Contributed Article

by NetPMD

When designing a fibre network all stakeholder’s understanding of data can make or break the project. It’s crucial therefore to elevate the importance of data, and to consider data throughout the end-to-end lifecycle of a network design project.

There are several benefits to taking a data driven approach.

Data driven design reduces obstacles

In the past, designing a fibre optic network was a cumbersome process. Engineers had to manually plot out the route of the network, considering obstacles like buildings, railways, rivers and lakes. This process was not only costly, but it was also prone to errors. Thanks to advances in data analysis, it is now possible to design a fibre network using data-driven methods.

From a design perspective it is key to understand what customers want as a final deliverable, and as such make sure the right input data is made available at the start of the project.

Data driven design reduces time to value

By taking a data driven approach, project managers can shorten timescales, and avoid key obstacles from vision and feasibility through to delivery. Having data as a guiding point from start to finish and pre-empting some of the issues that the data will throw up along the way will enable companies to not only break ground quicker but also to achieve time to value quicker.

Data driven design helps you to future proof your network

With a thorough knowledge of data, your design team can create a digital twin. Think of a digital twin like a copy of a city landscape.

Therefore, should you need to make any changes during construction you can do so. Equally once the network is built you can go back to the plans in the future if needed and know exactly what is in place.

Design experts should be data experts

Design experts need to be also experts in designing end to end data flows. A good fibre design team will be able to take demographic data, subscriber demand data, address points data, buildings and cell sites, existing infrastructure information, land parcels and other geographic information (GIS) and bring it all together into a risk free, future proofed fibre design. And because they’re experts in data, they’ll be able to do this at pace.

Patrik Lowenborg, VP of Network Design at NetPMD says, “Our design and installation process runs through six key stages. Along the way there are data considerations we need to address. Only data driven design teams will know how to approach that and the importance of it. I’m proud that we’re all data driven here at NetPMD.”

From Planning a network into operational design and beyond

Planning any fibre network is no easy feat and often takes a long time depending on how mature the market is, costs to build, return of investments (ROI), and architecture used to name a few. Whether you start with due diligence or pre-study of a network area, once it has been decided what solution, deployment method and architecture will be used data will need to be acquired to start any design.

For this reason, it is essential at an early stage to identify not only what architecture, choice or material, and deployment methods, but also what system or tools the entire process will be built on.

NetPMD are a data driven fibre design and integration company who are not geographically bound, so whether based in the UK, Europe or cross the globe, they can deliver. Their experience in the United States means they are perfectly placed to share this learning with companies in the UK and beyond to add value and speed up projects.

 

Connected Britain 2022 will take place TOMORROW and promises to be bigger and better than ever before. It’s not too late to join the discussion. Grab your ticket now.

Also in the news:
BT and Atos strike computer vision partnership
South West ISP Truespeed appoints non-exec to accelerate rollout
Nothing changes if nothing changes: The UK’s full fibre rollout cannot rely solely on central government

The post Why data driven design is the key to fibre network design success first appeared on Total Telecom.

Contributed Article

by CommScope

How will you maximise profitability for your next-generation networks in areas of low subscriber density – rural areas, for example – where there’s less revenue per square mile?

As with any network roll out, you need to keep your capital infrastructure costs down by maximising the capacity of your existing facilities and also choosing hardware that will last. At the same time, you need to minimise your operating costs by architecting your network both for service reliability, and so that it’s quick and easy for you to add new subscribers and deliver new features.

In areas of low subscriber density, these costs will be under scrutiny like never before. Yes, there is new public funding to build next-gen passive optical networks (PONs) in remote areas. But it comes with strings attached. You’ll need to demonstrate the financial viability of your plans and prove that you can deploy them quickly enough. So, there’s more to think about.

Make major savings on your infrastructure and deploy much faster

Of course, the main challenge with serving areas of low subscriber density is the often-prohibitive costs of building or leasing physical facilities to house equipment to serve user locations nearby, due to range limitations with PON system. You can, however, now reduce your overall costs by deploying remote optical line terminals (OLT) that can be placed closer to end-user locations.

By deploying environmentally hardened remote optical line terminals (R-OLTs) suited to be deployed in outdoor cabinets, operators can avoid the need to build or lease active cooled and expensive Central Office space. The R-OLTs accept long-range optic links as network side interfaces to fewer centralized facilities from where the network can be managed. R-OLTs are more physically robust than traditional OLTs, making them also fit for transport when pre-installed in street cabinets. At the same time, this approach makes sure that operators do not deploy more OLT ports than are strictly required for the target service area.

Right-size your hardware deployment to optimise CapEx

Indeed, these cabinet-based R-OLTs also enable the most cost-effective deployment of infrastructure for very small geographic areas, while providing capacity for future growth. You can deploy them initially with low port counts and high split ratios (1:128), and then scale them by adding ports and moving to a lower split ratio (1:64) as necessary.

Slash your operating costs through easier management and fewer visits to site

Deploying R-OLT and shelf OLT devices that run modern software means that they can be managed remotely more easily. That enables them to be configured more flexibly as their roles evolve, and it also means major savings in time and travel to their locations. Advanced software capabilities enable modern R-OLTs to be provisioned with zero touch and managed automatically.

Choose the right fibre technologies and topologies for your specific project

You can also reduce the costs of fibre deployment through your choice of technology and topology. Placing R-OLTs deep in your network means the last active device is positioned much closer to subscribers than is possible with centralised facilities. That improves performance to users’ homes, gives you more choice in split ratios, helps you extend service over longer distances, and also enables you to connect new subscribers more quickly.

Meanwhile, cascaded, tap and indexing network topologies offer savings over traditional centralised topologies. Using plug-and-play connectors, and being able to speed up a number of tasks, means significantly reduced labour requirements and deployment time.

Optimize your network now for years of service

If you’re currently implementing XGS PON, then now is your chance to architect your networks for the best possible performance and subscriber growth. Effective planning can ensure your network is future-ready, reduce costs, and enable you to launch new features faster. For instance, a software-defined network (SDN) architecture built on modern microservices will run faster and make it easier for you to onboard PON systems.

For more information on all the options available, please read our eBook, ‘A Comprehensive Guide to Next Gen PON Decisions’.

 

Want to learn more from CommScope? Join them in discussion at Connected Britain 2022, taking place tomorrow live in London

Also in the news:
UK telcos to face stricter cybersecurity obligations under new govt rules
Jio prepares to plough $25bn into 5G
VMO2 activates first open RAN sites in live network

The post How XGS PON can enable broadband for everyone first appeared on Total Telecom.

British satellite operator OneWeb, which is partly owned by the UK Government and various other investors, is reportedly seeking funding of around £3bn from a group of banks to help it cover the cost of massively expanding their ultrafast broadband network with second-generation (GEN2) satellites. The company has so far managed to launch 428 of […]

During the week we revealed that Openreach were preparing to pilot a faster 1.2Gbps and 1.8Gbps tier on their UK FTTP broadband ISP lines (here). As part of that, they also intend to test two new Optical Network Terminals (ONT / ONU) for installation inside homes, and we’ve now got some details on those too. […]

Press Release

Initial projects will include manufacturing quality inspection and defect detection, healthcare connected asset management, and drone-based visual inspection of roads and bridges

Verizon and the University of South Carolina are exploring how 5G Ultra Wideband can transform industries including manufacturing, healthcare and civil infrastructure, among others. To do this, Verizon and the university launched the Innovation Experience Hub, powered by Verizon 5G housed in the McNair Center in Columbia, SC where students, faculty, entrepreneurs, and corporate partners can collaborate to test and create new solutions powered by Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband, which is available in select areas.

Innovators at the hub will leverage 5G connectivity and solutions to help improve manufacturing processes with quality sensing and defect detection. In healthcare, they’ll test how 5G can enhance emergency response by enabling remote health monitoring and real-time analysis of patient vitals, as well as hospital connected asset management, to streamline asset retrieval and dispatch operations. When it comes to civil infrastructure, researchers will examine how 5G communications can enhance monitoring of roads and bridges with condition analytics and reporting, as well as drone-based visual inspection of roads, bridges and buildings, using AI-driven computer vision.

“Working with the University of South Carolina, we have a great opportunity to collaborate with dozens of partners to ideate and develop new 5G-powered solutions leveraging the latest technologies, including large-scale IoT, artificial intelligence, computer vision and augmented reality,” said Jennifer Artley, Verizon Business Senior Vice President of 5G Acceleration. “Verizon is the network America relies on. Giving researchers access to Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband, with its high bandwidth and low latency, can accelerate the innovation process, leading to new solutions that will transform how enterprises operate and grow.”

“Our relationship with Verizon exemplifies the benefits of partnerships between the University of South Carolina and the business community,” university president Michael Amiridis said. “This aligns with our focus on expanding research opportunities that solve problems and accelerate discoveries.”

