NetMate Design and

Optimization Suite

Tackling Next Generation Network Planning Challenges

www.NetPlanSys.com

NetMate: The Power to Deliver Cost-Effective Networks NetMate is a flexible, integrated suite of end-to-end tools to help the network planner plan, design, optimize, and deploy wireline and wireless telecommunications net-works. The NetMate suite enables planners to design their networks to meet or ex-ceed their business objectives, marketing strategies, and regulatory requirements. It has been used by major incumbent carriers, emerging service providers, network equipment vendors, and network planning consulting organizations globally to plan and optimize networks worth billions of dollars.

NetMate incorporates five fully integrated planning applications:

NetMate Applications

Wireless Planning

The NetMate Wireless Planning application is a cus-tomized network planning, design, and optimization suite for 2G/2.5G/3G wireless networks. It is com-patible with all major wireless technology standards (UMTS, CDMA2000, GSM, CDMA, and TDMA). It is the most complete tool available that addresses the major discontinuity that Wireless Operators currently face in the transition to next-gen technologies.

Switch, Services, and Access Planning

The NetMate Switch, Services, and Access Planning application optimizes the capacity and cost of the network through optimal placement of switching elements and cost-effective deployment of services.

Trunk Planning

The NetMate Trunk Planning application optimizes the trunk requirements between central offices (COs) in a TDM network.

ATM Network Planning

The NetMate ATM Planning application performs dimensioning of ATM core network and access links based on QoS requirements. It allows planners to guarantee end-to-end network performance and assess network failure impacts.

Transport Planning

The NetMate Transport Planning application opti-mizes the physical facilities required to carry traffic (voice, data or video) in the core and access net-work. It offers operators a least-cost solution through intelligent routing, traffic grooming and right selection of leased and owned facilities.

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Because the NetMate suite of planning applications is so extensive, a planner can ei-ther choose to focus on one or two areas of the network or do end-to-end planning.

NetMate Can Plan End-to-end Networks

RNC

3G MSC

SDH

ATM MUX

ATMswitching

Leased-lines

GMSC

Access

Core

Transport

SGSN

GGSN

Node-B

RNC

3G MSC

SDH

ATM MUX

ATMswitching

Leased-lines

GMSC

Access

Core

Transport

SGSNSGSN

GGSNGGSN

Node-BNode-B

NetMate can also be applied productively across different phases of network evolu-tion: from green field network builds; through expansions of size, scope, geographic coverage, and new technologies; and to network optimization or consolidation.

Wireless Network Example: NetMate Can be Used both Strategically and Tactically

Tentative:� Network financial analysis� Service rollout strategy� Serving regions selection� Cell placement/antenna types

Deployment

Outputs

� Serving region definition� Cell placements � Antenna types� Antenna details, etc.

� Backhaul transmission plan� Switch capa city plan� Interoffice transmission plan� Provisioned/configured

equipment list

StrategicNetwork/ Business

Planning

Network Deployment

Planning

Radio (RF) Planning

� Propagation models� Desired grade service

of service� Site surveys

� Geographic� Subscriber data� Business objectives� Product data� Installed network (if any)

Inputs

Workflow

Tentative:� Network financial analysis� Service rollout strategy� Serving regions selection� Cell placement/antenna types

Deployment

Outputs

� Serving region definition� Cell placements � Antenna types� Antenna details, etc.

� Backhaul transmission plan� Switch capa city plan� Interoffice transmission plan� Provisioned/configured

equipment list

StrategicNetwork/ Business

Planning

Network Deployment

Planning

Radio (RF) Planning

� Propagation models� Desired grade service

of service� Site surveys

� Geographic� Subscriber data� Business objectives� Product data� Installed network (if any)

Inputs

Workflow

Tentative:� Network financial analysis� Service rollout strategy� Serving regions selection� Cell placement/antenna types

DeploymentDeployment

Outputs

� Serving region definition� Cell placements � Antenna types� Antenna details, etc.

� Serving region definition� Cell placements � Antenna types� Antenna details, etc.

� Backhaul transmission plan� Switch capa city plan� Interoffice transmission plan� Provisioned/configured

equipment list

� Backhaul transmission plan� Switch capa city plan� Interoffice transmission plan� Provisioned/configured

equipment list

StrategicNetwork/ Business

Planning

StrategicNetwork/ Business

Planning

Network Deployment

Planning

Network Deployment

Planning

Radio (RF) Planning

Radio (RF) Planning

� Propagation models� Desired grade service

of service� Site surveys

� Propagation models� Desired grade service

of service� Site surveys

� Geographic� Subscriber data� Business objectives� Product data� Installed network (if any)

� Geographic� Subscriber data� Business objectives� Product data� Installed network (if any)

Inputs

Workflow

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Addressing Fundamental Business Drivers NetMate�s deployment across a diverse customer base over the last decade has dem-onstrated strengths in addressing the fundamental business drivers:

• Reduce CapEx and OpEx

• De-risk network, marketing, and financial uncertainties

• Increase Competitive Advantage

• Enable New Revenue Opportunities

• Achieve Operational Excellence and Improve Productivity

• Manage Customer Satisfaction

NetMate supports an enterprise environment where network planning data are shared across various functions in the organization such as sales, marketing, network planning, and network management. This enables an accelerated and collaborative approach to the design of an optimized network.

