Post on 08-Dec-2016
transcript
COMPANY, COUNTRY
Success story
Digicel Suriname reduces opex and upgrades service with MINI-LINK
smartSavings
Digicel, Suriname
Success story
Digicel Suriname reduces opex and provides higher quality service through installation of state-of-the-art MINK-LINK TN in the remote village of Benzdorp.
Digicel was the first operator to bring full GSM
mobile coverage to Benzdorp, Suriname, a
village located in the middle of the rainforest
near the border with French Guyana.
Benzdorp is a gold mining site with very basic
infrastructure and difficult environmental
conditions. Satellite transmission has been
replaced by Ericsson’s MINI-LINK TN, providing
Digicel with both operational expenditure
(opex) savings and better quality service.
Satellite swap-out
In 2007, Ericsson installed an RBS 2116 in
Benzdorp to provide coverage to the site;
however, the only possible transmission
method available at that time was satellite.
Satellite availability in the region was poor,
due to adverse climate conditions, while
power consumption was very high, as
the satellite station ran on a diesel-fueled
generator. To address these issues, Digicel and
Ericsson jointly designed a new transmission
solution using MINI-LINK TN.
As Ericsson is the sole supplier of Digicel
Suriname (for both microwave and GSM),
the company’s MINI-LINK TN was a natural
selection based on its proven performance in
tough environments.
Making the long hop
The major challenge was connecting 98.2
kilometers over dense rainforest, with just one
hop, from the existing MINI-LINK TN/Marconi
LH network to the new site in Benzdorp.
Phillip van Dalsen, CEO of Digicel Suriname,
explains, “In our case, MINI-LINK TN enables
best-in-class transmission, allowing Digicel to
enhance smartphone services and improve
the end-user experience with fewer delays and
better quality calls. This was not previously
possible with satellite transmission.”
Shivendra Nautiyal, Digicel Suriname CTO,
says, “We are very proud of this achievement,
as it provides significant opex savings, as
well as improves the system availability and
quality, which was quite poor with the satellite
solution. We are proud to have link a of 98.2
kilometers in the middle of the Amazon
rainforest — one of the longest MINI-LINK TN
links in the region.”
Smart savings
Installing MINI-LINK TN means big savings for
Digicel. Luiz Cabral, Digicel Suriname Account
Manager, explains, “The replacement of the
satellite station with MINI-LINK TN will reduce
power consumption by at least 95%.” Digicel
Customer ProfileAfter nine years of operation, Digicel Group Limited has 11 million customers across its 32 markets in the Caribbean, Central America and the Pacific. The company is known for delivering value, service and network. As a core value, Digicel believes in giving back to the community with involvement in bringing communications to a number of medical and educational programs.
Website: www.digicelsuriname.com
long distanceconnections
MINI-LINK TNenables best-in-class transmission, allowing Digicel to enhance smart-phone servicesand improve theend-user experience.”
Phillip van Dalsen,Chief Executive Officer,Digicel Suriname
Ericsson ABSE-164 80 Stockholm Telephone: +46 10 719 0000Email: asq.us@ericsson.com www.ericsson.com
EN/LZT 138 0468 R1A© Ericsson AB 2010
will see further savings in opex, since fuel is
carried to the diesel-generator powered site
via a complex logistics involving water and air
transport (the site is unreachable over land).
Additionally, Digicel will no longer incur
satellite rental costs.
Digicel Suriname’s partnership with Ericsson
continues to be marked by innovation in
solving telecommunications issues, whether
it be solar-powered base station sites or
long-distance hops over the country’s dense
rainforest. “As usual, our relationship with
Ericsson is one based on a high level of
professionalism and a great partnership for
over three years,” van Dalsen states.
real IMPACTSMINI-LINK is a unique microwave transmission
node, handling single hops and access sites as
well as advanced hub sites for large networks,
savings.
MINI-LINK is a high performance radio link
with high capacities and high availability.
MINI-LINK’s best-in-class radio output power
provides longer hops with smaller antennas.
The replacement ofthe satellite station with MINI-LINK TN will reduce powerconsumption byat least 95%.”Luiz Cabral,Account Manager, Ericsson
OVERVIEW
CUSTOMER:
Digicel Suriname
CUSTOMER OBJECTIVE
> Replace satellite transmission
> Lower operating costs
> Upgrade communications quality
ERICSSON SOLUTION
> MINI-LINK TN
CUSTOMER BENEFITS
> Reduced opex
> Increased quality for end users
> Enhanced data services
To �nd out more about this article, contactLuiz Roberto Cabral Email: luiz.cabral@ericsson.com