NSTI was selected to be the prime telecommunications contractor providing communication support for the construction of the Alpine Development Project.
NSTI designed and implemented a wide area safety and security radio communications network, which covered 100 miles of pipeline and ice roads in the construction area. Additionally, NSTI commissioned a wide area network of UHF repeaters, base stations, and mobile and handheld radios installed to provide each major contractor with necessary radio channels. Approximately 900 handheld and portable radios were installed and maintained, as well as 40 base stations and numerous remote control points.
NSTI installed and maintained 7 separate digital microwave systems, 2 PABX telephone systems, and a temporary 100-ft microwave tower and communication center at the Alpine construction site. Two C-band satellite earth stations were installed to provide circuit connectivity off the North Slope. Several camp cable television systems were installed, including a 154 room CATV head end system with 13 channels. NSTI installed over 100,000 feet of outside plant direct burial copper and single and multi-mode fiber to support telephone and network connectivity to over 100 construction trailers, tents, conexes, and other camps and shelters located at a dozen different locations.
All work associated with the construction support was carefully designed and coordinated to allow for the smooth cutover to the permanent facilities and systems as they were installed and turned up. Many of the temporary facilities were eventually incorporated into the permanent telecommunications plant supporting Alpine.
The client’s project management team repeatedly recognized NSTI’s consistent on time and under budget performance. No construction delays were ever attributed to inadequate or non-functional communications systems. In addition, the NSTI safety record was exemplary, with no lost time injuries over the four-year construction period.
