Leading Australian Telecommunications Company AAPT has been rapidly expanding into high tech business communications. Australian capital cities are being connected to the AAPT optic fibre loop, connecting businesses to each other all over the world. One of the challenges facing AAPT's engineering team was the limited availability and access to underground cable ducts in and around the West Australian capital. The AAPT team decided to use the disused Alinta Gas cast iron piping network within the Perth CBD to roll out new cables in the city without digging trenching or overhead wiring. Underground Services Australia were called in, and within 30 days, had located and probed the cast iron gas pipe, located damaged and missing sections and inserted a 63mm ducting and telecommunications pit over a distance of 2.5km. Personnel working on the pipe were required to comply with numerous regulations including the City of Perth bylaws, the EPA, restricted areas of work due to clearways, residential areas, accommodation, entertainment and business venues, to mention a few. Further stages of the AAPT optical fibre expansion proceeded with further assistance from Underground Services.
