flag telecom global transmission network overview flag telecom ltd. commercial in confidence ...

FLAG TelecomGlobal Transmission Network Overview

FLAG Telecom Ltd.Commercial In Confidence

www.flagtelecom.com

Connecting Continents. Connecting Cultures

www.flagtelecom.com2

ContentsIntroduction; Our global fibre-optic / SDH network

Architecture & key features

Performance

FLAG constructed network systems

FLAG purchased network systems

Reliance India network

Metro rings and extended reach

VPoPs

FLAG transmission services

Operations and service management

FLAG global MPLS/IP network & peering


IntroductionFLAG Telecom is a leading provider of international network transport, connectivity and data services to the wholesale communications & Internet communities

Our services are delivered over an extensive fibre-optic and MPLS based IP network that we own and manage

The network fully encircles the globe, connecting key markets in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the USA• This network touches over 75% of the world’s population

The network seamlessly connects several submarine and terrestrial cable systems• Incorporating self-built and purchased facilities across Europe, Mediterranean, Arabian Gulf, Indian Ocean, South

China Sea, Pacific, North America and Atlantic

FLAG’s transmission services provide the foundations underpinning the networks of many of the world’s largest carriers and Internet operators


Our global fibre-optic / SDH network

A high-speed, highly reliable network that fully encircles the globe, providing direct coverage and seamless connectivity between major global telecoms hubs, business markets and high-growth economies across four continents


Architecture overviewThe FLAG global network is fully optical and is predominantly a submarine based network• Terrestrial networks are implemented to provide backhaul connectivity to domestic city nodes, and to provide

terrestrial links between submarine segments (USA, Europe, Egypt, Thailand)

It is designed, engineered and operated to provide highly reliable, scalable and cost effective transmission

FLAG adheres to industry standards in all aspects on our network, engineering, service delivery and operations

The network is fully SDH / SONET compatible and supports a wide range of standard optical and electrical interfaces and speeds for customer circuits

FLAG works with leading vendors for all component elements of the network

FLAG nodes are located in key landing stations and ‘carrier hotels’ to provide ready access to other networks


High scalability

250 Gbps Protected

(Scalable to 1.2 + 1.92 Tbps)

10 – 20 Gbps(Upgradeable to 80 Gbps based upon current technology)

320 Gbps protected(Scalable to 2.4 + 2.4 Tbps)

9.95 Gbps

62 Gbps

50 Gbps (FALCON - planned)(Scalable to 1.28 Tbps)

90 Gbps protected(FALCON - planned)

(Scalable to 2.56 Tbps)

up to 10 Gbps

The FLAG core optical backbone is scaled to satisfy inter-continental and intra-regional demand. It effectively provides ‘bandwidth on tap’, enabling us to address both near and long term growth in demand, and avoid over-subscription in our IP layer. Efficient capacity planning procedures actively monitor growth trends and customer driven demand to trigger appropriate upgrades


Route distances

FLAG North Asia Loop(FNAL)

~ 11,000 km

FLAG Atlantic 1(FA-1)

~ 12,800 km

FLAG Europe Asia (FEA)~ 27,000 km

FLAG Europe Network~7,800 km

Trans-America Network~12,400 km

Trans-Pacific Network~ 17,700 km

FALCON (announced)10,300 km

The FLAG network stretches for over 97,000 kilometres (including network ‘spurs’)


Seamless global deliveryThe network fully encircles the globe,

providing an on-net (east/west) backup path for customer traffic and enabling us

to implement the most direct path between source and destination


Several generic components are employed throughout the network• Specific equipment and suppliers used varies from system to system due to geographic, route distance,

volume, age and feature issues• Additional equipment is employed in specific network systems for protection and cross connect purposes

Common network components

Optical Fibre

Amplifier / Repeater

BranchingUnit

(S)LTE /(D)WDM

ADMCustomer

FacingCircuits

Add Drop Multiplexers in FLAG PoPs provide the

physical interface to customers at a range of SDH data rates, acting as the cross

connect and termination / configuration point for

customer circuits. They aggregate signals onto the line termination equipment.

Line Terminal Equipment, located at Submarine landing stations or terrestrial nodes, multiplex SDH signals onto a single optical fibre

pair. They provide error correction, alarm and supervisory facilities. Integrated or combined

(Dense) Wavelength Division Multiplexing facilities enable multiple wavelengths to be

multiplexed.

