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Some of the projects completed in recent years are described below, illustrating the nature and diversity of our experience in telecommunications projects.
The Systems House was engaged for support with technology selection, vendor selection and overall design of a 200Gbps DWDM network for Onix, a data centre located in Accra region, Ghana. This entailed a fibre ring with five POPs where client traffic could be multiplexed.
The Systems House has been awarded multiple contracts by Telecomms investment management firms to perform technicals and operational audits and due diligence of various ISPs, fibre and wireless network operators across Africa including Tanzania, Malawi, Uganda, Zambia, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Cameroon. The audits covered the full scope of operations including data centres, fibre deployments, wireless point-to-point links and point-to-multipoint networks, OSS/BSS systems, satellite, IP network, facilities and infrastructure, staff skill level and operational processes and procedures.
The Systems House is providing consultancy support to an East African ISP for the rollout of their aerial FTTX network in two major cities, using both GPON and PtP technology. The scope includes GPON equipment selection/evaluation, FIMS selection, fibre route planning, project management, drafting of vendor contracts, design review, quality control and acceptance processes etc. The project is scheduled for completion mid 2019.
The Systems House is currently providing technical advisory services to a South African entity looking to become an Infraco offering streetpoles with backup power and fibre connectivity for hosting of GSM mini-macro or small cells, or outdoor WiFi deployments. Testing of various WiFi deployment scenarios has been completed and pilot projects for 4G deployments on the poles are underway.
The Systems House was approached by a fibre operator deploying services in the Johannesburg CBD. Due to the lengthy time-scales in obtaining wayleaves and high cost of deployment, they were seeking a wireless short-range high-capacity solution. After evaluating various options, we proposed the use of E band PtP backhauls and V band PMP network to connect multiple buildings to the nearest fibre PoP. This solution is providing up to 1Gbps per building and offering fibre-speed services at a fraction of the cost and with rapid deployment. The solution is being rolled out in a residential neighbourhood in Hillbrow.
South African wireless provider VO Connect contracted The Systems House to provide engineering support for their deployment of new technology in their licensed 10.5GHz spectrum. This included RF planning, developing Tilt optimisation algorithms, modelling of link performance and providing training and skills transfer.
The Systems House was contracted by BT Global Services to manage various bids for outsourcing of telephony services including PVN, Call Centres, PABX, handsets, telephony management systems etc.
Under contract to Accelon in 2008, the Systems House performed a technical analysis of WIMAX technology to assist with Accelon’s business planning process. This included a technical review of the WiMAX technology including capacity and range determination, FDD & TDD access schemes, sub-channelisation effects, microwave backhaul and other aspects that impact on the network sizing.
The project included RFP generation and financial and technical evaluation of bids from multiple WiMAX vendors.
The Systems House was contracted by BT Global Services to lead the design of Chubb Electronic Securities’ next generation network including voice, data, vehicle tracking, backbone and mobile communications. The project included an audit of Chubb’s current dispatch and monitor operations, analysis of the existing IP and VHF radio networks, and a trade-off a several new technologies. Different network design options were assessed including a technical, operational and financial analysis of each.
The Systems House was contracted by Internet Solutions to provide technical leadership in their 28GHz point to multipoint wireless system acquisition, planning and rollout. This included RFP generation, technology evaluation, laboratory testing, capacity planning and optimisation, RF planning, backhaul connectivity assessment and many other related aspects.
The network was deployed in 2011 and currently has coverage of all major towns and cities in South Africa. Ongoing expansion of the network is taking place.
The Systems House provided engineering and project management services to MetroFibre Networx (MFN) for their wireless access network deployment. This incorporated 26GHz PMP and 13GHz and 26GHz PtP links. The project included securing of high sites, facilities acquisition and deployment, RF planning, tilt optimisation of sectors, coverage planning, equipment selection, product definition, licensing, developing processes, quality assurance and many other supporting activities.
New Artel in Rwanda was looking to expand both its satellite and terrestrial wireless operations and contracted the Systems House to lead this activity. Scope of work included design, specification and contracting of internet trunking service, terrestrial wireless solution evaluation, wireless coverage analysis and many other related tasks.
Technical design and planning (coverage and frequency) was also performed for a wireless network to reach 90% of schools across Rwanda. This included Point-to-Multipoint access and Point-to-Point backhaul components, utilising a number of different tower providers.
The South African Regulator, ICASA, issued an invitation to apply for 2.6GHz and 800MHz spectrum for wireless networks. The Systems House was part of a multi-company team put together to evaluate the technical, operational and business aspects relating to deploying an FDD LTE solution utilising this spectrum. This work included detailed analysis of the expected LTE coverage and throughput based on a number of different deployment variants.
A technical and operational due diligence was performed on a wireless ISP in Southern Africa. This included assessment of all facilities, high sites, microwave backhauls and wireless access systems.
Operational processes and procedures were also reviewed and staff competence and experience assessed.
The Systems House undertakes audits of mobile network base stations including infrastructure and RF equipment. This includes assessment of equipment deployed, carriers and services activated and spectrum used by the base station, and physical assessment of the base station infrastructure such as earthing, power, security etc. Audits are performed on both free-standing and rooftop high sites. Indoor passive and active/hybrid Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) are also included in the audits. These typically cover all GSM operators in the 700-2600MHz bands.
The Systems House has assisted a leading South African ISP in the RFP process for selection of a Carrier-grade Wi-Fi solution for wholesale Wi-Fi offerings as well as offload of mobile traffic to MNOs. This included the access points, controllers, WLAN gateway and professional services.
The Systems House was contracted to participate in the technical due diligence of a South African Wi-Fi network. This included a review of the technologies deployed, backhaul networks, site infrastructure and facilities, deployment quality and verifying the asset value deployed.
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