This engagement is part of Verizon’s broader strategy to partner with enterprises, startups, universities, national labs and government/military organizations, to explore how 5G can disrupt and transform nearly every industry. Verizon operates several 5G Labs in the U.S. that specialize in developing use cases in industries ranging from healthcare to public safety to entertainment. In addition, Verizon is collaborating with various customers to establish 5G Innovation Hubs on-premises as part of an ongoing initiative to co-innovate and create new 5G applications.

The battle for 5G supremacy in the US is still red hot! Join the operators in discussion about their 5G plans and more at the upcoming Connected America conference

Also in the news:
BT and Atos strike computer vision partnership
South West ISP Truespeed appoints non-exec to accelerate rollout
Nothing changes if nothing changes: The UK’s full fibre rollout cannot rely solely on central government

The post Verizon launches 5G Innovation Hub with the University of South Carolina first appeared on Total Telecom.

NEWS

Japanese SAR satellite data and solutions provider, Synspective, has successfully reached target orbit with its third SAR satellite, StriX-1.

StriX-1 was launched from New Zealand by Rocket Lab, an end-to-end space company who offer a range of services including launch and satellite manufacture. The satellite was put into its target orbit, a Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO), with an altitude of 561km with the purpose of providing observation and data acquisition to monitor cities and infrastructure. Use cases for such satellites range from monitoring shipping and transport through to observing potential geohazards.

Synspective founder and CEO, Dr. Motoyuki Arai said “With our “StriX-α” and “StriX-β” satellites already in orbit, Synspective has been able to develop its techniques and acquire the know-how for multiple operations. With the addition of our third satellite, we will be able to increase troves of data to analyze and interpret for real-world applications and our client’s wide range of needs as well as further accelerate the construction of the satellite constellation.”

The post Rocket man – Synspective founder celebrates StriX-1 orbit first appeared on Total Telecom.

Contributed Article

Gigabit Britain will level up SME access to highspeed connectivity from ‘north to south, country to coast’ boosting local economies according to Dave Hudson, Head of Partnerships & Alliances at wholesale full fibre provider ITS Technology Group

The benefits of a high-speed internet connection are well documented and understood. Futureproof full fibre is essential to underpin technologies and communications, and the drive to rollout this infrastructure is vital for the UK to remain competitive on the world stage.

While we learn to live with a backdrop of COVID, the lockdowns of the last couple of years have necessitated the use of technology to allow people to work from home, keeping the wheels of industry turning, which has accelerated the digital transformation journeys of many SMEs.

The emergence of full fibre

However, connectivity, specifically high-speed connectivity, has been an eternal challenge for many businesses. There are substantial areas of the UK where older, unreliable copper-based networks are yet to be upgraded, which means that access to a gigabit-capable internet connection has been a postcode lottery. With a dedicated service cost prohibitive for a lot of businesses, they have been left with no choice but to get by and make do with slow speeds, feeling unable to take advantage of technologies that should be available to them.

The rollout of Gigabit Britain is changing this. The latest statistics from Thinkbroadband reveal that full fibre coverage has increased by 15% to 40% in the last 12 months, giving more businesses access to the kind of digital infrastructure that supports the technologies that will transform their business.

Full fibre is a leveller. Allowing ‘Davids’ to compete with ‘Goliaths’. Even contended full fibre broadband services are inherently more reliable and faster. This has opened the doors for SMEs to adopt game-changing technologies with confidence, such as cloud, as-a-service, and AI which have been the territory of enterprise with big budgets. It is allowing SMEs to punch above their weight, trade more easily across the globe, while delivering a significant boost to their local economies.

The barriers to adoption

As a wholesaler of full fibre connectivity, we launched the Faster Britain brand in 2020, a programme that our ISP and reseller partners can really get behind, to help them go to market, educate on, and sell gigabit-capable services to businesses. We have recently updated our Faster Britain solutions portfolio in response to feedback from our partners around the misconceptions surrounding FTTC vs. FTTP that still exist in the marketplace. We have developed a product that gives our partners the business case to help customers step off copper onto full fibre.

With the retirement of copper now around the corner, the reality of its switch off hasn’t hit home yet for many businesses. Education around the benefits, including the reliability of full fibre vs. last mile copper is still ongoing. Businesses need to be, and must be supported through this transition. In a way, it is reminiscent of the switch from analogue to digital TV which started in 2007 and was completed in 2012.

The full fibre opportunity

We know that SME businesses like to buy from other SMEs, and this UK-wide rollout is creating a great opportunity for local ISPs and resellers to deliver connectivity to local businesses, further bolstering local economies.

