Case Study – Increasing Network Resilience and Efficiency for 18K Sites for a US Mobile Network Operator

Case Study Introduction

The customer is a North American mobile network operator with remote cabinet sites implemented nationwide. Their plan was to build a very large network, deploying Asentria’s devices as the network itself was deployed. It was a cabinet solution, so Asentria’s products were designed to be integrated into cabinets in an integration facility before being sent to individual locations for deployment. The client’s main interest was in Asentria’s ability to do DC reboot and provide cellular wireless out-of-band coverage.

Customer challenge

As the client was preparing for the network’s deployment nationwide, they thought ahead to potential issues that might occur in operating such a large network. As it was a new network, they were looking at field staffing issues and if there were ways to cover more sites with fewer field staff. In most networks, some equipment problem at a remote site would be resolved with a truck roll. They were searching for ways to operate more efficiently and allow fewer service people to cover more sites. It was also important to them that any network outage is corrected as soon as possible. Particularly with service staff covering larger numbers of sites, some sites were many hours away from the nearest field service personnel.

Project Objectives

• Ensure full remote cabinet monitoring and control
• Provide reboot ability for equipment experiencing problems in remote locations.
• Provide connectivity to remote sites allowing for out-of-band connectivity should a primary connectivity method fail.

Solution

The client decided to adopt a proactive strategy, to prevent any of the potential issues they considered initially and to reduce the overall field service personnel. They chose to deploy Asentria’s S571 Linux-based units at the same time as the network’s deployment. These devices use only 1U of rack space and provide up to 12 individually controllable DC power distribution outputs. They deliver both in-band and out-of-band access to as many as 16 serial devices for troubleshooting. Asentria’s Technical Services department managed deployment of the SIM cards used in the deployment.

Customer benefits

• Gain remote out-of-band access to cabinets using an optional wireless modem with GPS Support
• Manage and monitor up to 12 non-networked serial devices
• Control other network equipment using IP Routing via Ethernet or wireless modem connection
• On-board contact closures
• Web interface for easy configuration
• Powerful on-board scripting capability for customization of unique applications
• Maximize traffic efficiency & administration flexibility with 802.1Q VLAN support on both Ethernet ports 
• Connect up to 16 remote EventSensorTM modules to add I/O ports.
• Wide operating temp range (-40 to +45 C)
• Send alarms via pager, email, TCP Alert and/or SNMPv1 and SNMPv3 traps, and SNMPv2 Informs

Summary

This is a Case Study Summary.  A companion Technical Case Study provides substantial technical details as to specifically how the project was accomplished.  You can download load the PDF for that study here: