Shadrina S.S.
PROBLEMS OF COMMUNICATION IN THE FAR NORTH AND WAYS TO SOLVE THEM BY THE EXAMPLE OF THE YAMALO-NENETS AUTONOMOUS OKRUG *
Аннотация:
the article discusses current issues of providing mining enterprises and settlements of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District with high-quality, uninterrupted communication, the technology used to build the transport infrastructure and the problems arising for telecom operators
Ключевые слова:
communication lines, services, Internet, economy, extractive industries
УДК 654.07
Shadrina S.S.
Deputy Commercial Director of Yamaltelecom JSC
(Salekhard, Russia)
PROBLEMS OF COMMUNICATION
IN THE FAR NORTH AND WAYS TO SOLVE
THEM BY THE EXAMPLE OF THE
YAMALO-NENETS AUTONOMOUS OKRUG
Abstract: the article discusses current issues of providing mining enterprises and settlements of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District with high-quality, uninterrupted communication, the technology used to build the transport infrastructure and the problems arising for telecom operators.
Keywords: communication lines, services, Internet, economy, extractive industries.
The Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug (YNAO) is one of the most important strategic regions of Russia. The district is one of the leading Russian regions in terms of hydrocarbon reserves, especially natural gas and oil. The YNAO contains over 80% of Russia's proven natural gas reserves and 22% of the world's reserves. They have discovered 238 gas, gas condensate, oil, and oil and gas condensate fields, of which 100 are being developed and 138 are under exploration. In 2021 alone, gas production in the YNAO amounted to 617.5 bcm, which is 13% higher than in 2020. Gas condensate production increased by 16.3% compared to 2020 and amounted to 27.8 million tons. In 2021, 36.1 million tons of oil were produced in the YNAO [1]. The contribution of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District to the development of the Arctic zone is significant: the share of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District in the gross regional product (GRP) of the Arctic zone of Russia is 53%; the share of the Autonomous District in the volume of investment in fixed capital of the Arctic zone is 72%; 1/3 of all projects from the list of strategic in the Arctic zone belongs to Yamal.
Fig. 1. Structure of the gross regional product
of YNAO according to Rosstat 2021 year [2].
Analyzing the contribution of YNAO to the Russian economy, the district can be called one of the key regions of the Russian Federation, so the issue of providing oil and gas production enterprises and settlements with high-quality communication services is also of strategic importance. The choice of technology for building communication networks in the Far North conditions depends on many factors: severe climatic conditions, difficult access to gas and oil well clusters, remoteness of fields from each other and from administrative centers, availability or absence of railways and motor roads, availability of power lines, cost of materials. Considering these and other factors, the following transport infrastructure construction technologies are widespread in the Arctic zone, including the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District: radio relay communication, fiber-optic and satellite communication.
Below I will describe the main advantages and disadvantages of the types of communication that have become widespread in Yamal.
Radio relay lines of line-of-sight (RRL) - are lines that provide transmission of telecommunications signals in open space between ground stations located on the route of the RRL one relative to another at line-of-sight distance between the antennas of these stations [3]. The distance between neighboring stations (span length) depends on the terrain and the elevation of the antennas. Usually it is chosen close or equal to the line-of-sight distance. Theoretically, the length of the span is about 40-70 km at a height of 60-100 meters. However, in practice, given the presence of significant natural obstacles on the radar route, as well as signal attenuation due to climatic features of the north (frequent precipitation in the form of rain, snow, fog), the distance of flights should be maintained 20-40 km from each other [4].
Radio relay lines have the following advantages: the ability to provide Internet in inaccessible regions, for example, in swampy terrain, permafrost conditions; speed of deployment of communication networks; lack of wires, the possibility of self-reservation of channels, as well as backup optical networks during cable damage. RRL is an ideal solution for the organization of trunk channels of communication in difficult geographical conditions, considerable remoteness of production facilities and lack of time for construction and implementation [5]. But there are also disadvantages of this technology: low bandwidth (maximum speed up to 10 Gbit/s); complexity and costliness of construction in hard-to-reach areas; need to place antennas on high buildings; strong signal attenuation during precipitation; large size of installations and equipment; mandatory operation of high elevated antennas; need to use intermediate equipment, which affects the quality of data transmission; location of stations in direct line of sight from each other; in the absence of lines
Despite a significant list of disadvantages, radar lines are currently the best option for providing communications for oil and gas production enterprises. Russia's largest oil and gas enterprises operate on the territory of Yamalo-Nenets AO: LUKOIL, Gazpromneft, Gazprom dobycha Yamburg, Novatek-Tarkosaleneftegaz. More than 30 enterprises produce oil and gas condensate and their fields are located all over the Far North. Most of them receive communication services via radar-links.
