ASTA-NET Case Study
About the project
Discover how ASTA-NET improved its telecommunications network and service management using NetStork, a comprehensive network inventory system.
Contents:
Industry: Telecommunications
Country: Poland
ASTA-NET is a medium-sized telecommunications provider with 30 years of market experience. The operator’s coverage extends to over 80,000 households across the West Pomeranian and Greater Poland regions.
ASTA-NET in the telecommunications market
According to reports by the Office of Electronic Communications (UKE), local telecommunications operators provide services to 20% of domestic Internet users. ASTA-NET stands out among these small and medium-sized operators.
The company has been operating since 1989, providing services to over 50,000 individual and business customers in two neighbouring regions in Poland: Greater Poland (Wielkopolska) and West Pomerania (Zachodniopomorskie).
To maintain its position as a top service provider and stay one step ahead of the competition, ASTA-NET needed to manage a growing volume of data regarding its network, including aerial and underground telecommunication lines. Keeping this data structured and centralized is crucial for planning, modeling, and maintaining services. For this, a network inventory system is essential. Globema, a Polish IT company with over 25 years of solid experience in creating network inventory software, offered ASTA-NET a system designed specifically for small and medium-sized operators: NetStork.
How did it all start? How long did the implementation take? What challenges arose, and ultimately, how did ASTA-NET benefit from using NetStork?
Challenges
Supporting investments
To expand and provide high quality services, ASTA-NET participates in programs co-financed by the European Union and local government institutions. One such initiative is the Operational Programme Digital Poland (POPC).
ASTA-NET was awarded 4 contracts under the POPC. The common goal is to provide universal access to high-speed Internet and eliminate territorial disparities. To deliver broadband Internet, two technologies are being utilized: Next-Generation Access (NGA) and Fiber to the Home (FTTH). The total value of these investments was estimated at 180 million PLN.
ASTA-NET received financing to modernize two areas: Zachodniopomorskie and Wielkopolskie. Another example is the Wielkopolska Broadband Network, a program aimed at digitizing the Wielkopolska region by providing internet connectivity to public institutions and private recipients. The project’s main goal is to bridge the gap in living standards between inhabitants of large cities and those in smaller towns or rural regions.
What challenges did ASTA-NET face?
Before implementing NetStork, ASTA-NET had previous experience with a different network inventory system. However, as the customer base grew, that tool became insufficient. It was time for a new solution, better tailored to the company’s needs. Naturally, NetStork was the choice.
When ASTA-NET reached out to Globema with a Request for Proposal in September 2018, the operator was serving over 45,000 subscribers. With the planned investments, it was clear this number would rise quickly (projected to grow by 17,000 in 2021).
ASTA-NET sought a tool that would help not only to document and manage the network but also to design and plan expansion and new network investments. The company had ambitious plans for its business.
Services planned by the end of 2021 in numbers:
41 K internet connections for households
2.5 K kilometers of new network
215 internet connections for educational institutions
31 new nodes
Solution
NetStork powers ASTA-NET’s network inventory
With such extensive development plans, ASTA-NET required a robust solution to support its requirements. NetStork, an intuitive application for modeling and managing fiber, coax, and copper networks and their topology, was the perfect fit.
The system can be used by both field technicians and office-based inventory staff. Every employee has access to the same, always up-to-date database.
NetStork supports all key processes, from design and planning to network maintenance.
How did NetStork help?
Modeling different network types
The system supports the inventory of Inside Plant (ISP) equipment, urban and regional networks, and a wide range of technologies (GPON/FTTx, copper, Ethernet, HFC, and radio). By modeling these diverse network types, ASTA-NET can plan network expansion even in areas that are difficult to access with standard cabling. With NetStork’s support for HFC technology, the operator can inventory both Internet and TV services effectively.
Data entry and updates
ASTA-NET can easily update network information, whether in the field or at the office. Data can be entered manually, migrated from external sources, or updated remotely. Field updates can be performed on mobile devices equipped with GPS for precise object positioning. NetStork also supports automatic data migration from DWG and DXF documentation.
Support for various map data types
A wide range of map bases allows ASTA NET employees to present data according to current needs or internal standards. The system supports Google Maps, Geoportal, WMS, WMTS, DWG, and rasters, allowing integration with virtually any online map service.
Fieldwork support
NetStork streamlines ASTA-NET’s fieldwork, supporting both inventory processes and ongoing network maintenance.
Mobile mode
The application features a tablet mode that integrates with built-in or external GPS receivers to capture coordinates for network objects. NetStork also synchronizes data from multiple devices into a single central database.
Outage location
NetStork is capable of reading measurement files from reflectometers (OTDR). This allows technicians to easily pinpoint outags or key locations on the network. By selecting a point on a measurement chart (e.g., from a specific ODF or connector), NetStork visualizes the corresponding physical location on the map, highlighting the fiber path in green.
UKE reporting
The UKE (Office of Electronic Communications) is the Polish regulatory authority supervising telecommunications services. Annual reporting to the UKE is mandatory. NetStork allows ASTA-NET to define specific attributes for network objects required for these compliance reports.
Get more information about NetStork
How did the implementation go?
Training included:
- Telecommunications network inventory
- Network diagrams
- Data analysis
- UKE Report Generator
- Defining network elements and dictionaries
- Data import and export
- Printouts and reports
- Administrative tasks
When implementing NetStork in ASTA-NET’s environment, we encountered some challenges.
How did time constraints influence the project?
The final data migration process had to be completed within 2 days to avoid disrupting the operator’s ongoing activities. To meet this challenge, our developers built a custom migration tool tailored to the data format of the existing system.
To ensure the tool worked correctly, we ran several test migrations using various data formats.
What new modules did we implement?
Due to extensive investment plans and new requirements for the inventory system, we introduced several modifications to NetStork after the initial launch. The most important features included:
How does ASTA-NET benefit from using NetStork?
What processes have we improved?
Improved network operation
With fast access to network diagrams, connections, and fiber utilization visualization, ASTA-NET’s technical staff can see exactly to what extent customers are using specific resources. This facilitates easier investment planning, from simple cross-connects to major network extensions.
Competitive advantage
With a holistic view of service coverage and availability, it is easy to identify potential new customers and network extension opportunities, helping to build a strong market position and competitive advantage.
Efficient, error-free fieldwork
By using NetStork on mobile devices, ASTA-NET field workers can track the status of network elements in real time. There is no need to transcribe information onto paper, which reduces the risk of errors. By simply marking elements as complete, the operator can instantly see if there are any delays in the work schedule.
Network planning and expansion in one tool
With NetStork, ASTA-NET can model its network using a single tool without needing to synchronize between different systems or worry about data consistency. The modeling accounts for both external infrastructure elements (cables, couplers, splitters, cabinets, etc.) and the visualisation of service delivery inside buildings.
Network acceptance
The service path visualization function allows the team to verify whether the as-built status matches the original plans. It provides access to critical information, such as signal direction based on cross-connects and signal strength based on reflectometer measurements (including attenuation parameters).