Uganda Electricity Transmission Company to take on telecommunication

By Brian Ourien THE Uganda Electricity Transmission Company is to use modern technology to transmit telephone messages alongside electricity. The Engineering Manager, William Kiryahika, said a new line will be attached to the earth wire along the transmission line from the Nalubale Dam to Kampala initially, then will be expanded later to other places. Eventually the transmission line to Nairobi will also have it. The new line is to have transparent wires instead of the copper wires that have been traditionally used for electricity and telephone transmission. This is scientifically referred to as fibre-optic cable because it transmits light. The wires are coated with light-proof material to prevent external light from interfering with the light in the fibre-optic cable. Kiryahika said that apart from transmitting telephone messages, the fibre-optic lines will transmit electronic data. This will enable the company’s offices located in different places to share information. “This will enable us to gather information very fast. This will improve on the communication infrastructure of the company,” he said. He said the system would not only ease communication in UETCL but also enable the company generate additional income. Initially the fibre-optic network will serve only UETCL but later the company will lease the lines to other organisations. Around the world fibre optic cables are increasingly replacing copper conductors. They are more efficient, have higher capacity and are smaller in size than copper wires. The latter advantage implies that you can have more wires bundled together. “In addition to solving the current communication problems, we are also looking at the future,” Kiryahika said. He said the need for a fibre-optic network will increase when a new power generation dam begins to operate at the Bujagali falls. He said the company has to prepare for transmission of power from Bujagali. Apart from the major transmission lines, fibre-optic networks can also be used for local networks. ends