Barco equips Reliance Infocomm’s National Network Operations Center (NNOC) with a 225m² control wall
ITU World Telecom, Geneva 12 October 2003 - Barco Control Rooms, the undisputed market leader in control rooms, provides a 225m² total display solution for Reliance Infocomm at Dhirubhai Ambani Knowledge City (DAKC), Navi Mumbai (India). Reliance Infocomm is a telecom industry giant and the first company in the world to roll out such a large geographical network using only one National Network Operations Center (NNOC).
The significance of a single NNOC is that all services, including billing, databases and customer relations, can be managed centrally. This approach substantially reduces the cost of network management. Reliance Infocomm launched its mobility services in 104 cities on December 28, 2002, when it kicked off operations. Reliance will soon reach 709 cities.In Reliance’s selection process for a control room provider, crucial issues like control room design and functionality of modern NNOC’s were evaluated. Barco was selected thanks to its market leadership position in projection technology and proven expertise in display wall control systems. With telecom reference sites all over the world, Barco was able to clearly illustrate its extensive project, system and user experience (Man/Wall Interface). Other factors that undoubtedly reinforced Barco’s predominance included Barco’s comprehensive iCare program monitoring the status of its installations worldwide as well as Barco’s customer services, ranging from 24/7 telephone support to on-site training & support.
In the main NNOC, Barco installed a dual set-up on the left and right hand side of the center, with each side having three display sections each consisting of 67” DLPÔ projection displays in respectively 6x4, 8x4 and 6x4 configurations. The total configuration comprises 160 modules, equaling nearly 126,000,000 pixels in a single control room, and a total screen surface of almost 225 m². The projection engines/controlware link was implemented in a fully digital way. Barco also equipped additional rooms totaling over 36m². Next to the main NNOC in Mumbai, Barco implemented a Situation Room (67” modules in a 3x2 configuration) and a Security Control Room (67” modules in a 5x2 configuration) and a back-up NNOC (67” modules in a 5x2 configuration) in Hyderabad. All these control rooms were implemented at the same time, making this Barco’s biggest single project implementation.
In a slightly curved configuration, the display spans almost the entire length of the NNOC’s two opposing walls. Barco’s 225m² total display solution integrates projection technology, controlware and wall management software. Barco enables the dynamic visualization of network monitoring applications and web-based supervision of the network’s routers and switchers, as well as the simultaneous display of 4 video and 2 RGB sources per display section. Barco’s screen-scraping software allows the content of the operators’ PCs to be replicated on the display walls. The controlware was selected, among other reasons, because of its upgradeability, offering Reliance the most future-proof front-end available.
The project approach was unique in that the whole project, from concept to engineering, was executed in only 4 months. REAL, the Reliance EPCO Wing (Engineering Procurement Construction Operation) offered strong implementation capabilities and unique execution skills in all areas whereas Barco provided full support in engineering, installation and commissioning activities. REAL personnel participated actively with dedicated teams to achieve excellent Engineering & Construction Standards.
The first floor of the NNOC also features a visitor’s area for corporate presentations to high profile government and corporate visitors from India and abroad. A bridge is suspended from the ceiling of the NNOC allowing visitors to pass through the NNOC without disturbing the day-to-day operations.
After the successful implementation of this worldclass project, Reliance is now planning to further extend the centralised control room concept to its other business divisions.
About Barco
Barco, an international company headquartered in Kortrijk, Belgium, is active in three key areas of imaging technology. Barco designs and develops solutions for large screen visualization, display solutions for life-critical applications, and systems for visual inspection. Barco has a network of subsidiaries, distributors and agents in almost 100 countries. Barco is quoted on Brussels/Euronext and is a BEL 20 and a Next 150 company.
