Application Brief

In conjunction with Schott Applied Power Corporation (SAPC) and Hughes Network Systems (HNS), International Business Express (IBEX) designs, supplies and installs a network of solar photovoltaic (PV) powered very small aperture terminal (VSAT) systems for the Société de Télécommunications du Mali (SOTELMA) in the Republic of Mali, in francophone West Africa.

In 1999 and 2000, IBEX receives three contract awards from SOTELMA for a total of 12 turnkey stations in remote locations of the Sahara desert. These 48-Volt PV systems range from 3.6kW to 8.4kW in array size, and are composed of ASE Americas 300W/12V plug and play PV modules mounted on lightweight anodized aluminum frames, with industrial grade DEKA Maintenance Saver batteries and custom APC plug and play combiner boxes and charge controllers.

IBEX manages the transportation of equipment from US factories to the installation sites and meets schedule requirements without delay despite numerous unforeseeable obstacles such as flooding of train tracks between Senegal and Mali, and erratic civil war outbursts in project regions. To ensure high installation standards, IBEX also undertakes site excavation, battery room construction, turnkey installation, as well as system diagnostics and testing.

In addition, a 3-day training course on PV system maintenance is conducted in Bamako for station operators, many of whom are illiterate. To date, IBEX standards of excellence are upheld by the continued flawless operation of these systems in one of the harshest climates on Earth.