Internet as an essential factor: Xantaro modernising the backbone network of LEW TelNet

LEW TelNet uses fibre technology to not only connect business clients and authorities to the internet, but also industrial parks and entire communities. Even large carriers use the company’s data infrastructure. In 2013, the Bavarian-Swabian data specialist in collaboration with Xantaro sustainably increased the transmission capacities of its own Backbone. The technology upgrade protects investments and LEW TelNet is now prepared for future requirements.

Broadband infrastructure extended in Bavarian Swabia

Nowadays, a well-developed data communication infrastructure is as important for businesses and communities as basic requirements such as water and energy – a notion in which the Lechwerke as a regional energy provider in Bavarian Swabia and parts of Baden-Württemberg, Germany truly believe in. In their eyes, a comprehensive broadband supply is a crucial factor for rural regions in terms of business attractiveness.

Lechwerke has its own regional fibre network, over 2,000 km long, which is operated by its subsidiary LEW TelNet, founded in 1997. LEW TelNet is responsible for the construction and operation of local fibre networks in the region of Bavarian Swabia, providing communities and companies with broadband connections of up to 1000 Megabits per second (Mbit/s). Furthermore, LEW TelNet offers its customers managed services, colocation and Voice over IP services.

Higher capacities for the LEW TelNet backbone network

The backbone based on SDH (Synchronous Digital Hierarchy) is the central ring of the LEW TelNet network that until now had a capacity of 10 Gigabits per second (Gbit/s). In light of the huge response to LEW TelNet’s broadband offers it was obvious that, in the long term, this capacity needed to be increased.

At the beginning of 2013, LEW TelNet decided to extend its capability and offering, however it faced the question of whether the extension should be based on the existing SDH technology, or whether the backbone should be complemented by MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) functions. “We decided to augment our backbone network using sustainable MPLS based layer 2 technology”, explains Werner Schmid, Head of Transmission Technology at LEW TelNet. “This allows us to bundle the bandwidths more effectively and create a more flexible network in terms of both operation and usage.”

Xantaro offers the best network concept

LEW TelNet did not want to take on this project alone, and thus searched for a system integrator to support them. The company received offers from three different providers, from which the service integrator Xantaro was awarded the contract in May 2013. “Xantaro simply had the best network concept for us”, Schmid recalls. “Xantaro’s technical know-how and the excellent value for money were attractive factors for us, aas well as the fact that we have collaborated successfully with them in the past.”

The decision to go with Xantaro confirmed the new network concept for LEW TelNet: the WDM (Wavelength Division Multiplexing) systems from Transmode, which have been in place since 2007 in order to transfer customer data, and monitor and manage the network, are to be upgraded to a multi-service platform. This provides an Ethernet-based data transmission on layer 2 level. Not only standardised MEF (Metro Ethernet Forum) Carrier Ethernet services can be implemented with this system, but also customer-specific requirements for bit rates up to 10Gbp/s. The support of Synchronous Ethernet, high availability by a rapid equivalent network, as well as very low latency and minimal jitter are further positive features of the new network.

Xantaro supported in all project phases

“A big advantage of Xantaro’s concept is that we were able to keep our existing infrastructure but complement and upgrade it with new technology”, says Christian Böhm, Head of Network at LEW TelNet. “This protects our past and current investments while also preparing us for future requirements.”

To begin with, for the extension of the backbone of LEW TelNet‘s network six of the existing Transmode TM-3000 systems with EMXP62 cards for a layer 2 based communication were upgraded. Xantaro guided LEW TelNet with technical expertise throughout the entire project, right up to the point where the infrastructure was brought into service in September, 2013, by:

• development of requirements, concept creation, hardware selection, solution design and concept testing
• upgrade of the WDM systems and conversion of traffic to the new backbone, including a fall back plan to safeguard the system
• onsite workshop for network administrators and technicians

A modernised network and extended capacities

Thanks to the upgrade of the existing Transmode systems, LEW TelNet was able to increase its backbone‘s capacities, which can easily be extended to up to 100 Gbit/s in the future. Moreover, the change to layer 2 based data communication creates the possibility to use the capacities in much more flexible ways for business clients. “With their technical brilliance and enthusiasm, Xantaro has really helped us to successfully implement the technology upgrade of our backbone network”, Werner Schmid concludes. “Again, we are extremely happy with the collaboration and are now prepared in the best possible way for our market.”

For further information visit: www.lewtelnet.de und www.transmode.com