Network Communications News (NCN) April 2016 | Page 12

ON T HE CASE
Swiss roll out
Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise network technology has been
implemented as the permanent, fixed data and wired VoIP
network running through the 57km Gotthard railway tunnel
under the Swiss Alps.
The technology has already proved its reliability and
effectiveness for this huge project during the initial construction
phase when it was selected for the network that supported
logistics, safety monitoring and personnel management. The
Swiss mega project now boasts a robust data network enabling
the supervision and control of the numerous sensors, safety
equipment, tunnel management systems and power supplies
underpinning the operation of the tunnel.
Establishing a reliable data network through the world’s
longest and deepest railway tunnel requires network
technology capable of operating with minimal maintenance
in remote and non air-conditioned areas of the tunnel where
ambient temperatures can reach 40°C and humidity can reach
70 per cent. The Alcatel-Lucent OmniSwitch 6855 hardened
LAN switch is an industrial grade Ethernet switch designed to
operate in environments where standard network equipment
cannot function. Over 450 of these rugged access switches
form the basis of a vast data network that connects tunnel
lights, racks, power systems, doors, drainage and ventilation
systems, as well as video surveillance to the Tunnel Control
Centres at both the north and south ends of the tunnel.
The tunnel’s data network has been installed by key
ALE business partner Alpiq InTec in close coordination with
Alcatel-Lucent. It is controlled by two OmniVista Network
Management Systems which provide the visibility of data and
advanced analytics required to ensure resource availability and
reliable flow of traffic at all times. The data gathered by the
sensors, monitors and surveillance equipment in the complex’s
152km of main tunnels, access tunnels and cross passages is
transmitted to tunnel control centres, and the 16.7Hz power
and ZKE systems which monitor train power and wheel
temperature link directly to the SBB network at its control
centre in Bern.

12-13 On the Case.indd 12

Military precision
Italtel has been awarded an international tender by the North Atlantic Treaty
Organisation (NATO) to build two transportable data centres.
More than 250 companies belonging to the 28 member countries of the
Alliance were notified about the tender for the project – the demand for which
was generated by the Italian Army. The acquisition was delegated by the
Italian Defence Telecommunication Procurement Directorate (TELEDIFE) to the
NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA), which developed the
technical specification due to its knowledge and previous experience of current
systems in place.
The data centres will be deployed at the NATO Rapid Deployable Corps Italy
(NRDC – ITA), in Solbiate Olona, to align its Communication and Information
System (CIS) infrastructure with the requirements of its recently awarded role of
land-heavy Joint Task Force (JTF) Headquarters, which involves leading NATO
joint operations within NATO Areas of Responsibility, often performed out of the
national borders.
Italtel was chosen to build the two data centres as a result of its competitive
cost and compliance with the requirements of the tender. The data centres
provided by this project are destined to be used by NRDC – ITA in various
overseas locations where allied forces are deployed. The importance of being
awarded this tender is evident when considering the complexity of the technical
specification in the CIS and data management categories.

17/03/2016 15:41