The purpose-built training centre, which covers an area of almost 2,500 square feet, also includes an 8.5 metre training tower and microwave link, so that both employees, clients and other organisations are able to undertake installation and commissioning training. The initiative has seen extensive co-operation with equipment manufacturers in a bid to provide one of the UK’s foremost training facilities for the broadcast and telecommunications industries.
The organisation’s industry-leading test facilities have also been upgraded. A 24 hours a day, seven days a week operation with its own dedicated staff, the unit offers PDH (plesiochronous digital hierarchy) and SDH (synchronous digital hierarchy) testing and research capabilities. Equipment such as power meters, oscilloscopes, BER and SDM-1 is available, allowing pre-commissioning of microwave radios, outdoor units and multiplexers.
Jeff Carroll, group business manager of ACG, is delighted with the upgraded test and training facilities, and noted:
“The priority for the group has always been to provide a market-leading end to end solution and service to our clients. The major investment that we have made in our training and test facilities is ongoing and is further evidence of our commitment to that process, particularly as we diversify into related industries such as utilities and rail.”
He continued: “Technology moves on at an astonishing pace – and it is our desire to be at the forefront of the roll out of that technology as we seek to make the telecommunications infrastructure in this country a world-leading one. And our new training facilities see us make a further step in that process.”