Infra-Com and ETL Systems Rejuvenate Swisscom’s Network

Swisscom is Switzerland’s leading telecom company and as well one of its major IT companies. It delivers an extensive range of digital TV, mobile telecommunications, and other services to customers across Switzerland. It also provides businesses with network, cloud and ICT services. 

Swisscom relies on satellite for some of this connectivity, as well as backup to other connection methods. Swisscom's growing satellite network presented them with a challenge in the form of varying formats, signals and performances from different networks. 

Swisscom turned to Systems Integrator, Infra-Com Swiss AG, due to its expertise in planning and implementing communication networks. It is proficient in network engineering, planning and maintenance for any number of network types for delivery of internet, TV, radio and other data signals.

Infra-Com was assigned with standardising the satellite headend. It was crucial to ensure that the same, high-quality and reliable equipment was used throughout the entire satellite network, so Swisscom could rely on good quality and performance, regardless of the antenna being used.

The next stage was to come up with a solution proposal and conception for Swisscom’s varied requirements. Having worked with ETL on numerous projects, Infra-Com approached the team to discuss and scope out products that would fulfil the requirements.

Infra-Com asked ETL  to provide active splitters, to split the signal so it can be used for more than one device, and slope equalisers, to allow Swisscom to compensate the gain variation.

Normally splitters have unity gain, i.e. the same signal level on output as on input. However, Infra-Com was challenged with low input so needed to increase the gain for the output. ETL Systems designed and produced two new splitter models, a 4-way and an 8-way, which have all the same features of its counterparts, as well as gain to amplify the signal levels.

Both splitters come with integrated LNB powering, something that was important for Swisscom, meaning it could easily and efficiently power the low-noise block downconverters on the antennas without the need for a separate external device. 

Once the products were designed and selected, Infra-Com worked on the installation of the RF equipment into the network. This was followed by extensive testing and quality assurance to be certain that everything was working as it should be.

 “We have worked with Infra-Com on numerous occasions. The team’s extensive understanding of satellite networks and our products means we know that our products will be well-integrated and extensively tested before the network goes live, ensuring the best quality for the end user.”

Dominic Overton, Components Sales Manager, ETL Systems.

“Having a standardised satellite network has made a huge impact on the manageability of that network, as well as to the consistency of quality throughout the network. Infra-Com did a fantastic job of planning and executing the project and we are really pleased with the quality of the ETL products.”

Wolfgang von Arx, ICT Architect, Swisscom.