Forsk’s product portfolio consists of Atoll (wireless network engineering software), Atoll Microwave (Backhaul planning & optimisation software), NAOS (Automation platform for RAN planning and Optimisation) and recently introduced Atoll In-Building (Wireless network engineering software for Indoor planning).
ATOLL RF Network Planning, Design, Optimisation Software includes integrated single RAN – multiple RAT network design capabilities for both 3GPP (5G/LTE/UMTS/GSM, Wi-Fi and IoT technologies) and 3GPP2 (CDMA/LTE/LTE NB-IoT) technology streams. It provides operators and vendors with a powerful native 64-bit framework for designing and optimising multi-technology networks including small cells, and integrated Wi-Fi.
Atoll’s existing powerful Live module along with Automatic Cell Planning Module (ACP) integrates live network measurement data such as KPIs and UE/MDT (minimisation of drive tests) traces with predictions and adds open-loop SON capabilities to Atoll.
With more than 9,500 active licenses installed with 500+ customers in 140 countries, Atoll has become the industry standard for radio network planning and optimisation. Atoll is the tool of choice for all mobile operators and vendors in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.
ATOLL RF Network Planning, Design, Optimisation Software Highlights
Atoll is a native 64-bit application which enables it to take full advantage of the extensive computational capacity offered by the 64-bit computer architecture, hence, significantly extending the memory space available for calculations and data management. This enables Atoll users to design, plan, and optimise large-scale HetNet’s, complex radio and microwave networks. Planning and optimisation can be performed using multi-technology, multi-source, multi-vendor KPI’s and UE/Cell traces from the Live network.
Multi-technology Network Modelling
ATOLL RF Network Planning, Design, Optimisation Software is a comprehensive multi-technology radio planning and optimisation platform which includes unified multi-technology GSM/UMTS/LTE/5G NR & IoT (3GPP) and CDMA/LTE/NB-IoT (3GPP2) traffic models, Monte Carlo simulators, and an ACP (Automatic Cell Planning) module. With its multi-technology enabled planning capabilities, planning a non-standalone (NSA) 5G NR network couldn’t get easier. Using Forsk’s Aster propagation Model, 5G NR network can be modelled in both sub 6Ghz and mmWave frequency bands. Atoll can model the traffic-related aspects (capacity planning) of multi-technology networks and dynamically distribute traffic between multi-technology layers including Wi-Fi and small cells.
5G NR Planning and Optimisation
Atoll’s modular architecture and advanced radio technology modelling capabilities, together with support of high-frequency propagation models, provide operators with a flexible and evolving framework for the design and deployment of 5G networks. Atoll’s 5G NR module is fully integrated with Atoll LTE and along with combined network planning, common antenna and radio equipment, can be utilised to ensure seamless integration with existing LTE networks. Advanced 5G features such as Dual Connectivity (5G NR + LTE), advanced 3D beam forming and Massive MIMO modelling are supported.
Prediction and Measurement-based Planning and Optimisation
Atoll’s unique capabilities includes using both predictions and live network data (2G,3G,4G & future 5G) throughout the network planning and optimisation process. Atoll integrates multi-technology live network data (KPIs and UE/cell traces) to add real-world information to allow for a better modelling of traffic evolution, identifying traffic hot spots (heat maps), and tuning propagation data. Live-network data can be also used to drive the planning process (small cell selection) and to steer the optimisation algorithms of the AFP and the ACP.
High Performance GIS
Atoll incorporates a high-performance built-in geographic information system (GIS) exclusively designed for radio network planning and optimisation. Atoll’s 64-bit GIS engine allows working with high-resolution and large-scale geo data while delivering high performance in data manipulation and display.
Atoll supports web map services (WMS), online maps (Bing, OSM, etc.), and standard formats including BIL, TIF, BMP, Vertical Mapper, ArcView, MapInfo, etc. Atoll smoothly interfaces with commonly used desktop GIS such as MapInfo and ArcView.
Inbuilt Automation and Customisation Capabilities
Atoll’s in-built task automation and integration capabilities enable data as well as service-level integration, allowing operators to automate and streamline network optimisation activities on the way to SON. Atoll’s data exchange and integration capabilities enable integration within service-oriented architectures (SOA) and enterprise service buses (ESB). Moreover, Atoll’s C++ software development kit (SDK) allows customisation and implementation of functional value-added modules for Atoll.
NAOS
For large scale networks, Forsk has introduced a new product, NAOS. Naos is a scalable, service-oriented platform that enables the automation of wireless network planning and optimisation processes. Naos provides mobile operators with a framework for designing and developing their own automated RAN planning and optimisation workflows. Typical use cases include 5G site selection, business planning, process-oriented radio planning and optimisation, dedicated optimisation applications and more.
Naos supports 5G NR, LTE and multi-technology HetNets. It is fully compatible with Atoll and uses the same field-proven calculation algorithms.
Naos is deployable in the cloud as a web service remotely controlled through a REST API, allowing automation with multiple programming languages such as Python, C#, and C++.
CUSTOMER STORY
TELSTRA
Australian operators would like to reduce their reliance on vendor tools to have better control of the planning requirements of their networks and own their data. As such they were willing to invest in Wireless RF Network Design and Optimisation planning tools that are vendor agnostic.
Being the planning tool specialists, TeleResources is able to provide the region’s network operators access to leading edge planning tools.
In particular, Telstra expressed this need for vendor tool independence and TeleResources was able to address this by providing Telstra ATOLL licenses, trained their staff in the use of ATOLL and developed and tuned their ATOLL propagation models.
