Bordeaux municipality cuts operational costs with own microwave backhaul

Moving away from leased lines to its own microwave-based TETRA network backhaul, the municipality of Bordeaux is cutting operational costs significantly. It also gains more flexible system that can be upgraded cost-effectively in line with growing demand, bringing better value for its citizens.

As one of the largest centers of population in France, the Urban Community of Bordeaux (CUB) has many responsibilities. From providing the vital infrastructure needed by the townspeople, to keeping transport services modern and relevant to their needs, to helping the community prosper by developing the local economy, CUB is kept busy.

“We are happy to have replaced the legacy operator network and adopt the Nokia Siemens Networks microwave network installed by Mic Data. We have substantially reduced our costs with FlexiHopper.”

 

Program Manager, CUB

To help achieve this multitude of tasks, CUB operates its own TETRA communications network to connect employees across its 27 municipalities.

However, a significant proportion of the operational expenditure (OPEX) for CUB’s communications network came from its leasing of E1 lines from local operators for its backhaul. To provide the best value for local citizens, CUB aimed to reduce these costs. It also wanted the flexibility of its own backhaul infrastructure based on microwave links to connect its TETRA Base Stations.

Challenges

  • TETRA network backhaul based on leased lines leads to high operational costs
  • Lack of flexibility from backhaul based on leased lines from a local operator
  • Low cost solution needed for microwave-based backhaul for licensed frequencies

Turnkey solution from an experienced partner

Meeting this challenge with a solution that combined the highest quality network with the lowest possible operating expenditure (OPEX) and capital expenditure (CAPEX) were key criteria for CUB. The solution lay in a turnkey microwave backhaul offering from communications specialist and Nokia Siemens Networks channel partner Mic Data.

Mic Data’s ability to offer a turnkey solution including equipment, engineering and services was vital. CUB was keen to engage a single organization to deliver a complete project including site survey, path and transmission engineering, frequency license application, on site installation, commissioning,network maintenance and training.

Solutions

  • Nokia Siemens Networks Flexihopper microwave transport network
  • Point-to-Point (PTP) configuration, comprising a total of 15 links
  • Complete project management covering design, installation, commissioning, training and maintenance

The project entailed the building of a microwave system using Nokia Siemens Networks FlexiHopper radios to connect all sites in a ring, realized in three loops.The network is based on a Point-to-Point (PTP) configuration, comprising a total of 15 links using Nokia Siemens Networks FlexiHopper. This allows CUB to act quickly to prevent service disruption all from a single site. Capacity of the links can be upgraded up to 32 E1 as the needs of CUB grows.

Operating in the 13, 23 and 38 GHz bands, the transport network is controlled, managed and configured by means of a local Hopper Manager terminal and centrally by means of a Nokia Siemens Networks Network Management System (NMS).

Benefits

  • FlexiHopper minimizes the number of indoor units required on sites to reduce capital costs
  • Capacity can be upgraded in line with growing demand and through simple low-cost software upgrades
  • Centralized network management system provides rapid reaction capability to maintain high network availabilit

Costs minimized, delivery deadline met

Using FlexiHopper, Mic Data was able to provide an installation with the fewest number of indoor units, with only one needed per site to serve two directions. Furthermore, operating in the selected frequency bands also allows the use of a low profile antenna, with installation on a basic wall support.

Together, these features helped to minimize CUB’s CAPEX for the project. Meanwhile, the network management system gives CUB visibility of, and control over, the complete network, providing a wealth of reports on alarms and network quality issues. This allows CUB to act quickly to prevent service disruption, all from only one site.

Furthermore, CUB will be able to scale up network capacity to match rising demand. The cost benefits of such a 'pay-as-you-grow' scheme are further enhanced by FlexiHopper’s software upgrade capability, eliminating the need for additional hardware and its associated CAPEX. The FlexiHoppers also provide Ethernet connectivity.

Thanks to professional project management, Mic Data achieved completion of the entire project on time, including equipment installed and operating as planned, all documentation was finished and staff training completed to CUB’s satisfaction.

“We have a good relationship with Mic Data. They have achieved the quality standards we wanted and there are no outstanding issues. In the near future, the few hops using other vendors’ existing equipment will be swapped and replaced by FlexiHopper,” explains Program Manager, CUB. “Mic Data has shown its ability to serve CUB, and we will get significant benefits from it. These will continue as Mic Data has the maintenance contract for the system for three years.”

About Mic Data

Mic Data was founded in 1990 and its head office is located in La Verriere, west of Paris, France. It employs more than 50 people and the partnership with Nokia Networks and now Nokia Siemens Networks goes back to 1992. Mic Data provides turn key communication solutions for microvawe and optical fiber networks. Its core competences include: design engineering, installation & commissioning, multivendor integration, site documentation, training, and technical support.