NetMate Enables an Accelerated and Collaborative Decision-making Process

Finance Department

! Market demand model

! Revenue model! Price elasticity model

! Traffic models! Equipment models! Network

Engineering! CapEx & OpEx! Cash-flow analysis! Return on

Investment

Network Planning Department

Marketing Department

Financial Data

Marketing Data

Network DataFinance

Department

! Market demand model

! Revenue model! Price elasticity model

! Traffic models! Equipment models! Network

Engineering! CapEx & OpEx! Cash-flow analysis! Return on

Investment

Network Planning Department

Marketing Department

Financial Data

Marketing Data

Network Data

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This enhanced integration occurs because NetMate is not just a technical planning tool. It can model market demand for services, do financial projections, etc. The typical planning cycle is shown below.

Typical Network Planning Cycle with NetMate

Repeat until satisfiedBusiness

Planning

Business Planning

•Financial Projections•Financial Analysis•CapEx / OpEx Analysis

•Service Roll-out

ModelingModeling

•Services•Equipment•Network•Transmission Systems•Financial

Assessment & Sensitivity Analysis

Assessment & Sensitivity Analysis

• Financial Assessment• Network Impact Assessment

Export Results

Network

Service

Scenarios

Network Planning

Algorithms

Input & Validate

Data

Plan Scenario

Long-term Forecasting & Scenario GenerationPlan,

Design & Optimization

Plan, Design & Optimization

3rd-party tools

Flat files

IntegrationIntegration

Databases NMS

Repeat until satisfiedBusiness

Planning

Business Planning

•Financial Projections•Financial Analysis•CapEx / OpEx Analysis

•Service Roll-out

Business Planning

Business Planning

•Financial Projections•Financial Analysis•CapEx / OpEx Analysis

•Service Roll-out

ModelingModeling

•Services•Equipment•Network•Transmission Systems•Financial

ModelingModeling

•Services•Equipment•Network•Transmission Systems•Financial

Assessment & Sensitivity Analysis

Assessment & Sensitivity Analysis

• Financial Assessment• Network Impact Assessment

Assessment & Sensitivity Analysis

Assessment & Sensitivity Analysis

• Financial Assessment• Network Impact Assessment

Export Results

Network

Service

Scenarios

Network Planning

Algorithms

Input & Validate

Data

Plan Scenario

Long-term Forecasting & Scenario GenerationPlan,

Design & Optimization

Plan, Design & Optimization Export

Results

Network

Service

Scenarios

Network Planning

Algorithms

Input & Validate

Data

Plan Scenario

Long-term Forecasting & Scenario GenerationPlan,

Design & Optimization

Plan, Design & Optimization

3rd-party tools

Flat files

IntegrationIntegration

Databases NMS3rd-party tools

Flat files

IntegrationIntegration

Databases NMSNMS

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Planning Challenges Challenges to Network Planners

Business Planning

• How can I achieve my roll-out objectives with minimum CapEx and OpEx?

• How much money can I save with shared infrastructure? • Which service & QoS mix provides the highest margins

and the most manageable risk? • What choice of technology and vendor(s) best matches

my business objectives? • How much service revenue can I afford to share with

content service providers?

Network and Equipment Modeling

• How do I characterize a spectrum of data services with diverse QoS requirements?

• How do I model equipment from various vendors? • How do I evolve the network architecture to support tran-

sitions to next generation technologies?

Plan, Design & Optimization

• How do I engineer my network to achieve the desired QoS for each service?

• How do I engineer my network to minimize my cost of service delivery?

• How do I minimize the transmission costs in the net-work?

• How do I address network bottlenecks and other per-formance problems?

• How do I develop the most optimal logical network de-sign?

Assessment & Sensitivity Analysis

• Are there any predicted capacity problems in my net-work?

• How sensitive is my network design to changes in some of the fundamental assumptions (technology, demand, finance, etc.)?

• How survivable is my network to loss of nodes or links? • What are the impacts of various strategies for evolution

to the next-generation technologies?

Integration • How do I seamlessly integrate with other planning tools? • How can I share network planning data to collaborate

across my organization? • How do I extract data from Network Management and

Service Management systems? • How do I access data across various types of databases?

