We are dedicated to improving and broadening our solutions for the telecommunications industry to support daily network management tasks and processes better. Explore the latest updates in our GE Smallworld Network Inventory for Telecom, including the Physical Route Manager, Data Center Manager, and CATV Design modules.
What’s new in the GE Smallworld Network Inventory for Telecom add-ons by Globema?
Physical Route Manager (PRM) – efficient management of physical transmission routes
Physical Route Manager supports the management of end-to-end fiber routes, based on existing connections. It gives quick access to resource occupancy information in Physical Network Inventory (PNI) and a comprehensive visualization of designed routes.
Discover the features introduced in the latest release of PRM!
New auto-routing algorithm
The network auto-routing feature has gained a new and improved algorithm, which allows the customization of route search rules.
The rules can, for example, specify whether the system should propose the shortest possible route and whether it should consider the additional costs of welding fibers in a splice enclosure, cutting a bundle, or connecting fibers on a patch panel.
When planning fiber routes automatically, it is now possible to define resources (e.g., cables, splice enclosures) that should be excluded from the search (never used) or should be used as a last resort (not used unless no other path is available). It is also possible to configure a cost factor for resources on the list of resources that should be avoided.
On top of that, users can save the set parameters of the automatic route search for later use.
Use of information on third-party resources in the diversity check process
PRM allows you to store information about the geographic path of a route also when it uses (leased) resources of another operator.
This information is now incorporated into the diversity check, enabling the system to support the design of primary and backup routes that avoid using own resources unintentionally, which may not ensure true redundancy if they are located near the infrastructure of another operator used for the same service.
Visualizing routes inside buildings
Until now, PRM has primarily focused on network management along routes between locations. But what about networks inside buildings? Particularly large facilities with complex internal infrastructure? Now, it is possible to track the exact routes of fiber optic cables within buildings as well.
Cable tags
Identifying the correct cable when there are multiple cables reaching a splice enclosure can be a challenge. To make it easier, operators place labels at the ends of the cables – for example, containing letter markers. PRM now stores these labels and includes them in the generated reports. This allows technicians in the field to find the correct cables quickly and complete their tasks more efficiently.
Physical Route Manager API (PRM-API) – easy access to optical route information from various systems
PRM-API was created to enable easy access to optical route information. Thanks to the API, this information, needed, among other things, to manage the occupancy of the telecommunications network, can now be obtained from an external system integrated through the API.
PRM-API supports service fulfillment, service provisioning, and service assurance processes. In the latest release of the solution, we introduced new features and enhancements in all three areas.
In the area of service fulfillment, we have introduced the ability to:
- Check network availability at a location
- Check the nearest network locations
- Check fiber availability (check connection availability to a central office). This feature allows operators to check the availability of a fiber route from a designated location without booking the route. This way, operators can check if the route is available without blocking it for others. Another function that checks availability and reserves resources right away (request connection) is also available.
- Booking a fiber, the availability of which has been checked with the check availability feature. This possibility is provided by the Create route function.
We have also introduced several changes to support the provisioning process:
- The ability to generate reports of tasks for execution. These reports provide detailed information on the work that needs to be performed in the field to complete a service. The report is designed for workforce management systems such as GeoTask (function: Get route details) and contains information on what locations to visit and what operations to perform at each location (in a format easily processed by an external system).
- Work reports for technicians. Now, PRM also allows you to generate a report with detailed information about the work a technician in the field needs to perform to launch the telecommunications service (function: Get Connections report).
- The ability to automatically update network information – for example, to communicate that the work on the network in the field has been completed (Function: Update route)
The ability to generate a “Get affected routes” report, which shows which services (routes) are using the indicated resource – fiber optic cable, splice closure, manhole, underground route, etc.
This report is particularly useful during network outages or when planning maintenance work that requires a temporary shutdown. It supports identifying and planning alternative routes to ensure the continued delivery of multiple services.
Data Center Manager (DCM) – more accurate modeling of telecommunications equipment
Data Center Manager is a module that extends one of GE Smallworld PNI’s core functions: Inventorying network resources located inside buildings.
In the latest release of DCM, we have introduced the possibility of a more precise representation of the actual state of the equipment (e.g., whether a device occupies the full depth of a telecommunications rack or only its part) and avoid errors when planning the installation of new equipment.
CATV Design: quickly improve network performance
CATV Design enables fast and convenient planning of HFC/CATV networks directly in Physical Network Inventory (PNI), without the need for signal calculation in other programs and uploading data with the help of tools.
In this solution’s latest release, we introduced a tool that allows you to verify the technical data of all taps on a selected part of the network. Thanks to this, operators can quickly access information on which infrastructure elements need to be replaced (and with what devices) to upgrade the network to utilize higher frequencies.
Growth is our priority. We are constantly working to improve our solutions supporting work with telecommunications networks. Each update is not only a series of enhancements and new features but, above all, a response to the needs and suggestions of Smallworld users. This is why the system adapts perfectly to the challenges and dynamic changes characteristic of the modern telecommunications sector. Stay tuned for more features!
Read more about our solutions for telecommunications:
Telecommunications – discover Globema solutions for telco operators
If you want to learn more about any of the modules, please contact us.
