Transmode delivers improved networking to German gas company

15 April 2008 -- German gas products and services company VNG has just completed a two-year network improvement project involving the installation of a suite of C- and DWDM systems from Transmode (search for Transmode), according to the systems supplier. Systems integrator ITM cooperated in the project.

VNG supports its customers and manages its extensive utility metrology functions with a network of optical-fibre-pair links between its 31 main network locations across eastern Germany. The upgrade improves the network's capacity by a factor of up to 50 and enables remote metrology services that increase the company's profitability, Transmode says. Prior to the WDM installation, which was signed off on budget and on time in November 2007, VNG's network comprised a 2000-km STM-1 network and a higher-powered STM-4 ring around its Leipzig headquarters.

"In the summer of 2005, we commenced this development project for long-distance traffic, which was transformed into our WDM network," said Ingo Gatzke, VNG's manager responsible for the administration of the communication infrastructure. "However, we were not only seeking an engineering solution, we were also looking for a consultative solution provider to help us. Transmode's consultative approach meant that we discussed each stage and the technical possibilities in a creative, cooperative method that we really appreciated."

Transmode's installed technologies and systems included a combination of its TS System products, the 5400, 5500, and 7700 modules. The new infrastructure supports 31 locations and 34 nodes, distributed across eastern Germany from Rostock to Sayda and from Kienbaum to Neukirchen. The new network offers point-to-point connections with CWDM; eight locations also offer DWDM. In total, 2000-km of fibre-optic cable has been upgraded from SDH to WDM functionality.

Gatzke described the state of the improvement reached by the end of 2007. "We have achieved a capacity increase factor of between 10 and 50 for some users. The network is scalable and is now 70% complete. Further upgrades will be made as required, depending on new services offered," he said.

"At each of our key locations VNG now has the ability to collect information on the gas quality, with which it is now directly possible to raise the profitability of our gas business," Gatzke concluded.

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