Marconi installs integrated network management solution for Transtel

An integrated network management system to significantly improve reliability and optimize the bandwidth utilization of Transtel`s countrywide communications network, is being installed by Marconi.

Four network management installations are involved -- Johannesburg, Kimberley, Durban and Cape Town. Marconi Communications South Africa (MCSA) has completed and commissioned the installations at the first three locations and the final system at Cape Town is being installed and commissioned this year (2001). The system, known as Open NS"U, monitors the entire Transtel SDH (synchronous digital hierarchy) network and provides alarms in real time.

"The reliability of the network is considerably improved, with the integrity of the voice, data, video and other network services maintained at very high levels," says George Debbo, technical director of MCSA. "This has measurable positive impacts on the efficiency of Transtel and the services it provides to its major customer, Transnet, and other clients in the region."

Debbo adds that when a fault is detected and signalled by an alarm, the network management system automatically re-routes the voice, data or other traffic using that section of the network, to an alternative section. This is done so quickly that customers are not aware of any problem and the traffic is not disrupted.

"The fault alarms are routed directly to the person in charge of that specific section of the network and from there they are immediately forwarded by SMS, e-mail or telefax to the nearest technician, along with complete instructions for rectification of the fault. The result is that faults are repaired properly and exceptionally quickly, even in remote, outlying areas," he said. The Open NS"U solution therefore allows a centrally-based expert with appropriate high-level qualifications and skills to manage, control and repair the network with the support of strategically placed technicians who require no more than basic repair skills and training, thus maximizing the utilization of manpower.

Open NS"U is based entirely on object-oriented technology to achieve a wide range of features and high performance with the additional benefit of easy extension of the system to cater for future development. It also has open interfaces to provide connectivity with other proprietary network structures.

Marconi Communications South Africa employs around 850 people, with its network division and headquarters at Midrand and CPE division in Springs. Marconi plc is a global communications and IT company with around 49 000 employees worldwide and sales in over 100 countries. It supplies advanced communications solutions and the key technologies and services for the Internet. Marconi plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange and Nasdaq under the symbol MONI.