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Setting-up high-speed transmission
over rural areas using ICS Telecom

Telefónica is running studies to replace the existing rural telephone system to enable universal access to Internet.

In Spain, for several years more than 250 000 Telefónica subscribers have been able to use the telephone only via the TRAC system (Cellular Access Rural Telephones). This system, which uses the old analogue mobile network, allows the connection of people in areas which are not served by the conventional network. Numerous quality and speed problems make this solution unsatisfactory.

To provide universal service, the Spanish operator must propose to the government a plan for replacement of this system by a technology which will enable voice communications, faxes and data to be transmitted at a «speed sufficient to access Internet.» The replacement will have to be carried out very rapidly because 30% of users must be connected before June 2003 and 70% by the end of 2003. The TRAC system will be definitively closed in December 2004.

Even though no technology has been imposed by the regulator, it is LMDS (Local Multipoint Distribution System) which seems the most appropriate solution to replace the lines of the existing subscribers and cover new requirements. At present, however, Telefónica does not have a licence to use this radio access technology. Contracts for transfer of spectrum user rights will have to be signed, or else management of the deployment will have to be directly entrusted to one (or more) of the operators who have a 3.5 or 26 GHz LMDS licence. An invitation for tender has been launched for this purpose by Telefónica.

The main candidates naturally turned to ATDI and its network planning tools. For several years, ATDI had already been able to assist them through its expertise in the field of fixed access networks. In addition, ATDI had already proved its know-how in dealing with the constraints specific to an answer to an invitation for tender, particularly by meeting the very short deadlines for obtaining results.

Whether working with operators or with manufacturers, ATDI has been able to propose optimised and realistic migration plans. To reduce the costs of a new deployment, the competing companies were to re-use the existing TRAC sites as a matter of priority. The following alternative was the use of GSM sites of the network linked to Telefónica. The automated search methods set up by ATDI enabled the most appropriate solution to be found for each of the 52 provinces of Spain, taking into account the specific characteristics of each type of equipment.

The results obtained with the help of ICS Telecom have provided the basis for business plans based on concrete and solid information. The flexibility and adaptability of the ATDI teams enabled tailor-made solutions to be offered to the various types of candidates. For the manufacturers, the sizing of the network and the necessary speed of deployment were essential data. The operators were able to base themselves on ATDI’s experience to help them in their relationship with manufacturers, in order to specify as precisely as possible the essential elements for adapting the network to the needs of the end customer Telefónica.