EQUIPMENT
REPAIRS
Restoring telecoms equipment to full operational specification through systematic diagnostics, component-level repair, and verified testing. From fiber optic splicing and RF antenna systems to UPS power plants and rectifier modules, we return your network assets to service at a fraction of replacement cost.
All replacement components are OEM-certified or approved equivalent specification. No substandard substitutes.
DIAGNOSTICS AND FAULT ANALYSIS
Every repair begins with a structured diagnostic assessment to identify the root cause, not just the visible symptom. A written diagnostic report with cost estimate is issued before any repair work commences.
Systematic Fault Isolation
Our diagnostic methodology follows a structured top-down approach. We begin with visual inspection for physical damage, corrosion, or burn marks on components. From there, we perform electrical measurements to isolate the fault to a specific subsystem, then narrow it to individual board or component level. This process prevents unnecessary part replacements and ensures the actual failure point is addressed.
Visual and Thermal Inspection - FLIR thermal imaging cameras detect hot spots on circuit boards caused by failing capacitors, shorted FETs, or overloaded traces before they progress to complete failure.
Signal Tracing - Oscilloscopes and protocol analysers trace signal paths through processing stages, identifying where data corruption, timing errors, or signal degradation occurs.
Loopback and BER Testing - Bit Error Rate testers verify data integrity by sending known patterns through equipment under test, measuring error rates at Layer 1. Loopback tests isolate whether faults are in the transmit path, receive path, or processing logic.
Diagnostic Equipment
Our repair bench carries calibrated, industry-standard test instruments for every layer of the telecoms stack. Equipment is calibrated on a scheduled cycle to maintain measurement accuracy.
OTDR
Optical Time Domain Reflectometer for locating fiber breaks, macrobends, bad splices, and connector faults with distance-to-fault accuracy.
Spectrum Analyser
RF spectrum analysis for identifying interference, spurious emissions, power level deviations, and intermodulation products.
BER Tester
Bit Error Rate testing at Layer 1 for verifying data integrity through transmission equipment, multiplexers, and optical transceivers.
Thermal Camera
FLIR infrared imaging for non-contact detection of overheating components, loose connections, and failing power stages.
Power Analyser
AC/DC power quality measurement for diagnosing UPS, rectifier, and power supply faults including ripple, regulation, and load capacity.
Oscilloscope
Multi-channel signal capture for tracing timing issues, clock drift, waveform distortion, and intermittent signal faults.
FIBER OPTIC REPAIRS
Precision fiber optic repair using fusion splicing equipment with core alignment technology. Every splice is OTDR-verified from both directions per IEC 60793-1-40 standards to confirm loss values before the job is signed off.
Fusion Splicing Process
Fusion splicing permanently joins two optical fibers by melting the glass ends together with a precisely controlled electric arc. When performed correctly with a core-alignment splicer, splice loss is typically 0.02 dB or less, well below the 0.1 dB threshold considered acceptable by industry standards.
Strip
Remove the protective polymer coating to expose bare glass fiber. Clean residue with lint-free wipes and isopropyl alcohol.
Clean
Remove all debris and coating residue from the bare glass. Any contamination on the fiber end-face degrades splice quality.
Cleave
Score and break the fiber to produce a flat end-face. Cleave angle must be as close to 90 degrees as possible to minimise splice loss.
Fuse
Load fibers into the splicer. The machine aligns the cores using image processing, then fuses them with a controlled electric arc.
Protect
Apply a heat-shrink splice protector over the bare joint to provide mechanical strength and environmental protection.
Bidirectional OTDR Verification - Per IEC 60793-1-40 and TIA standards, splice loss measurements from an OTDR must be taken from both directions and averaged. This eliminates measurement errors caused by backscatter differences between the two fibers and gives the true splice loss value.
Emergency Fiber Breaks
Fiber cable cuts from construction dig-ups, vehicle impacts, or vandalism require rapid response. Our technicians deploy to site with a fusion splicer, OTDR, and splice closure materials.
- -OTDR trace from both ends to locate the break point
- -Expose and prepare fiber at the break location
- -Fusion splice each fiber strand individually
- -Post-splice OTDR verification on every strand
- -Seal the splice closure and restore cable route
Connector Re-termination
Damaged or contaminated fiber connectors cause high insertion loss and reflectance. We re-terminate connectors using factory-standard polishing processes and verify with insertion loss and return loss measurements.
