EMP/HPM protection where it counts

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Fitelnet specialises in EMP/HPM protection and designing, building, and maintaining radio and telecommunication networks, product development, and electrical assembly.

Fitelnet Oy

www.fitelnet.fi

Protection against the threat posed by electromagnetic pulses (EMP) resulting from intentional electromagnetic interference or a high-altitude nuclear detonation, as well as high-power microwave (HPM) weapons, is essential for the sensitive electronic equipment used by defence forces and official agencies. The voltage surges that result from these events can easily damage or destroy all unprotected electronic equipment or components in their path.

Fitelnet’s EM/HPMP-protected system cabinets – like this one designed as part of the Deployable COTS Network initiative – provide excellent attenuation up to 18 GHz.

System cabinets from Fitelnet have been designed to prevent such damage occurring. The company’s EMP/HPM-protected cabinets feature stainless steel for strength, durability, and light weight; and have been tested for excellent attenuation up to 18 GHz.

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. An EMP filter is under development for LAN connections and is expected to be available in 2009.

Cabinets and system shelters

A 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.

Fitelnet also supplies system shelters and trailers for crisis management operations, providing all the features required by military and official organisations when operating out in the field while giving access to an EMP/HPM-protected platform wherever needed. Shelters and trailers are designed on the basis of customer requirements and can include splinter cell protection, generators, air conditioning, humidity control, masts, and other capabilities.

Contracting and consulting

In addition to its EMP/HPM work, 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, for example.

Fitelnet’s system shelters are ideal for crisis management operations.

Fitelnet is one of the members of the DCN Group (www.dcn.fi), an expert consortium that offers a state-of-the-art, off-the-shelf solution for fast and efficient telecommunication systems for use in crises and natural catastrophes.

The integrated DCN (Deployable COTS Network) concept harnesses commercially available technology to provide fast, reliable, and highly flexible mobile data networks – for military and civilian crisis management teams, as well as commercial operators 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 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 2009)