March 2005

eCentric Switch Improves Power Supply Redundancy Capability

eCentric Switch has begun a project to install connectivity to a second 900 KVA generator at our primary site in Newlands to further protect us against expected power supply problems during the winter months, while the Koeberg Nuclear facility is closed for refuelling and maintenance.

This project entails upgrading the existing connectivity from our 40 KVA UPS to the North Wing generator, through the installation of an intelligent switch which, in the event of the North Wing generator being unavailable, will automatically cutover to the South Wing generator. Furthermore an intelligent monitoring system will be installed which will provide instant notification and continuous monitoring when any of the redundancy services are triggered.

During the 16 power cuts we experienced during the recent outages, with a combined downtime of over 65 hours, eCentric Switch experienced only one occasion when the generator failed to start-up automatically and we were obliged to revert to our back-up site to continue to provide services to our retail customers.

We have also completed a second link directly to S.A Post Office data centre in Pretoria to bypass a SAPO Cape network node that has inadequate power supply protection.

Michael Wilson, eCentric Switch Client Services Manager, is confident that on completion of this project, eCentric Switch will be able to cope with any single power outage in the Western Cape that lasts for at least 48 hours. This together with the business continuity program and disaster recovery centre already in place, means that eCentric Switch will be able to provide a high quality continuous service to our clients.

The direct cost of the project is R72,000 and will take approximately 5 weeks to complete, commissioning is targeted for April 13th 2006.

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