- -SC, LC, FC, and ST connector types
- -UPC and APC polish grades
- -Patch panel and ODF adapter cleaning
Splice Tray and ODF Work
Optical Distribution Frame maintenance including splice tray reorganisation, damaged adapter replacement, and pigtail re-splicing. We clean and inspect existing connectors with fiber microscopes to identify contamination or end-face damage before re-termination.
RF AND ANTENNA SYSTEMS
RF system repairs covering the full signal chain from the antenna through feeders, combiners, and amplifiers. Every repair includes sweep testing and PIM verification to confirm the system meets carrier acceptance criteria before handover.
Antenna Alignment and Replacement
Sector and panel antennas require precise mechanical and electrical alignment to maintain coverage patterns. Storm damage, mounting bracket fatigue, and vandalism are the most common causes of antenna misalignment on cell sites.
- -Azimuth and mechanical tilt adjustment using calibrated compass and inclinometer
- -RET (Remote Electrical Tilt) motor replacement and AISG interface verification
- -Damaged radome and element replacement
- -Mounting hardware inspection and torque verification
PIM Testing and Remediation
Passive Intermodulation occurs when two or more strong RF signals mix in a non-linear junction, typically caused by corroded connectors, loose hardware, or dissimilar metals in the signal path. PIM interference degrades the receiver sensitivity of a cell site, reducing capacity and blocking calls.
- -On-site PIM testing using Anritsu or Kaelus portable PIM analysers
- -Connector re-torque and replacement of corroded jumpers
- -Identification and removal of external PIM sources (rusty clamps, nearby metallic debris)
- -Post-remediation PIM sweep to verify levels meet carrier specifications
Line Sweep Testing
Line sweep testing measures the return loss and insertion loss of the entire RF feeder system across the operating frequency range. Return loss indicates how efficiently the antenna transfers power, while insertion loss measures signal attenuation through the cable run. Sweep testing must be completed before PIM testing to ensure baseline performance is acceptable.
- -Return loss (VSWR) measurement from radio port to antenna
- -Insertion loss measurement across the full feeder path
- -Distance-to-Fault (DTF) testing to locate impedance mismatches
- -Comparison against manufacturer cable specifications
Amplifier Repair and Swap
Tower-mounted amplifiers (TMAs) and in-building signal boosters are exposed to temperature extremes, moisture ingress, and lightning-induced surges. Common failure modes include blown RF transistors, failed power supply stages, and degraded gain flatness.
- -Gain and noise figure measurement on bench
- -RF transistor and MMIC replacement
- -DC bias network and power supply repair
- -Weatherproofing and gasket replacement for tower-mounted units
Combiner and Splitter Replacement
RF combiners merge signals from multiple transmitters onto a single feeder, while splitters divide receive signals across multiple radio units. Internal component degradation, water ingress, and PIM-generating solder joints are the primary failure modes.
- -Hybrid combiner and cavity combiner replacement
- -Wilkinson power divider swap-out
- -Diplexer and triplexer module replacement
- -Full system sweep test after replacement
In-Building DAS Repairs
Distributed Antenna Systems in commercial buildings, hospitals, and mining operations require periodic maintenance. Remote nodes, fiber trunk cables, and headend equipment all develop faults that degrade indoor coverage quality.
- -Remote unit and headend module replacement
- -Fiber trunk and coaxial feeder repair
- -Indoor antenna and tapoff point servicing
- -Coverage walk-test verification after repair
POWER SYSTEMS
Telecoms power systems form the foundational layer of network uptime. We repair and maintain DC power plants, rectifier modules, UPS systems, and battery banks deployed in central offices, cell sites, and enterprise telecom rooms across Gauteng.
UPS Repair and Battery Replacement
UPS systems protect sensitive telecoms equipment from power interruptions, voltage sags, and surges. Battery degradation is the most common UPS failure, with VRLA battery life halving for every 8 to 10 degrees Celsius rise above the rated 25 degrees float temperature, per IEEE 1187 guidelines. A UPS room operating at 35 degrees may need battery replacement every 2 to 3 years rather than the rated 5 to 7 years.
Battery Load Testing - Impedance testing on individual cells to identify weak batteries before they cause a string failure during a mains outage.
Battery Bank Replacement - Full string replacement with matched VRLA or lithium-ion cells, including torque-verified terminal connections and commissioning tests.
Inverter and Charger Repair - Component-level repair of UPS inverter boards, charger circuits, and static bypass switches.
Rectifier Module Replacement
A standard 48 VDC telecom power plant houses 4 to 12 individual rectifier modules in an N+1 redundancy configuration, with each module rated between 25 A and 200 A. Rectifier failure triggers alarms at the NOC and reduces the system's fault tolerance until the module is replaced or repaired.
