The NeXsysOne software platform has been refined and proven in more than 200 large scale, complex network rollout, integration and maintenance projects worldwide. Originally developed as an internal competitive differentiator for Lemcon Networks Oy, NeXsysOne is now being made available to external customers: towercos, MNOs and SIs by LEC Consultancy JLT out of Dubai, who also provide parallel service offerings. TowerXchange caught up with the creator of NeXsysOne Jim Prosser, and Jørgen Laustsen, whose Intelli Group Holding Inc. recently acquired the platform.
TowerXchange: What is NeXsysOne, who are LEC Consultancy JLT and what role do you play in the telecoms infrastructure ecosystem?
Jorgen Laustsen, CEO, LEC Consultancy JLT:
NeXsysOne is the software platform to support network deployment, mass network integrations, NOC services, field maintenance, asset management services et cetera. LEC Consultancy JLT and the product NeXsysOne was purchased by Intelli Group Holding Inc in April 2014 after having identified the tremendous potential in the product and supporting team.
We offer customers a single user interface, an advanced, customisable and modular software solution to help improve efficiencies whilst reducing operating costs. To enhance this we also offer network analytics, NOC, site management and professional services.
NeXsysOne has been created out of the best practices working closely with a number of customers – it’s not just the product of internal thinking. The solution has been developed from day one with an extreme focus on internal efficiency – to make network rollout and management more profitable. And we are able to adapt the platform to comply with different processes to fit customers’ requirements.
TowerXchange: The first question our readers always ask is “how proven is the solution?” Tell us about the evolution of NeXsysOne, and give us a few hints about current and future users of the platform?
Jim Prosser, COO, LEC Consultancy JLT:
NeXsysOne is a spin-off from the LNT platform (Lemcon Network Tracker) that was first introduced back in 2001 for mass UMTS deployments and network integrations. Lemcon decided to create it’s own software because we needed to improve our service delivery and to reduce costs for network integration, network operations, rollout management, asset management and project management. It enhanced our services for large mobile network operators such as AT&T, T-Mobile, Cingular, Econet, Globe Telecom, Telkomsel, Ooredoo and 3GIS. The system is stress-tested over multiple large scale deployments, and captures the full end to end processes for complex deployments and network operations.
In 2013, the NeXsysOne product became a separate stand-alone unit, now sold directly to tower companies, network operators, technology vendors and systems integrators.
TowerXchange: Tell us about the capabilities of NeXsysOne.
Jim Prosser, COO, LEC Consultancy JLT:
Some clients require just the project management module for complex network upgrades, turnkey deployments or to capture site information. Others expand to include also asset management or remote site management (RMS) solutions. We’re able to adapt the modules we have to any customer requirement.
NeXsysOne has eight integrated modules:
ProjectOne: Project management software, cost control, lease management and payments, quality management, transmission visibility, powerful maps view to help build networks, SAQ to final network operational acceptance.
AssetOne: Site asset management, warehousing, refurbishment, monetising old assets. One of the biggest problems for operators is that they have booked a certain value of assets, which in many cases is significantly different from the actual value of the assets – AssetOne helps operators accurately assess and track the book value of all assets, which is key for tower transactions, for example.
RepairOne: Spare parts management and warranty control.
SiteOne: Passive infrastructure monitoring, control, security, energy management, cost analytics and environment control.
StaffOne: Competence development, training and quality assurance, SLA control.
DataOne: Real time network performance monitoring through an application on field engineers’ smart phones.
TaskOne: Work force management, trouble ticketing, preventive and scheduled maintenance.
MaintainOne: Network change management and NOC alarm monitoring. We co-ordinate massive network changes, such as software upgrades and transmission changes, in MaintainOne, which ensures all tasks are completed on time during maintenance windows and synchronises all tasks in the NOC.
History of NeXsysOne deployments (formerly “LNT”)
TowerXchange: Can you talk about some of the use case scenarios from NeXsysOne ’s early deployments?
Jim Prosser, COO, LEC Consultancy JLT:
With the massive GSM and UMTS boom in the nineties, Lemcon became a strategic and trusted partner to Nokia globally. Over 200 networks were subsequently deployed with Lemcon involvement and our software was the foundation of our deployment services across all continents.
In parallel we worked with AT&T, T-Mobile and Cingular in the US and were executing up to 6,000 integrations per month, and managing network rollout and expansions of up to 40-50,000 sites per year. In Brazil for example, twelve countries and various operators were supported by one regional operation center located in Rio.
We managed the rollout of the first shared radio network in the world, the 3GIS network deployment in Sweden. This involved three different operators, each with their own core network, and with proprietary networks in each major city, but with a shared radio network across the rest of country
We managed the rollout of the first shared radio network in the world, the 3GIS network deployment in Sweden. This involved three different operators, each with their own core network, and with proprietary networks in each major city, but with a shared radio network across the rest of country.
All these experiences and best practices are now built into the NeXsysOne platform.
TowerXchange: Where does software end and services begin? How does LEC Consultancy JLT help integrate the platform with the core processes of the tower operator?
