The Aqaba Water Company (AWC), the official water treatment and management company of AqabaJordan, needed a high performance network that could cost-effectively connect the many components of their water wells network. After evaluating the cost and performance of wireless versus wired solutions, the AWC deployed Proxim’s wireless equipment to connect their critical network.

AWC is utilizing both Proxim’s point-to-multipoint (PtMP) and point-to-point (PtP) wireless equipment to create a private network to connect their water wells to a centralized supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) network, as an alternative solution to a costly leased-line or IP VPN solution. The Association for Contracting, Manufacturing and Project Management (ACMP) was selected by AWC as the systems integrator and managed the entire installation.

The AWC’s automated SCADA network interconnects all of the components of the water wells for effcient monitoring and control. The scope of the SCADA network – covering all wells – required a very high performance and cost effective solution. By deploying Proxim’s PtMP and PtP wireless solutions and taking advantage of Proxim’s centralized wireless management software, AWC saved over 300,000 JD (more than $422,000 USD) in up-front capital cost and about 15,000 JD (over $21,000 USD) annually in running cost compared to IP VPN Solutions.

“This network is extremely important as it provides the basis of our automated water treatment and management system for the entire Aqaba region. Therefore, we had to select a networking solution that would provide the utmost performance, security and value,” said Eng. Mwafaq Alawneh, Technical Support Manager for Aqaba Water Company. “Proxim’s equipment was the only solution that could provide similar performance to leased-line networks, but at a fraction of the cost. As a result, Proxim has provided us with a network that provides extremely high availability while saving us thousands per year.”

The first phase of the wireless SCADA deployment utilized Proxim’s Tsunami™ MP.11 PtMP and Tsunami QuickBridge® PtP solutions. The entire system is managed centrally by the ProximVision ES Wireless Network Management System, which gives AWC a complete view of their wireless network while providing rapid network deployment, mobile configuration and greater ease of use. This phase has enabled the management and control of the water flows and levels throughout the system. In the second stage of the deployment, AWC and ACMP will install additional Proxim systems to connect AWC’s offices, buildings, water pump stations and the water treatment plant. The second phase will also enable wireless video surveillance for the monitoring and security of both buildings and systems.

“At Proxim, our wireless broadband ecosystem enables high-performance connectivity for a broad range of systems because we provide a broad portfolio of wireless options to choose from. For deployments like AWC’s network that require a mix of both PtMP and PtP wireless connectivity,

Know more on Tsunami® QuickBridge®.11 Series

Know more on Tsunami™ MP.11 Series

“Proxim’s equipment was the only solution that could provide similar performance to leased-line networks, but at a fraction of the cost. As a result, Proxim has provided us with a network that provides extremely high availability while saving us thousands per year.”

– Eng. Mwafaq Alawneh, Technical Support Manager for Aqaba Water Company.

Proxim is a natural selection,” said Nishchal Batra, Sales Director, Asia & Middle East for Proxim Wireless. “Proxim provides the high performance comparable to wired leased-line systems, but with a much greater ROI, manageability and ease of deployment.”

Challenge:

• AWC needed to connect every well throughout their entire system
• Given the number of components that needed to be connected, wired solutions were cost prohibitive and would take far longer to deploy
• As it connected the wells to the central SCADA network, this was a mission-critical network that required high performance and reliability

Proxim solutions:

• Widespread Proxim PtMP and PtP deployment throughout the entire Aqaba region
• The first phase of the wireless SCADA deployment utilized Proxim’s Tsunami™ MP.11 PtMP and Tsunami QuickBridge® PtP solutions
• The entire system is managed centrally by the ProximVision ES Wireless Network Management System

Results:

• Proxim’s PtMP and PtP wireless equipment successfully connects AWC’s water wells to a centralized supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) network
• Initial savings of over 300,000 JD (more than $422,000 USD) in up-front capital cost over wired solutions
• Annual savings of 15,000 JD (over $21,000 USD) by avoiding leased-line costs