Don’t go it alone: These experts apply an automation framework approach to your network upgrade
A major network upgrade and evolution is on the horizon, and it’s all hands on deck. ‘Connected Everything’ is linking together billions of devices, sensors, vehicles, trackers, and whatever more is to come, to create the intelligent and interconnected Internet of Things. Some of these connected devices involve critical communications requiring high reliability and availability, and ultra-short latencies driving the need for premium services.
As a network operator, you know that your company’s future depends on getting this network transformation project right. So why not tilt the odds in your favor by getting the insights and expertise of someone who does this all day, every day?
Better yet, why not take advantage of the experts who use a powerful and proven ‘automation framework’ that can help ensure the project budget, execution, and milestones stay on track.
Planning for success with an Automation Framework
Network implementation projects have historically been saddled with manual processes, layers of documentation, and disjoined tools leading to inefficient, often inaccurate, and costly results. Whether it’s a goal of lowering operating expenses or deploying new services to meet customer expectations and generate new revenue growth, network operators don’t always have the skills, tools, or time available to plan, design, and deploy their new or upgraded network.
Ciena’s Implementation Service can help. Our experienced, highly skilled teams use proven processes to plan, design, and deploy networks, leveraging our powerful automation framework to ensure accuracy, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness with every project.
As a network operator, you know that your company’s future depends on getting this network transformation project right. So why not tilt the odds in your favor by getting the insights and expertise of someone who does this all day, every day?
Right from the planning phase all the way through to project completion, our PMP-certified project managers track projects using rigorous project management software within our automation framework. This ensures the project budget and milestones stay on track.
The design phase uses the automation framework to enhance the network architecture with design principles, and device configuration data, automatically generating a design package that is critical for deploying, maintaining, and operating the network. Additionally, the framework produces device configuration files that assist in deployment workflow automation, including zero- or low-touch provisioning. This automation extends to adding third-party products and can drive machine-to-machine workflows as needed. This results in improved data integrity which leads to a more reliable network design and faster deployment.
When rolling out networks in the deployment phase, it’s critical that standardized processes are followed by teams to ensure consistency and reduce errors. Workflow automation tools guide project managers, engineers, and field resources through the build and turn-up process providing a template for success. It is important to ensure field resources are scheduled considering equipment availability, network readiness, and optimal maintenance windows to minimize disruption to existing customer networks. Audits are performed and digital images are captured and stored for future reference, ensuring deployment is done to a high-quality standard every time.
Network upgrades and reconfiguration are a normal part of the network lifecycle, and updating hundreds or thousands of devices is a time-consuming and logistical challenge. Our automation framework includes tools to assist engineers with auditing devices and identifying parts of the network in need of an upgrade. These tools allow the engineer to run upgrade checks and analyses before updating live equipment to the most recent version. Quality checks are automated ensuring the network runs at peak performance.
Automation isn’t limited to terrestrial networks. Beyond physical installation, submarine networks have specific challenges with spectrum activation and testing. Our automation framework includes tools that automate these activities to not only reduce labor but increase quality and reduce human error.
Ciena Services experts are driving the principles of automation throughout our organization, and by doing so, guiding our customers’ organizations as well. Our experienced teams use our proven processes and leverage our powerful automation framework to ensure accuracy, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness with every project through the network lifecycle. Don’t go it alone, let us manage the risk for you.
