Purchase of Quectel EG25-G Mini PCIe Units

This project is of critical importance in terms of timescales. Our business-critical operational Pressure Reduction Sites (PRS) telemetry currently relies on GPRS 2G and 3G communication channels. These network services are scheduled for decommissioning by providers, as the technology is reaching its end of service life (ESoL). The deactivation of GPRS communications is set to commence later this year.

NGN will procure 250 communication units, which will enable PRS sites to connect securely via 4G to NGN's AWS SCADA infrastructure.

The solution proposed by Brand Communication is already implemented and operational within our production landscape as part of a GD2 project, supporting NGN's 23 critical offtake sites. The deployment of this solution has proven instrumental, markedly enhancing network reliability, performance, and security across all offtake locations.

Brand Communication's solution allows NGN to mitigate the business risks associated with the GPRS switch-off and its potential operational impact by migrating PRS telemetry traffic to secure 4G communication channels. Furthermore, it enables the extension of the proven solution used for our critical offtake sites to the broader range of PRS sites in scope.

Should NGN look to not direct award for this solution, the risk of failing to complete deployment prior to the GPRS switch-off would be significant. This is primarily due to the extensive development and integration required to ensure compatibility with existing Brand and AWS environments, which would likely result in increased costs and extended implementation timelines. By extending the existing Brand Communication solution to the PRS sites, these risks are effectively mitigated.