Here is an example of a case study on the organization of communications using radio relay lines. The company had the task to provide communication services for one of the fields of Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug. The distance from the nearest settlement is 120 km to the northeast. Considering the landscape and altitude difference it was required to install 4 antenna-mast constructions (AMC) with the height from 30 to 50 meters. Problems arising in the process of work:
Lack of own antenna-mast structures (AMS) and lack of budget for their construction;
Remoteness from populated areas;
Severe climatic conditions. Temperatures drop to -50о C during cold times, which makes it difficult to install and maintain the equipment;
Lack of roads.
Options for solving problems:
Negotiations with other telecom operators in the county and joint construction of AMS;
Renting space on the AMS, primarily for base stations of mobile operators;
The use of existing power lines as supporting infrastructure in the construction of communication lines;
The use of special equipment for working in low temperature conditions.
Fiber-optic communication lines (FOCL) are used to transmit large flows of information over significant distances. A special feature of FOCLs is the transmission of data through an optical fiber with a core of glass or plastic. On the outside it is covered by an optical sheath, which, reflecting light from the edges of the inside, directs it toward the center.
Compared to electric wire networks, FOCLs have a much higher bandwidth, lower power consumption, high noise immunity, small size and mass characteristics of optical fibers. Fibre-optic lines are characterized by the attenuation of transmitted energy, but much less than radio-relay networks and satellite communications. Industrial optical fiber produced nowadays by domestic and foreign manufacturers has an attenuation of the order of 0.2-0.3 dB at a wavelength of 1.55 microns per one kilometer. Low attenuation and dispersion allow the construction of unrepeatered FOCL sections up to 100 km and more [6].
Advantages of FOCL over wire (copper) and radio relay communication systems: the high bandwidth of optical fiber enables the transmission of information at high speeds that are unattainable for other communication systems; low signal attenuation; high reliability of optical media: optical fibers do not oxidize, do not get wet, are not subject to weak electromagnetic effects; fiber optic cables contain no metal, and therefore can be mounted on existing power lines, which can significantly reduce the cost of laying; information
Disadvantages of FOCL: the relative fragility of optical fibers. If the cable is bent strongly, the fibers can break or become turbid due to the appearance of micro-cracks, so when laying the cable, it is necessary to use the recommendations of the optical cable manufacturer (where, in particular, the minimum allowable bending radius is normalized); the complexity of connection in case of a break; complex manufacturing technology, both the fiber itself and components of the fiber optic cable; the relative high cost of optical end equipment [7].
There are several ways of laying optical fibers: laying optical cable in the ground; method of suspension on poles; in protective polyethylene pipes; under water; indoors, in cable ducts. The choice of laying method depends on many factors: terrain, soil category, climatic conditions, and population density.
Example of transport infrastructure construction in Salekhard, Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug - connection of a residential complex under construction to the communication networks of a local Internet provider. Stages of work performance:
Preparation of a targeted program;
Calculation of the payback period of construction;
Financial planning, budget protection;
The search for contractors (in the case of the execution of works by their own forces, we add the preparation of design, estimate documentation, purchase of equipment and materials);
Conclusion of framework agreements;
Performing the work;
Acceptance of work and executive documentation, signing acts, putting on the balance of the enterprise and entering into accounting systems;
Launch into commercial operation.
The optical fiber was laid in the cable duct. Horizontal directional drilling (HDD) with a pipe diameter of 50 mm was used to lay the cable under the roadway or other urban utilities. This service is quite expensive, especially in the northern regions - 4 thousand rubles for the laying of one meter of running pipe. For comparison, the cost of the same service in the central regions of Russia is five times cheaper. Due to short construction period (summer in Yamal lasts about 50 days) large projects cannot be implemented in one season. Optical fiber is limited in use in the cold season. Optical cable installation into the ground should be carried out at the ambient air temperature not lower than -10°С. At lower temperatures (but not lower than -30°С), the cable should be kept for two days in a heated room and warmed up just before installation [8].
Providing communication services on the territory of YNAO, we periodically encounter such a problem as FOCL damage in the tundra by special equipment of oil and gas production companies. The elimination of the emergency situation is often complicated by finding the place of the cable break with the subsequent welding of optical fibers. To ensure uninterrupted communication at the sites, it is recommended for the operator to have a backup channel.
