Case Study: Netsync Lights and Energizes Utility Company’s Network

The Challenge

While many have predicted that SD-WAN would spell the death knell for MPLS, it’s not true—far from it, in fact. MPLS (Multi-Protocol Label Switching) is alive and well, not only as a long-ago implemented technology falling under the “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” label, but as one that’s being implemented every day, and with great results. One of Texas’ most noted utility providers falls into that category. However, their existing MPLS network needed to be augmented and modernized, which would allow local city services to operate their own emergency radio system on it. The customer knew that a project of this size and scope would require them to utilize a company with talented engineers and solutions architects, tenured project managers, and highly experienced field technicians. They wondered if one existed—until they met Netsync.

Immediate Trust Paves the Way to Ultimate Solution

Netsync immediately gained the client’s trust with their wealth of technological knowledge and empirical experience that comes when you’ve designed, deployed, and modernized MPLS networks for organizations of all sizes and industries.

“And Netsync was the only vendor they met with that had a dedicated optical practice team comprised of experienced professionals and optical engineers who have worked with an array of optical platforms, including Cisco’s next-generation Networking Convergence System (NCS) and its Optical Networking System (ONS).”

After conducting interviews with the customer’s key stakeholders, Netsync’s solutions architects designed a secure, reliable, sustainable 10 Gbps MPLS network that not only adhered to their budget, but would be fully deployed and thoroughly tested prior to their required go-live date. The customer’s trust in Netsync had been validated. They were ready.

First Comes Staging…

Each of the network devices arrived at Netsync’s staging and logistics facility, where it was immediately tagged and documented. Burn-in testing was conducted on all assets, and configurations and firmware were installed prior to shipment to the customers’ locations. Each piece of equipment was shipped with required cabling and arrived on site and ready for immediate deployment. Netsync’s experienced field technicians installed, turned up and tested the entire solution.

…Then Comes the Solution

Netsync, which utilized the client’s existing fiber, deployed a Cisco Network Convergence System (NCS) with Cisco Aggregated Services (ASRs) Routers to provide a highly available network using an Ethernet handoff for the entire radio system.

Netsync configured, tested and deployed over two dozen Cisco ASR 903 routers with dual 10 Gbps uplinks and 1 Gbps local handoffs to support the new radios (The Cisco ASR 900 Series is a modular aggregation platform that delivers cost-effective converged mobile, business and residential services).

Netsync deployed dual Cisco ASR 9904 routers from its 9900 Series to handle circuit terminations at its redundant data centers (Cisco’s 9900 Series routers are the flagship platform for Layer 2 and Layer 3 service terminations). In addition, Netsync installed and configured 2 Cisco ASR 9001-S routers at the customer’s data center to act as reflectors to greatly reduce BGP routing traffic.

New, Better, Scalable and Less Expensive―Must be a Netsync Solution

By utilizing the customer’s existing fiber, Netsync was able to not only deploy a dramatically better solution and network but do it while providing significant cost savings to both the customer and other municipal organizations utilizing it. In addition, the customer’s new, enhanced MPLS network supports the ability to provide service to additional organizations, even ones located outside the city limits.