The majority of MTN’s sites have been equipped with battery backup systems to ensure there is enough power on site to run the systems for several hours when local power goes down. However, the frequency of stage three and four load shedding is resulting in batteries not having enough time to recharge.
“These batteries generally have a capacity of six to 12 hours, depending on the site category and require 12 to 18 hours to recharge, which in stage three and four load shedding is simply not happening,” explains Jacqui O’Sullivan, Executive: Corporate Affairs, MTN SA.
Excluding the amount spent on new batteries for new cell phone sites, MTN spent around R300 million in 2018 on batteries for existing sites. In addition to the batteries, MTN has 1800 generators currently in use and the company spent more than R120 million in diesel fuel in 2018, to power these generators.
Another significant additional cost of the load shedding is the extra on-site security that is needed to protect the batteries, generators and general site equipment from thieves and vandals. Network operators across the country have been battling sophisticated syndicates that have been stealing batteries daily. However, load shedding is seeing entire neighbourhoods cloaked in darkness at predictable times, which is offering criminals greater cover for their thieving.
“There is a high cost to the network providers and their customers, each time a battery is stolen. We have, for instance, had to spend in the region of R11m to replace batteries at 100 sites in Gauteng. More broadly, we have had to spend R285m on additional infrastructure to fix what was broken during the theft,” says O’Sullivan.
MTN has had to roll-out an extensive security programme focusing on visibility, detection and reaction to sites and this is being further boosted in the face of the current outages. Additional security is also required where mobile generators are deployed to protect those vital pieces of equipment.
The extent of the outages has placed a significant strain on MTN’s overall network resources and teams have had to be reassigned from growth projects to emergency management of sites, due to the load shedding.
The constant outages are also having a direct impact on the performance of the batteries. If stage four outages continue, the battery’s integrity is compromised because of the insufficient time to recharge and due to the excessive drain, on its power.
“Teams of technicians are being redeployed as and where required and additional shifts are being worked to restore and maintain connectivity, as quickly as possible, for our customers”, concludes O’Sullivan.