Satellite communication (CC) is a type of radio communication based on the use of artificial earth satellites as repeaters. Satellite communication is carried out between earth stations, which can be both stationary and mobile. The principle of satellite communication is that a signal is sent from one of the earth stations to a satellite, from which it is retransmitted to other objects within the coverage area. VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) - small satellite station, i.e. satellite communication terminal with a small size antenna. Fixed VSATs are used in places of permanent location, for instance in oil fields, where there is no need to often relocate the station from place to place. For operative organization of communication in the places of emergency situations or places of emergency works mobile VSATs are used, which are notable for their light weight and small dimensions. Such equipment is more expensive than stationary one.
Today, satellite communication is the optimal technical solution for remote and sparsely populated territories of the Far North, where land and mobile communication channels are absent. It makes it possible to provide communications for ships, nomads of reindeer herders, government agencies and mining enterprises. With the help of satellite communication the access to the following services is provided: Internet, telephony, broadcasting of video conferences, reception of TV and radio programs, data transmission, video surveillance of remote areas, organization of communication between the company's branches located in remote regions of Russia [6].
The advantages of using satellite communications in Yamalo-Nenets AO: providing communications in remote settlements such as the village of Kamenny. Kamenny Cape, Novy Port village. Novy Port, village. Gyda; covering gas and oil well clusters; providing video surveillance at strategically important sites; satellite phone communication in the tundra for the nomadic peoples of the north in the absence of cell phone communication; marine and road navigation; use in geodesy to determine new coordinate points.
Disadvantages of satellite communications: high cost of equipment; the need for permission for a radio transmitter; incompatibility of equipment from different manufacturers; large size of equipment; signal propagation delay (satellite signal requires about 250 ms, taking into account multiplexing, switching and signal processing delays total delay can be up to 400 ms); the influence of solar interference.
The territory of Yamal-Nenets AO is included in the coverage area of Yamal-401 and Yamal-402 satellites of Gazprom Space Systems KU-band satellite communication and broadcasting system. Having many years of experience in cooperation between our company and Gazprom Space Systems, we successfully implement trilateral projects to provide northern territories with communication services.
In March this year our company signed a contract with a gas producer to provide communications services along the railroad leading to the liquefied gas processing plant. The task was to install three VSATs in the area with latitude from 68о to 72о and longitude from 68о to 70о , a length of 320 km.
Difficulties encountered during the implementation of the project:
Obtaining permits. Due to the presence of reindeer pastures and strategic facilities in the area, it was necessary to obtain permits to work, which required a certain amount of time;
Limited transport accessibility. The only available transportation to the equipment installation site is a train on a closed railroad once a week, which required us to further work out the route;
Preparation of the station installation sites. Since the satellite dish requires a rigid fixation so as not to break the alignment, it was necessary to work out in advance the place of attachment of antennas. To do this, we contacted the staff of the partner company at each location, asked for photos of the planned installation site and issued a statement of work on the preliminary preparation of sites. When everything was ready (permits, installation place, preset equipment) the technical specialists of the company left to the place and within a week all three VSATs were successfully installed and work to this day.
For the company, the implementation of the project once brought more than 100 thousand rubles, and the monthly payment of the client from 30 thousand rubles.
Analyzing the contribution of telecommunications operators to the development of the northern regions of Russia, I can say that there are still many areas not covered by telecommunications infrastructure. When one moves away from large population centers, one finds oneself in a primitive environment, cut off from civilization. Companies exploring the Arctic zone often face interruptions in telematic services, long breakdown periods, and high costs, which cannot but affect business development. Each operator builds its communication lines haphazardly, there is no reservation of backbone channels, the high cost of leasing from owners of these channels sometimes limits operators to expand their networks. To eliminate these and similar problems a systematic approach to the development of telecommunications in the Far North, full or partial compensation of costs from the state, highly qualified personnel, quality equipment, simplification of the system of issuing permits and much more is required.
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Номер журнала Вестник науки №6 (51) том 4
Ссылка для цитирования:
Shadrina S.S. PROBLEMS OF COMMUNICATION IN THE FAR NORTH AND WAYS TO SOLVE THEM BY THE EXAMPLE OF THE YAMALO-NENETS AUTONOMOUS OKRUG // Вестник науки №6 (51) том 4. С. 171 - 179. 2022 г. ISSN 2712-8849 // Электронный ресурс: https://www.вестник-науки.рф/article/5960 (дата обращения: 26.04.2024 г.)
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