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Business Planning Capabilities NetMate�s built-in financial analysis package can quickly calculate the various financial measures to assess ROI, breakeven, NPV and various cash flows for any network plan. Then you can use your own planning judgment to make the tradeoffs between network and financial impacts.

Cash-flow Report with NPV for a Multi-period Study

Business Planning Capabilities Benefits to Network Planners Create financial reports on any network plan

• Validate a potential business strategy with a fea-sible network plan

• Enable collaboration across marketing, financial and network engineering organizations to de-liver the optimized network design and roll-out plan

• Allow you to consider financial perspective while selecting the right technology and vendor mix.

Financial modeling of any vendor�s equipment defined to any level of detail

• High-degree of accuracy in financial reporting • Enables controlled costs and provisioning deci-

sions.

Integrate Service Planning with financial analysis

• Make informed business decisions, e.g. Rate plans, service offerings, coverage, etc.

• Grow revenues profitably

Detailed reports include: Installation Capital Cost Installation Expense Cost Growth Capital Growth Expense Removal Expense Recurring Expense Salvage Value Attributed Revenue

• Comprehensive linkage between business strat-egy and network plans

• Detailed reports improve business plan confor-mance

• Superior ability to converge to the optimal net-work plan

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Modeling Capabilities NetMate empowers planners with a flexible and powerful way to define service charac-teristics and create network and equipment models to any level of detail.

Product Library Displayed in the Equipment Modeling Environment

Modeling Capabilities Benefits to Network Planners Multi-service modeling • Allows accurate characterization of services,

both existing and future

Capacity modeling based on traffic mix

• Fulfills QoS requirements of all services simulta-neously

• Optimizes the network to handle the desired traffic mix at the lowest possible cost

Accurately model equipment to any component level

• Models network elements (present and future) from any vendors

• Defines engineering rules for any vendors� equipment

• Enables better decision-making and greater sav-ings by offering greater sensitivity and richer in-formation through deeper views of the network and network elements

Flexibility to define Intercon-nection Rules

• Supports multiple vendors and type of network transport technologies

Support for various network architectures

• Models a breadth of network types: 2G/2.5G/3G wireless access networks, SDH/SONET networks, ATM / TDM / IP logical network design, etc.

• Supports network evolution and ensures future-proofing

Pre-defined product library and modeling templates

• Significantly reduce modeling requirements • Saves time, effort and money

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Plan, Design and Optimization Capabilities NetMate offers a breadth of proven planning algorithms for forecasting, topology genera-tion, routing, dimensioning, and network provisioning. Detailed equipment provisioning offers greater control over network cost and design choices.

Planned Results

Design Capabilities Benefits to Network Planners Optimize the use of transport facilities through efficient routing and cost profiling

• Design your network with any transport facility leased or owned

• Minimize cost and achieve survivability objec-tives

Optimize logical network design

• Minimize costs, maximize performance and manage effectively.

Guaranteed network-wide QoS in a mixed-service environment

• QoS guarantees leads to improved customer satisfaction and competitive differentiation

• Design and achieve QoS objectives at the right price

• Grow revenues profitably

Optimize the network ca-pacities for any service mix

• Minimize costs, maximize profits and increase competitive advantage

• Reduce network planning cycles to successfully cope with frequent service mix changes

• Introduce new services faster with accurate fi-nancial projections

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Design Capabilities Benefits to Network Planners Accurately plans the pro-visioning requirements of any network element from any vendor at any level of granularity

• Ensure 100% accuracy in provisioning equip-ment configurations in a multi-vendor environ-ment.

• Identify the best products, the best configura-tions and the best vendor choices

Multi-period planning for controlled network roll-out and evolution

• Segment your overall roll-out plans into man-ageable implementation phases

• Align new service roll-out costs against planned revenue ramps

• Leverage your network planning expertise by applying known time constraints and deploy-ment preferences

• De-risk network evolution and technology adop-tion goals by creating time-defined implementa-tion steps

• Create flexibility in your network rollout plans to accommodate changes in technology and planned service offering

User-defined planning steps

• Extend the built-in planning capabilities

NetMate goes through a series of planning steps to work out the results of your as-sumptions. Below is a simplified diagram of the steps for a service deployment study.

Typical Steps NetMate Goes Through in a Service Rollout Planning Study

Calculate the service demand

Route the traffic for each service

Applies the margins for each service

Size the links

Provision node components

Calculate Financials

Calculate the service demand

Route the traffic for each service

Applies the margins for each service

Size the links

Provision node components

Calculate Financials

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Assessment & Sensitivity Analysis Capabilities NetMate includes value-rich analytical capabilities that empower the network planner to perform iterative "what-if" scenario evaluation and powerful pre-dictive planning to assess the merits of different alternatives.