Amplifiers and repeaters are employed to maintain signal strength

along the length of the fibre. Amplifiers increase the intensity of

the laser without optical-electro conversion. However, signal

attenuation through glass necessitates the use of Repeaters at regular intervals that regenerate the original digital signal through optical-

electrical-optical conversion.

Branching Units are used to ‘drop’ local optical

connections from a submarine cable to the shore, providing a ‘splice & joint’ function. They

provide an efficient and resilient mechanism of deploying a cable with

multiple landing stations, without having to route the

entire cable via the shoreline


Performance measuresA range of measures are taken to protect FLAG’s global network and to ensure highly resilient and reliable traffic delivery

Automatic or manual protection paths are used throughout the network for protected customer circuits

A range of common automatic protection techniques are used within specific FLAG system components:• Sub Network Connection Protection (SNCP), Multiplex Section – Shared Protection Ring (MS-SPRing) or

Mutiplex Section Protection (MSP1+1) network and interface cards

FLAG is able to provide on-net east/west protection paths where appropriate

Further specific measures are taken for individual network systems• Including fibre diversity, SDH loops, Optical Protection Switching (OPS), span switching, dual access cards

etc.

Subsea cables follow carefully plotted routes, are extensively armoured and are buried close to shore to minimise the impacts of natural disasters and the risk of local cuts

All PoPs are strictly engineered to ensure carrier-grade performance• Include all necessary cabling, access, environmental, power and security failsafes


Long standing reputation foroutstanding quality & performance

The performance measures taken by FLAG enable us to offer best-in-class quality

FLAG overall on-net network availability was 99.997% during 2004• It has consistently been higher than 99.99% for over 3 years

For those rare faults encountered, average on-net ‘Mean Time to Repair’ (MTTR) for customer service faults was 1.91 hours during 2004• It has consistently been lower than 4 hours for over 3 years

Mean Time To Repair Service Faults (2004)

Hou

rs

0.0

5.0

4.5

4.0

3.5

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

Jan DecFeb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov

1.91 Hour MTTR Achieved Level

4 Hour MTTR Target Level

99.988

99.996

99.994

99.992

99.990

100.00

99.998

Jan DecFeb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov

Average On-Net Availability (2004)

%

99.99% Target Availability

99.997% Achieved Availability


FLAG constructed systems

FLAG operates its network as a single global facility. However, it is constructed from a number of interconnected systems that FLAG has either constructed or purchased. The systems shown above were constructed by FLAG

FA-1

FEA

FNAL

FALCON(under construction)


FLAG Europe Asia (FEA)FEA was the world’s first independent, competitive cable system to serve the Middle East and Asian markets. It was the first independent cable system to land in China, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, and it remains the world’s longest privately funded undersea system


FEA topologyPorthcurno

(UK)

Estepona(Spain)

Palermo(Italy)

Alexandria(Egypt)

Cairo(Egypt)

Port Said(Egypt)

Suez(Egypt)

Aqaba(Jordan)

Jeddah(Saudi Arabia)

Fujairah(UAE)

Mumbai(India)

Penang(Malaysia)

Satun(Thailand)

Trang(Thailand)

Songkhla(Thailand)

South Lantau(Hong Kong)

Nanhui(China)

Keoje(Korea)

Ninomiya(Japan)

Miura(Japan)

SS1

SS2

SS3

SS4

SS5

SS6

SS7

SS8

SS9

BU1

BU2 BU3BU7 BU4

BU5

BU6

A

B

C

D

E

X1X1

F1 F2

F3 F4 H

G J K

M

LX2

X2

N

P1

P2P3

Q1Q2

Q3

Q4

Landing Station

BUxBranching Unit

Express Route

Local Route

Terrestrial Fibre Connection

SSx FEA Sub-System

A .. Q Fibre Segment ID


FEA overviewFLAG constructed, owns and operates FEA

In-service: 1997

FEA consists of nine sub-systems, comprising a total of 25 segments• This identification scheme is used for construction, operations & maintenance and restoration purposes

Each sub-system comprises two or more terminal stations connected by two fibre pairs• Express and local fibres

‘Local’ and ‘Express’ route configuration provides efficient and high performance delivery• ‘Express’ route provides a rapid path between high volume routes to minimise delivery delay for inter-continental

circuits• ‘Local’ route provides a local access and intra-regional capability

WDM used to increase capacity in the system from the initial 10 Gbps capacity• Current technology will allow an upgrade to 80 Gbps

