Telefónica, the telecommunications operator in the Spanish and Portuguese-speaking world, is the first major European telecom operator to specify Saft specialised NCX rechargeable nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) battery systems to provide reliable emergency back-up power for outdoor broadband cabinets that form a vital link in Spain’s fast-growing ADSL and VDSL network.
The initial order will cover locations in Andalucia, Extremadura and Levante - some of the hottest parts of Spain. The crucial factor for Telefónica in selecting the NCX batteries was their proven capability to deliver a long, predictable service life in demanding environmental conditions, since peak summer temperatures inside its cabinets can reach +60°C. In these severe conditions, the lifetime of the NCX battery is more than 10 years.
The 48V battery systems are being installed to provide up to four hours of back-up power for the outdoor telecoms cabinets. This will ensure continuity of Telefónica’s broadband services should the main utility supply be interrupted.
Saft has designed the specialised NCX telecom block battery to fulfil the demanding requirements of remote or outside telecom plants including local or access terminals, base transceiver stations, base station controllers, optical node units and so on. With a much longer life, predictable operation, and very low maintenance the NCX provides a substantial reduction in TCO (total cost of ownership) over the whole life of the outdoor telecoms cabinet compared with VRLA (valve regulated lead acid) batteries.
Furthermore, installation of the compact, modular NCX within standard outdoor cabinets is made simple since it fits most existing VRLA battery compartments with ease and uses the same charging equipment. Maintenance is also simplified thanks to a CWS (central watering system) that provides a single filling point to enable each cell to be filled to the correct level during watering operations.