IBM Helps Mobile Communications Providers Gain Control of Cell Sites

ARMONK, N.Y., June 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced new software and services that help mobile communication service providers (CSPs) analyze, manage and maintain the critical data and physical assets at manned, unmanned and remote cell sites to streamline operations and make informed business decisions.  The new offering enables mobile CSPs and cell site facility providers to control and reduce costs while improving service for mobile users.

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Between 60 and 90 percent of CSPs' energy usage is in the mobile network*.  Without proper management and maintenance of the network and its assets, CSPs lack visibility and control over a significant aspect of their businesses that affects network availability, customer satisfaction and service quality.  

Passive cell site infrastructures (non-radio components including heating ventilation and air conditioning, electricity and power, back-up power, batteries, masts and antennae) have traditionally been managed independently of organizations' broader business and operations objectives.  Before now, CSPs have lacked visibility and insight into this passive infrastructure and how it affects their network quality and operational costs.  Normally, when a cell site's related equipment malfunctions, a technician has to go to the site, assess the problem and determine what materials and repairs are needed, and then return with the items to fix the issue.

IBM Intelligent Site Operations allow technicians to diagnose and often resolve problems without having to travel to the site – reducing truck rolls, decreasing labor and fuel costs, and decreasing CO2 emissions in the air from trucks.  More importantly, the new offering from IBM integrates the passive cell tower infrastructure with an organization's active network for end-to-end, continuous monitoring, management and control of all physical and digital assets and operations. Advanced analytics capabilities in the solution help CSPs convert near real-time data into better business decision making.

"IBM is helping our clients gain control over their remote facilities and assets to improve their operations and services, reduce operating and energy costs, increase revenue streams, and better manage their energy footprint," said Scott Stainken, general manager, Global Telecommunications Industry, IBM.  "Intelligent Site Operations is another example of how IBM helps clients intelligently manage the critical assets across their enterprise, regardless of location, to make better business decisions and control costs."

Kentrox, an IBM Business Partner, is an innovator of site monitoring, management and control solutions and a key enabler of the IBM Intelligent Site Operations solution.  Kentrox and IBM help CSPs by reducing network and operating costs while improving network performance.  

"Adding intelligence into the management of remote cell towers does more than streamline a CSP's business operations," said Ben Stump, chief technology officer at Kentrox.  "IBM Intelligent Site Operations allows our customers to conduct predictive analytics of the data and information collected from the remote sites to proactively detect problems, reduce network outages and deliver uninterrupted service to customers."

IBM Intelligent Site Operations, available today, integrates third-party sensors and controllers with: IBM Tivoli Netcool for service management; IBM Maximo for enterprise asset management; IBM Cognos for dashboards and analytics; and IBM Ilog, a value-added part of the solution, for complex workflow and rules.  IBM Global Business Services provides consulting expertise to bring together business and operational requirements, and IBM Global Technology Services provides operational and integration expertise to enable and integrate using best practices.

IBM software, hardware and services help create, manage and maintain the world's most intelligent and interconnected infrastructures from smarter buildings, cities, utilities, offices, transportation systems and operations in every industry.

For more information on IBM Intelligent Site Operations, please visit: http://www.ibm.com/smarterplanet/us/en/communication_technology/nextsteps/solution/J866104F57839O69.html

For information on IBM in telecommunications, please visit: http://www.ibm.com/smarterplanet/telecom

* Approximations based on three reports: Light Reading Europe – Recent Moves in Green Telecom, Tim Mills, May 14, 2009; Analysis Mason, Achieving Energy Efficiency with Optimized Networks, David Eurin; IBM Green Supply Chain Study for a mobile provider (client confidential), 1Q2009

SOURCE IBM