Module Hot-Swap - Rectifier modules in modern power plants (Emerson, Huawei, Eltek) are hot-swappable. We carry common module types for same-day replacement on critical sites.
Board-Level Repair - For discontinued or long-lead modules, we perform component-level repair including IGBT/MOSFET replacement in the switching stage, PFC choke replacement, and bulk filter capacitor swap.
Controller and Monitoring - Power plant controller firmware updates, alarm configuration, and monitoring card replacement to restore remote visibility.
Surge Protection and Grounding
Sites without adequate surge protection experience MOSFET gate oxide failures at elevated rates after lightning events. Improperly bonded battery frames and rectifier chassis create both safety hazards and equipment damage pathways during transient events.
SPD Replacement - Surge Protection Device inspection and replacement on AC distribution, DC bus, and signal lines. SPDs are consumable devices that degrade after each surge event.
Earth Bond Testing - Continuity and resistance measurement of the grounding system, including earth bar connections, cable tray bonds, and equipment chassis bonds.
Lightning Protection Audit - Assessment of air terminals, down conductors, and earth electrode resistance to verify compliance with site protection requirements.
DC Power Plant Maintenance
DC power distribution is the backbone of cell site and central office equipment. PDU breaker failures, bus bar degradation, and monitoring faults all compromise the reliability of the power chain feeding radio and transmission equipment.
PDU Servicing - DC and AC Power Distribution Unit breaker replacement, bus bar inspection for corrosion and hot spots, and fuse holder maintenance.
Load Balancing - Redistribution of circuit loads across PDU breakers to prevent overload conditions and maintain headroom within rated capacity.
Firmware and Alarms - Monitoring unit firmware updates and alarm threshold configuration to restore remote NOC visibility into power plant status.
WARRANTY AND PARTS MANAGEMENT
We manage the full parts lifecycle from OEM warranty claims through to component-level repair decisions, keeping your equipment operational while minimising procurement costs and lead times.
OEM Warranty Claims
We process warranty claims with major telecoms equipment manufacturers on your behalf. This includes preparing the required fault documentation, serial number verification, and coordinating the return logistics. For products under warranty, the manufacturer typically covers repair or replacement costs and return shipping.
RMA Handling
Return Merchandise Authorization requires valid part numbers, serial numbers, and a documented fault description. We manage the full RMA process from initial request through to receiving the repaired or replacement unit. Each RMA is tracked with status updates so you know exactly where your equipment is in the process.
Parts Sourcing
We source replacement parts both locally in South Africa and from international distributors. For common rectifier modules, SFP transceivers, and power supply units, we maintain working stock for same-day dispatch. For specialised or discontinued components, we have established supplier relationships to reduce procurement lead times.
Repair vs Replace Decisions
When OEM repair costs exceed 60 to 70 percent of new-unit pricing, replacement is typically more cost-effective. We provide a clear cost comparison for every repair quotation so you can make informed decisions. Component-level board repair extends the useful life of existing hardware at a fraction of full unit cost, reducing both capital spend and electronic waste.
Swap Pool Management
When repair turnaround time is too long for a critical site, we can swap the faulty unit for a working equivalent from a pool of tested, refurbished equipment. The faulty unit is then repaired and returned to the pool, maintaining a ready stock of spares for future callouts.
Inventory Management
For clients with recurring maintenance contracts, we maintain a dedicated spares inventory tailored to their installed equipment base. This includes tracking part numbers, serial numbers, warranty expiry dates, and minimum stock levels to prevent extended outages caused by parts procurement delays.
THE REPAIR WORKFLOW
INTAKE
Equipment received, tagged, and logged with serial number, fault description, and client details. Each item is photographed on arrival for condition documentation.
DIAGNOSE
Full diagnostic testing performed using calibrated instruments. Written root cause report issued with a repair cost estimate and repair-vs-replace recommendation before any work begins.
REPAIR
Certified technician executes the approved repair using OEM or specification-matched components. All replaced parts are retained for client inspection on request.
TEST AND RETURN
Post-repair load testing and functional verification under simulated operating conditions. Repair completion certificate issued with warranty terms and test results.
REQUEST AN EQUIPMENT ASSESSMENT
Contact CT Communications to log your equipment fault and receive a diagnostic assessment. We service clients across Pretoria, Johannesburg, Centurion, Midrand, and the broader Gauteng region. Describe the fault, equipment model, and urgency, and we will advise on turnaround time and repair options.