CertaLogic’s Certa Engineering Solutions Suite enables cable and broadband
operators to plan and implement their engineering initiatives to ensure efficient
resource allocation and enhanced customer satisfaction. Robust applications
designed specifically for cable and broadband operators include Certa
Geographic Information System (GIS)
and Certa Fiber Optics Management. Each application provides significant
business value due to the unparalleled access to high-quality, reliable
information delivered by the underlying Certa
Platform.
Certa Geographic Information System
Today, most cable and broadband operators lack an accurate representation of their
outside plant. Even if their paper or electronic maps are up-to-date, they are
often tiled, making it difficult to visualize the network as a contiguous
model. Without an easy way to visualize the network, organizations find it
difficult to identify and locate assets and to relate service availability to
potential and current customers. And when they attempt to do so by
cross-referencing multiple data sources, they often end up making incorrect
assessments due to the difficulty of the task and inconsistencies among sources.
Many companies deploy standalone geographic information systems to address the
issue, but, because the quality of the information in the system typically
degrades over time despite an organization’s best efforts, the usefulness of
these solutions is limited.
Certa Geographic Information System provides a powerful and easy-to-use
graphical interface based on AutoCAD® technology that enables accurate network
topology and cartography design and characterization. In conjunction with the
Certa Platform, the product integrates data from other sources to enable
in-depth analysis of network assets, helps cable operators identify and manage
all plant assets, including locations and lifecycles, and provides accurate
insight into which network elements are servicing which customers and
prospective customers.
Certa Geographic Information System includes a number of features that set
it apart from other Geographic Information Systems. For instance, because
objects are explicitly connected, and not just associated by graphical
proximity, users can define topological rules that ensure consistent modeling
and network tracing. By capturing complete connectivity from plant entities all
the way to customers and headends, Certa Geographic Information System accurately
reflects the entire network (and its precise relationship to current and
potential customers) and enables a number of valuable relationships to be managed.
For instance, due to the topological intelligence of the product, cable and
broadband operators no longer need to enter plant information such as node
numbers in billing system records to determine which node services which
customers; accurate node information and changes can be automatically captured,
maintained, and fed to the billing system without laborious, error-prone data
re-entry. Seamless integration between Certa Geographic Information System and
the Certa Platform enables – among other things – user-friendly online
validation of network update rules, which helps to ensure a high level of
information quality.
Certa Fiber Optics Management
Without insight into which fibers are feeding which customers, cable operators
are challenged to prioritize repair efforts and to determine whether or not
fiber is available to serve new customers. Certa Fiber Optics Management
enables complete end-to-end fiber level connectivity, easy identification of
fiber availability, and complete fiber tracing. With this product, cable
operators can design and manage their head end plants, easily correlate signals
to fibers, and readily identify customers being fed by specific fiber. Outages
can be quickly pinpointed and new customer opportunities can be easily identified.
For example, with Certa Fiber Optics, cable & broadband operators can
identify light, dark, reserved, and damaged fibers for ready assessment of
service issues and revenue opportunities. Organizations can map and display
duct and inner duct routes and availability to optimize inside plant
management. With access to detailed splice information, including splice trays
and splice schematics, cable & broadband operators can prioritize repair
efforts. And complete integration of head end, fiber plant, coaxial plant, and
customer information enables optimal service delivery which translates into
increased revenues.
