibson, used all of his twenty years’ major telecoms project experience and knowhow to devise and deliver a unique and ‘out of the box’ solution.

Due to the difficult terrain, snow patrol equipment was used to transfer materials and equipment to the mast location at night, when the ski slopes were closed. The field team could only access the work site via the resort ski lifts.

Once the equipment had been finally delivered, installation works then commenced. The battle with the conditions was intense, ice and snow had to be removed from the monopole and equipment daily.

The timeframe was extremely challenging for GRA Networks Australia’s specialist rigging team, particularly as all of the equipment was installed using only slings, ropes and pulleys, and with these carefully planned and brilliantly effective techniques, the installation progressed successfully, whilst also ensuring that no damage was caused whatsoever to any of the existing equipment above the work zone.

Site welfare and site safety as always was the highest of priority for GRA’s staff – and this project was no different. Close monitoring was kept by Craig and his site supervisory team, to ensure that staff wellbeing and workforce safety were monitored every hour, with regular breaks and shift changes taking place more frequently than other typical telecom sites, mainly due to the freezing weather as well as the altitude.

Craig was very quick to heap deserved praise on his team for the contract success saying:

“Again you have gone above and beyond to get these sites over the line for our clients. Both sites had very tight timeframes and were very high profile for both Huawei and VHA. Weather conditions made these jobs even more of a challenge, but everyone worked together to make it happen.”

The project team from the client Huawei was also delighted with GRA Networks Australia’s efforts at these challenging sites and were quoted saying:

“I would like to thank you all on behalf of Huawei as without the team effort made with these sites they would not have been completed. Make no mistake guys, your efforts to deliver these sites and others is recognised and very much appreciated. We do not say it enough but trust me it is thought about every day, as every day has its own challenges.

“Keep up the great work team!”

GRA Networks Australia offers infrastructure contracting services on a design and construct basis.

We operate in the telecommunications, utility and energy sectors working on multi-disciplinary projects to meet the needs of our clients and provide cost-effective solutions to complex problems.

Led by experienced professionals with in depth knowledge of these sectors and supported by skilled and dedicated in house teams, we offer a fully integrated solution, allowing us to provide clients with a unique turnkey offering that is value adding.

This inclusive approach allows our clients to benefit from expertise in a number of sectors and ensures they receive the most appropriate advice and solution for their schemes.

With a skilled, multi-disciplinary workforce providing a broad range of services and operating in tandem with a highly experienced management team, GRA Networks is geared to meet our clients exacting demands.

Bespoke solutions for individual client requirements are central to GRA Networks’ offering.

We offer a fully planned and managed design and construct service, which includes materials procurement and logistics management.

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