Efficient EMP/HPM protection

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Fitelnet is a specialist in EMP/HPM protection and designing, building, and maintaining radio and telecommunication networks, product development, and electrical assembly. The company is also part of a consortium offering a state-of-the-art solution for data transfer and integration during crises and natural catastrophes.

Fitelnet Oy

www.fitelnet.fi

Essential electronic equipment, especially that used by defence forces and the authorities, needs to be protected against the threat posed by electromagnetic pulses (EMPs) resulting from intentional electromagnetic interference or a high-altitude nuclear detonation, as well as high-power microwave (HPM) weapons. The voltage surges that result from these events can damage or destroy all unprotected electronic equipment or components in their path.

Fitelnet’s EM/HPMP-protected system cabinets are designed to provide excellent attenuation over a very wide frequency spectrum.

System cabinets from Fitelnet have been designed to prevent such damage occurring.

The company’s EMP/HPM-protected system cabinets are constructed of stainless steel for strength and durability, combined with light weight; and are designed and tested for excellent attenuation over a very wide frequency spectrum.

All interfaces and connectors, such as 2M transmission connectors, are EMP-protected and supplied to customer specifications. Optical interfaces can be used when higher rates are required. Interfaces are protected with Fitelnet’s advanced FAPS-8 filter, the most effective unit of its type on the market.

Flexible

Fitelnet’s cabinets are designed for flexibility, with options for rack and sub-rack configurations. Integration with commercial telecommunications equipment and products – such as TETRA base stations, transmission systems, links, or GSM – is fully supported.

The flexibility of Fitelnet’s solutions enables an EMP/HPM-protected platform to operate in a range of different environments.

A large variety of equipment can be protected within a cabinet, enabling an EMP/HPM-protected platform to operate in a range of environments. Cabinets can be used in fixed systems or integrated into vehicles and/or containers. Each solution is closely tailored to customers’ specific requirements. A modular, rack-based solution is offered for TETRA base stations (TBS).

EMP-protected system cabinets have already been supplied to the Finnish Defence Forces as part of their Deployable COTS Network (DCN) project.

Efficient

Fitelnet also provides a wide range of telecom contracting and consulting services. These primarily focus on TETRA technology, but also cover other technologies as well; and Fitelnet has provided indoor coverage planning services for a number of demanding sites around the world.

In addition to consulting and planning, installation, commissioning, and system integration, Fitelnet also offers product development, project management, project export, testing, supervision, and maintenance services.

DCN – Deployable COTS Network

The integrated DCN (Deployable COTS Network) concept harnesses commercially available technology to provide fast, reliable, and highly flexible mobile data transfer networks – for military and civilian crisis management teams, as well as commercial operations working under particularly demanding conditions.

The DCN Group uses the latest COTS data transfer technologies, and combines the best of commercial systems with the best in military data transfer networks – and is the world’s only provider of mobile, high-capacity data transfer platforms for network solutions, including GSM, TETRA, UMTS, HF, and SATCOM.

Extensively based on the operational conditions and test experience of the Finnish Defence Forces, with whom the underlying system was developed, DCN’s COTS technology is constantly being developed to ensure that it remains capable of offering the best.

Interoperability and availability

The DCN concept is based on standardised products offering full ITU-T and NATO interoperability and easy transportability. Designed to meet wartime operational requirements, it is more than a match for all crisis-type conditions.

Security

High levels of security have been built in from the start and a number of different security configurations can be implemented, enabling a DCN solution to meet military and civilian, as well as mixed military-civilian needs.
Subscribers can securely access a network through a COTS access node using standard interfaces.

Survivability

The modular structure of the DCN concept has been designed with excellent survivability in mind. Access networks can be dispersed over a large area, avoiding the creation of critical nodes and enabling a network to be managed from any node. This modularity provides valuable flexibility and makes it ideal for both national and international environments.
System units are integrated into a transportable, EMP/HPM-protected system cabinet (SDH cable system unit, PDH radio link indoor unit, xDSL modem, TETRA base station unit).
The field system shelter is equipped with COTS-level temperature control and meets tough vibration tolerance requirements.

Connectability

Core and last-mile connections are implemented using microwave, radio, optical fibre, and copper cable technology.
An HF radio station, compliant with the STANAG 5066 standard and featuring integrated LAN technology, can be connected to the network.
Voice services are implemented with voice-over IP technology, while router networks and data systems use IP technology.

> Markku Valkealahti

(Published in HighTech Finland 2008)