Once full fibre is deployed, it is a catalyst of change for good, creating opportunities, driving inward investment, and attracting talent. We are now at the point where digitalisation has become a fundamental prerequisite for almost all paths to innovation.

 

Connected Britain 2022 is taking place live in London next week! Join ITS and thousands of other telecoms delegates at the UK’s seminal digital economy event

Also in the news:
BT and Atos strike computer vision partnership
South West ISP Truespeed appoints non-exec to accelerate rollout
Nothing changes if nothing changes: The UK’s full fibre rollout cannot rely solely on central government

The post Levelling up the connectivity playing field for UK businesses first appeared on Total Telecom.

A new experimental test of early 6G mobile broadband technology, which was conducted by LG Electronics (LG) at the Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute (HHI) in Germany, has demonstrated a wireless signal working over the TeraHertz (THz) band that could reach a distance of 320 metres (significant, given the spectrum). At present existing 5G networks are […]

PRESS RELEASE

Powered by Arabsat’s BADR-7 high-throughput satellite and based on Forsway’s Xtend platform, XtndNet offers users 50 Mb download speeds. Many consumers in under- connected locations – more than 100,000 in the UK according to OFCOM – have under 3 Mb and no other options for an affordable, fast, and reliable broadband connection. The XtndNet service is available now in the United Kingdom and Ireland, and will expand to Germany, Scandinavia, the Baltics, and Africa in the next year.

-“There are more than 100,000 households throughout the UK without an adequate broadband connection. Those people are left behind – as everything from government services to grocery shopping and television now rely on broadband connectivity,” says Travis Mooney, CEO at XtndNet. “Our service uses a satellite download to immediately remedy this challenge for users throughout the UK and Ireland; simply point a dish, install a router, and we can provide almost anyone an immediate upgrade, bridging the digital divide.”

-“We are excited to showcase the XtndNet solution at Connected Britain and demonstrate how easy it can be for ISPs to extend their service offering to rural, underserved areas – with no investment required.”

Details of the robust, cost-efficient XtndNet hybrid service

Business benefits for resellers and ISPs: XtndNet helps ISPs reduce churn through a zero-Capex access platform, available immediately. XtndNet can be offered as an ‘add-on’ or to ‘boost’ existing broadband offerings. XtndNet can also be tapped by Video-OTT service providers struggling today with poor connectivity.

Reseller or ISP leverage: No investment in infrastructure is required. XtndNet services can be seamlessly offered as a complementary service to end-users lacking robust connectivity, creating a “stickiness” factor for underserved users. Billing, provisioning, and specialist end-user support are included. XtndNet also provides resellers and ISPs sales & marketing, technical and operational support to launch their local services.
Benefits for end-users: XtndNet is an easy-to-use, revolutionary connection for underserved areas. We offer five-star customer service, with an affordable, always available broadband connection. Our 12 Gigabit Space Superhighway is powered by satcom leader Arabsat. Arabsat’s BADR-7 satellite has coverage of the following European countries: UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria, the Baltics, Norway, and Sweden.

Download speed, the delay or latency: Download speed is up to 50 Mb which provides capacity for end-users to enjoy high-value content such as video streaming services. 

XtndNet provides individual wholesale satellite broadband internet access services to resellers (e.g., DSL providers), which may be taken to market by the reseller under their own brand. It is a one-way service via satellite using existing broadband services for the return channel requests.

The service is offered as a one-stop shop for terrestrial providers to improve rural broadband performance. BADR-7, made by EADS Astrium, was launched in 2015 and operates at the orbital position of 26 degrees East. The satellite uses several Gateway locations, which are all based in Europe. The Gateways bridge terrestrial broadband services with the satellite via well-equipped ground stations using Ka and Ku band. 

Features of the breakthrough service solution will be shown during Connected Britain 2022’s “The Future of UK Connectivity” conference and expo, Sept. 20 – 21, London, at XtndNet Stand #S206.

 

The post ISP start-up XtndNet features innovative solution that delivers 50 Mb broadband to underserved UK and Irish users first appeared on Total Telecom.

SpaceX’s global Low Earth Orbit (LEO) based ultrafast satellite broadband service – Starlink – has made it possible for residential customers to optionally take their “High Performance” dish (antenna) instead of the “Standard” one, which could result in better service performance (speeds). But you’ll need deep pockets. Starlink’s mega constellation currently has around 3,023 LEO […]