Always Keeping an Eye on the Fiber Optic Network
Interview with Ralph Kosztovits, Managing Director of JO Software Engineering GmbH
With cableScout®, JO Software Engineering GmbH offers a software solution that allows fiber optic networks to be efficiently managed and protected around the clock: topics that are more prominent than ever on the agenda due to the booming fiber optic expansion and the tense security situation in critical infrastructure. Managing Director Ralph Kosztovits discussed current innovations with Wirtschaftsforum.
Wirtschaftsforum: Mr. Kosztovits, with cableScout®, JO Software Engineering GmbH supports its customers both in managing their existing fiber optic infrastructure and in network expansion – what are the main benefits of your solution?
Ralph Kosztovits: Our fiber management software is now used by over 450 fiber network operators in more than 20 countries. Our clients include classic telecommunications companies, municipal utilities, railway companies, highway operators, energy providers, and port operators. At its core, cableScout® allows for the entire fiber network infrastructure - from supra-regional locations down to the signal level - to be reliably and detailedly documented. Besides the pure management functions, our solution also supports the planning of network expansions and the implementation of customer connections - for which work orders can also be created directly via cableScout® for the technical teams.
European Business: Even in the event of a disruption, your solution can consistently support.
Ralph Kosztovits: Exactly. For instance, if an excavator digs too deep during construction work and damages the fiber optic network causing some customers to lose internet service, the origin of the disturbance can be quickly located with cableScout® – as well as the optimal alternative routes through which the respective connections can be restored as quickly as possible. Based on these findings, the troubleshooting team can swiftly get to work with corresponding work instructions, thus saving the operator costs and trouble.
European Business: Meanwhile, not only excavator operators during construction work are in the focus of attention as possible sources of disruption, but also malicious actors tampering with critical infrastructure.
Ralph Kosztovits: This issue, of course, is also at the top of our customers' agendas. That's why our fiber monitoring software, which we have developed for use with all leading hardware systems on the market, is one of our key innovations recently. This allows the existing fiber optic structures to be continuously monitored, so that an intervention at a critical point in the network would be immediately noticeable. In the event of an alarm, the system automatically sends out notifications including the respective alarm position, so that technical or security teams can immediately initiate effective countermeasures.
Wirtschaftsforum: What other innovations are you currently working on?
Ralph Kosztovits: Our goal is to provide our customers with as seamless processes as possible with a high degree of digitalization. With this goal in mind, we have developed a native app that allows the entire network documentation to be taken offline on mobile devices into the field – completely without paper or cluttered email communication. The technician receives his work instructions and all other necessary information on a tablet. He gets an overview of all required work materials, can navigate directly to the site and receives easy-to-understand instructions for the upcoming job, such as installation, patching, or splicing work. Through the same channel, he can report back to the headquarters once the job is done. Alternatively, he can make corresponding add-ons directly in the main system if he had to make changes to the planned work.
Wirtschaftsforum: Fiber optic expansion is being vigorously promoted all over Germany – does that also mean boom times for JO Software Engineering?
Ralph Kosztovits: Indeed, we have felt a very strong demand for our solutions for many years, especially from companies transitioning from their old copper-based infrastructure to fiber optics. Since fiber optic management is significantly more complex and cannot be handled with the previous documentation tools, our proven solution quickly pays off. With it, the network can be documented and managed efficiently. Particularly in view of the enormous cost pressure and the shortage of skilled workers affecting the entire telecommunications industry, solutions for professional network management are crucial to remain competitive and actionable.
Wirtschaftsforum: What objectives has JO Software Engineering set with cableScout® for the coming period?
Ralph Kosztovits: Technologically, we still have numerous innovations in store that we want to implement in the next few years, including the implementation of artificial intelligence. At the same time, we see strong global growth potential for our solution. Currently, for example, large investments from the European and North American region are flowing into the African market to promote fiber optic expansion. Naturally, we would like to have a share in that. After all, powerful systems are urgently needed there too, to bring structure and order to the often chaotic and inefficient network management.