FEA is resiliently interconnected with FA-1 in the UK and FNAL in Hong Kong and Japan• UK interconnect: Porthcurno – Skewjack• Hong Kong interconnect: Tong Fuk – South Lantau• Japan interconnect: Miura - Wada


FALCON (under construction)

A new submarine cable system to address the

broadband demand that exists to and from the high

growth communications markets in the Middle East

and India


FALCON topology (May 2005)

Al Seeb CLS(Oman)

Khasab CLS(Oman)

Manama CLS(Bahrain)

Kuwait CLS

Mumbai CLS(India)

1

8 (express + local)

2

3

4

5 6

7

Alcatel optical cross-connect 1678MCC

Alcatel SLTE 1620LM

Branching Unit

Branching units are placed at strategic locations to enable future locations to be added along the route Doha CLS

(Qatar)

Al Khobar CLS(Saudi Arabia)

JeddahCLS

(Saudi Arabia)

Suez CLS(Egypt)

Al Hudaydah CLS

(Yemen)

Al GhaydahCLS

(Yemen)


FALCON system profileSuez-Muscat-Mumbai• 6,900km submarine system with 90 Gbps initial capacity• Four fibre pairs, with design capacity of 64 wavelengths per fibre pair, equalling 2.56 Tbps

Gulf Loop• Self healing 3,400km loop system with 50 Gbps initial capacity• Two fibre pairs, with design capacity of 64 wavelengths per fibre pair, equalling 1.28 Tbps

The system has been designed to enable additional ‘spurs’ to be inserted during and post initial cable deployment• Branching units inserted at key locations during first lay to support other interested landing parties along the

route as their communications needs develop and grow

Further extensions under review

Advanced network engineering design• Comprehensive protection mechanisms (optical protection, MSP1+1, MS-Spring, SDH), equipment

redundancy built into SLTE, PFE, power etc., dual landing points wherever possible, double armoured and buried cable where necessary


FALCON overview (Q3 2005)FLAG is managing the entire design, construction and operations process

Planning phase complete and route selected (Q1 / Q2 2005)• Thorough planning phase included geophysical, oceanographic, hydrodynamic (sediment, current movement) and

environmental analysis, plus an analysis of human factors such as external aggression, pipelines (oil, gas, & sewage outfalls etc), cables (military, power & telecoms etc), commercial fisheries, dredging and shipping activities.

• Marine surveys, landing site reviews and permit activities complete

Supplier contract awarded to Alcatel, a leading provider of large-scale turnkey submarine cable projects

Implementation phase underway• Cable anchored in Oman and en-route to Mumbai early August 2005

Initial RFS in Q4 ‘05

Negotiations with other interested landing parties are continuing• Design enables spurs to be added along the cable route to match evolving local communications requirements

Reliance Infocomm India Network80,000 Route kms of fibre, connecting over 1100 towns & cities• 380,000 duct kms • Planned access to ~5000 towns & cities

(120,000 route kms) by end Q4 2005

Backbone, metro and building access ring architecture• Highly resilient ring & mesh design• Cities connected on backbone rings• Backbone comprises express ring (DWDM,

40 * 10 Gbps) + collector layer (SDH)• City / metro rings have 3 or more

alternative paths• 137 rings across India• Localised building access rings provide

customer access

Direct access implemented to business premises• 1.7 million homes & offices by 2006/7• 95%+ coverage of Indian subscriber base• Fibre / cat5

Full national IP network


FLAG metro rings & extended reachFLAG owns and operates metro rings, connecting major telehouses in the following locations:• London• New York• Paris• Tokyo

FLAG employs leased line connectivity in other cities with more than one node (SDH / IP)• Amsterdam• Hong Kong• Singapore• Madrid

Extended reach into all other locations is performed via FLAG’s approved suppliers and partners worldwide


FLAG VPoP’sFLAG has implemented virtual points of presence (VPoPs) to provide one-stop-shop access into tightly regulated countries• Fully interconnected into the FLAG Telecom global network

