WESTERN Power is evaluating its broadband supplier options for the management of its substations.
A Western Power spokesman said the existing PAPL service provided by Telstra would cease shortly.
“The link is very important to the entire network. If there is a substation problem there are about 50 substations in WA that convert high voltage electricity to lower voltages for household consumption,” he said,
“We are reviewing our options. It could be a different Telstra service or it could be using microwave communication or radio waves. Western Power has to find a broadband communication service to supply the stations.”
A Western Power spokesperson said the company could neither confirm nor deny whether it was in talks with regard to the purchase of an existing network. Industry speculation, however, suggests Western Power may be considering more than merely the supply of broadband technology to service power stations.
Several network providers operate in Perth, including some listed companies.
Western Power is already involved in the telecommunications market through its telco arm Bright Telecommunications, which has been running a 12-month pilot high-speed telecommunications trial in South Perth since last December.