NetMate also has a rich set of report-ing and visualization capabilities that detail network design and performance parameters, multi-level financial data and time-lapsed network deployment schedules that reinforce the business and marketing needs.

Assessment Capabilities Benefits to Network Planners Visually assess and analyze your network

• Examine topology and traffic flows; identify bottlenecks

• Assess your network faster to reduce the plan-ning cycle and costs

• Reduce the potential for surprise problems

Zoom-in to examine se-lected network regions

• Reduce complex network to more easily as-sessed units

Filter network nodes and links based on user-specified attributes. Crop network with filters to ana-lyze to the finest details

• Increase the quality of your network plan • Empower your network planners to make better

decisions with more knowledge, more flexibility and more accurate data

Analyze multiple network scenarios to validate your network planning decisions against your business goals

• De-risk mission-critical network decisions • Ensure the plan fits your business objectives • Leverage flexible set of controls and planning

preferences to analyze any number of network plan alternatives

• Choose optimal mix of vendors / technologies • Evaluate planning preferences including routing

rules, interconnection points, etc • Balance conflicting design objectives such as

cost control, QoS, Performance, Survivability

Customized reports detail network attributes including link parameters, equipment counts, costs, link routes.

• Superior assessment provides support for better decision making

• Provide accurate inputs to network deployment teams

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Integration Capabilities NetMate supports many levels of integration with external planning tools and data sources. It also allows Network planners to incorporate their own planning and op-timization algorithms directly into the NetMate model as planning steps.

Breadth of NetMate�s Integration Capabilities

RF Planning ToolsSpreadsheets

Network & Service

Management (OA&M)

DatabasesDatabases

Databases

RF Planning ToolsSpreadsheets

Network & Service

Management (OA&M)

DatabasesDatabases

Databases

DatabasesDatabases

Databases

Integration Capabilities Benefits to Network Planners Import data from external sources (spreadsheets, databases, RF Planning tools, OSS, NMS�s, etc.)

• Enables collaboration across marketing, finance and network engineering functions

• Enhanced ease-of-use • Facilitates planning with real network data. • Shortens the planning cycle • Eliminates data entry errors

Execute external tools or user-defined scripts in the NetMate planning proc-ess.

• Supports extensibility of planning capabilities • Offers flexibility and adaptability • Enables collaboration across various planning

tools

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NetMate Strengths and Differentiators • NetMate can model your network with as much accuracy as you require, reduce

the total cost of network, and help achieve the business and financial objectives.

• NetMate can balance conflicting design objectives such as Cost, QoS, Perform-ance, etc., to help achieve your business objectives.

• NetMate is an analytical tool which leverages the knowledge and experience of the network planner, enabling them to optimize an existing network and design an evolutionary path to their next-generation network.

• NetMate allows network planners to have full control of the planning process.

• NetMate enables collaboration between Finance, Marketing and Network Engi-neering teams to plan, design and deploy the network.

• NetMate guarantees network-wide QoS across multi-vendor, multi-technology and multi-service networks.

• NetMate is vendor-neutral, allowing planning of any vendor�s equipment.

• NetMate�s predictive analysis and planning capabilities enables operators to prof-itably transition to next-generation technologies and services.

Examples of NetMate Use Wireless Planning � German Operator Problem: Optimize the wireless network roll-out.

Solution:

NetMate Sensitivity Analysis indicated there had to be at least a dozen MSC�s in the network. Conventional thinking emphasized using only two or three MSC�s to mini-mize administrative costs. However, the primary cost driver was leased lines and NetMate helped guide the planners to the better solution.

NetMate�s built-in Trunk Dimensioner took the leased-line prices and the estimated end-to-end traffic to create an optimized design for trunking between the MSC�s and their interconnection with TSC�s and the POI�s.

Result: NetMate design reduced costs by 50% compared to another tool.

Switch & Transport Planning � Jamaica Problem: Identify and resolve the capacity bottlenecks in the network

Solution:

NetMate selected the best tandem locations and created an optimized trunk design

NetMate identified the equipment that could not handle the existing traffic on the network.

Result: NetMate design reduced the trunk requirements by 20%

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System Requirements • SUN SPARC series (5, 20) or Ultra-SPARC

• SUN Solaris 2.8 Unix operating system

• X-Windows Version X11-R5 or later

• 128 MB RAM or higher

• Minimum 130 MB free disk space

• CD ROM Drive

Network Planning Systems Inc. 490 St.-Joseph Boulevard, Suite 103 Hull, Quebec Canada J8Y 3Y7 Phone: (819) 770-2221 Fax: (819) 770-6963 e-mail: Info@NetPlanSys.com Web: www.NetPlanSys.com