FLAG VPoPs are implemented in Egypt, Pakistan and China

VPoPs are fully functional nodes implemented and operated by FLAG Telecom, but owned by

the resident International Facilities License (IFL) holder

FLAG NOC

End CustomerEnd Customer

FLAGCity PoP

FLAG VPoP

LandingStation

End to End Seamless Connection

DeregulatedCountry

RegulatedCountry


Global operations & service managementOur global structure and network ownership enable us to offer effective and responsive service management

Order Project Managers ensure timely and tested delivery of your service

We operate a resilient, global Network Operations Centre (NOC)• NOCs are staffed by technical professionals, with specific expertise in subsea, transmission and IP network

elements and technologies

We employ highly skilled engineers and technical experts• We recruit at degree level and support staff include qualified & accredited engineers (CCNA, CCIE & JNCIE)

Regional field engineers are on call 24*7 on a global basis• Coordinated by a central management function• Global Field Operations team has remote access to network management systems

Strict escalation and customer communications procedures are in place• Focused on resolving faults and restoring your service quickly and efficiently, keeping you informed throughout


Network Operations and ManagementFLAG operates a primary NOC in Heathrow (UK), secondary NOC in Fujairah (UAE) and a Disaster Recovery NOC in London Docklands

The NOC proactively monitors FLAG’s network and facilities 24 hour-a-day, seven day-a -week • Monitors network elements, identifying alarms and performing root cause analysis• Monitors environmental alarms, including intrusion, high/low temperature, fire or smoke, toxic/explosive gas,

DC/commercial AC power and water levels

The NOC is supported by integrated operational support systems (OSS), optimally configured to detect & pinpoint faults to the individual network segment, handle incidents and quickly re-route traffic whenever necessary• Including Micromuse Netcool (high-level alarm fault isolation), Peregrine Service Centre / Trouble Management

(trouble ticket system) & Cramer Dimension (circuit provisioning system)

Centralised Operations (co-located with the FLAG NOC) are the control point for the network, logging and authorising all network activity • Responsible for repairing and restoring any customer circuit outages or any other events that happen on the network

Field engineering / operations resources manage all localised repair and maintenance activities


FLAG transmission services

FLAG Right of Use (RoU)• A long-term contract providing the right to use capacity between specific points on the FLAG network

FLAG Capacity Service• Protection is not guaranteed• Full or half circuit connectivity• Between landing stations, city nodes or customer premises• Targeted at major carriers that manage their own international facilities, back-up routes and restoration plans• One-top-shop service, facilitating all aspects of international delivery• Supporting all customer traffic types and applications, including voice, video and data

FLAG Managed Bandwidth Service (MBS)• Protected, offering maximum performance and resilience• Seamless, fully managed connectivity• Between landing stations, city nodes or customer premises • Targeted at major carriers that manage their own international facilities• One-stop-shop service, facilitating all aspects of international delivery• Supporting all customer traffic types and applications, including voice, video and data

FLAG offers a range of bandwidth services to support the global connectivity requirements of our customers. Services are available at a wide range of speeds and with flexible contract terms. Optional co-location is available in major city centres


FLAG global MPLS/IP network & peering

AS15412

A high-speed, low packet-loss global MPLS/IP network, enabling superior content delivery and advanced data networking. The core IP backbone is complemented by peering with major content providers & ISPs at the world’s principal international Internet exchanges.


SummaryWe own and manage the entire network, providing maximum control over service cost and quality• Network either self-constructed or acquired on IRU / long-term lease basis

We have service operator licenses in key liberalised markets and maintain strong relationships with the incumbent telecoms operators in all locations in which we operate

We offer extended reach as a standard option via city Points of Presence (PoPs), metro rings and local tails• Access to service is available from city centre locations, landing stations and customer premises

Our network fully encircles the globe, enabling seamless traffic delivery both eastward and westward • FLAG strives to always provide customers with the most direct path between source and destination and are

able to provide an on-net backup path

High scalability enables us to provide a full range of data speeds

An extensive range of measures are implemented to ensure maximum availability and minimum disruption to customers

Thank YouFor further information, please visit www.flagtelecom.com for the contact details of your local FLAG Telecom representative

The information in this presentation is provided for information purposes only. All reasonable efforts are used to ensure and maintain accuracy at the time of publishing. Future events may change its accuracy. No representation or warranty is given by any person as to its accuracy or completeness and it should not be relied upon.

www.flagtelecom.comFLAG Telecom Ltd. ProprietaryFor Information Only

flag telecom global transmission network overview flag telecom ltd. commercial in confidence ...

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