Jorgen Laustsen, CEO, LEC Consultancy JLT:
Software and services must run hand in hand. The software is the platform allowing the services to be more efficient, improving communications and driving the processes. It must be the central beating heart of the project and single source of data.
Each deployment of NeXsysOne has been tailored to meet the needs of the customer and we don’t always deliver every module and feature. For example some customers already have an effective RMS, and might only want AssetOne and TaskOne to improve asset register accuracy and to take advantage of the work force management system, TaskOne, for scheduled and preventive maintenance. Tower operators utilise the SiteOne RMS module to monitor and control the usage of energy, using generator control to optimise the use of batteries over diesel, or they might only use the software for lease payment management or colocation handling. NeXsysOne provides deployment visibility from search ring identification through the SAQ processes, design and permitting, asset management, cost control and construction to documentation, quality management and acceptance. As built drawings and site details are made available for potential customers to view immediately, NeXsysOne accelerates time to market in making the site facilities available for co-location.
Jim Prosser, COO, LEC Consultancy JLT:
We have an application called AdminOne which allows our customers to create their projects using their existing processes – it’s a tool to quickly capture and adapt to existing processes by customising fields, comment and setting rules and alerts (SMS or email) for specific milestones..
TowerXchange: Take us on a verbal ‘tour’ of a NOC powered by NeXsysOne and tell us how the platform synchronises management and maintenance of the network.
Jim Prosser, COO, LEC Consultancy JLT:
The software and LEC Management and senior technical engineers have been responsible for several large regional Network Operation Centers (NOCs) across several continents. By utilising our unique web based ticketing system, we can synchronise work tasks between different operations centers to manage peak volumes or specific tasks if and when needed. We did this for example in Brazil utilising the operations center in Rio as well as in Dallas, US. This allowed us to better use our resources whilst reducing costs in a more efficient manner across regions.
By utilising our unique web based ticketing system, we can synchronise work tasks between different operations centers to manage peak volumes or specific tasks if and when needed. We did this for example in Brazil utilising the operations center in Rio as well as in Dallas, US. This allowed us to better use our resources whilst reducing costs in a more efficient manner across regions
LEC Consultancy JLT has a resource pool of people with experience of project management, deployment and O&M. We don’t just sell the software, we help with integration, or we can provide full professional services to run a NOC or take on the complete scope of rollout management.
TowerXchange: How would you differentiate NexSysOne from other platforms designed as an ‘ERP for towers’?
Jørgen Laustsen, CEO and Jim Prosser, COO, LEC Consultancy JLT:
There are many good ERP systems available to tower companies or mobile operators. However, what NeXsysOne offers via its eight modules is the complete platform that covers the full spectrum of deployment and operation. NeXsysOne is configurable to integrate with previously installed ERP systems, or can provide its own. But NeXsysOne is more than an ERP for towers. The critical factor and differentiator of NeXsysOne is that it offers the bigger picture to our customers from ‘’ONE’’ user interface.
It has been developed with an operational focus whilst many typical ERP system have been build from financial requirements.
Another advantage of NeXsysOne is that as your business evolves, the capability of the system can evolve with you.
How Ooredoo is using NeXsysOne to project manage the Myanmar rollout
When undertaking a major greenfield rollout as currently underway in Myanmar, it’s not simply a case of outsourcing to a single turnkey infrastructure vendor or towerco – the process is complex and much more fragmented.
In Myanmar, as in its other markets, Ooredoo works with multiple towercos, powercos, transmission deployment subcontractors and turnkey infrastructure vendors, with network planning and antenna assembly services also provided by several different companies. While many of these companies use Ooredoo’s platform, others have their own software, giving rise to significant synchronisation challenges.
Systems such as ProjectOne provide a solution to this challenge, creating a common language and ‘single source of the truth’ throughout the complex supply chain, while others such as AssetOne pull together data and input into transmission planning. For example, when a towerco has a new site acquired and permitted ready for installation, we use ProjectOne to synchronise notification to the turnkey infrastructure partner and to the antenna assembly company, letting them know that the site is ready for civil works and, soon after, antenna installation, so that all the stakeholders come together in a timely manner.
Major rollouts like Myanmar are ‘organic projects’; you need to understand the impact of every decision on network connectivity, and a lot of the network integration depends on the transmission network. If a particular permit is delayed or denied then you need to know what other sites are affected, and you may need to amend the transmission network and tell all the stakeholders. NeXsysOne, an advanced, one-stop telecom project management solution enables the user to view sites and the fibre backbone of transmission connectivity, and to see live updates as the network evolves. This makes NeXsysOne more of a real time enabler of Rollout Management (ROM), rather than a mere ‘system of record’ that documents actions after they have been taken.
We know where processes can fail because we’ve learned best practice on over two hundred projects worldwide. NeXsysOne has revolutionised project management in the Telco sector, its many modules combine to help operators like Ooredoo Myanmar build world-class networks, not just track and report on existing networks.
