Barry Luff, UK Business Development at Setics explains how UK FTTH network operator Lit Fibre transformed its workflow thanks to a new physical network inventory and design automation capabilities.
Over the past few years, Setics has been actively supporting the nationwide fibre rollout initiatives in the UK by leveraging its innovative solution, Setics Sttar, to enhance connectivity and streamline the network design process.
Working closely with operators, investors, service providers, and altnets, Setics Sttar has played a crucial role in advancing the quality and accessibility of full-fibre internet connections in the UK.
Lit Fibre, as a testament to this collaboration, delivers full fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) internet connections of the highest quality to towns and small cities of the UK. With a primary customer base comprising residential customers, the company aims to bridge the gap in fibre network availability within the UK.
As Lit Fibre scaled its network, it sought vendors capable of offering flexible fibre network solutions, especially those enabling end-to-end designs for small and mid-size towns while utilising physical infrastructure access (PIA) data.
In addition to choosing a physical network inventory system, Lit Fibre was looking to add design automation capabilities for evaluating the projects (50 towns envisioned) from a business point of view and producing detailed designs ahead of construction work.
The cost and quality challenges for Lit Fibre’s network roll-out
The challenges Lit Fibre was facing impacted not only the cost but also the quality of the roll-out, among those were:
- Evaluating the feasibility of the project;
- Prioritising PIA infrastructure for roll-out;
- Reducing new builds as much as possible;
- Taking into account PIA duct capacity;
- Working with complex architecture, different splitting levels and equipment;
- Managing single-dwelling units (SDUs) and multi-dwelling units (MDUs);
- Importing HLD into the inventory system.
The Setics Sttar solution
Setics Sttar presented the solution to all those challenges by:
- Automating data preprocessing using Feature Manipulation Engine (FME), a spatial ETL application, focusing on the translation of geographic data;
- Categorising PIA ducts according to their capacity. In particular, using "RAG status" (Red, Amber, Green) attribute to prioritise less filled ducts;
- Creating a design process including multiple runs of Setics Sttar for dimensioning SDUs and MDUs, including different splitting ratios and spare fibres;
- Exporting the results directly into the inventory system through a plugin, as. both systems were compatible;
- Generating an accurate Bill of Quantity (BOQ) from the HLD, which helped with the business-decision making.
Upon integrating Setics Sttar into its operations in 2020, Lit Fibre experienced a transformation in its workflow. The Setics Sttar development team showed exceptional dedication by customising the software to suit the company's specific requirements. Setics Sttar has seamlessly provided comprehensive fibre connectivity solutions, bridging the gap from central office to end customers.
Setics Sttar's capability to generate high-level designs (HLDs) through the Setics Sttar Advanced Designer licence has proven indispensable for Lit Fibre's network design strategy. The adaptability of the software enables efficient design modifications directly on the map interface, providing comprehensive solutions that cater to varying geographical areas.
Notably, the flexibility of Setics Sttar's platform allows for direct design alterations on the map interface, facilitating swift changes based on area size, along with providing an accurate BOQ. Setics Sttar's capability to generate accurate BOQ adds further value to Lit Fibre’s design and implementation processes, contributing significantly to their mission to bring world-class full-fibre, high-quality full-fibre internet to 500k homes by 2026.
A spokesperson from Lit Fibre said: “The Setics Sttar development and support team provided excellent help and guidance throughout the process of configuration and customisation of the application to suit our purpose.”
Setics Sttar is a design automation software that optimises the network design process and streamlines its workflow (Credit: Setics)
About Setics
Founded in 2000, Setics is one of the leading independent French consultancies specialising in the design and management of high-speed broadband network projects, software editing and digital development of territories around the world.
Setics Sttar is a design automation software that optimises the network design process and streamlines its workflow. As a result, operators, altnets, and internet service providers benefit from substantial savings in time, cost, and resources. Setics Sttar has been used to plan and design millions of homes worldwide.
