How Atoll Simplifies Private LTE/5G Network Design for Utilities

Introduction

Utilities rely on private LTE and 5G networks to support mission-critical operations, ensuring reliable, secure, and wide-area connectivity for their unique requirements. Unlike public networks, private networks provide dedicated infrastructure to meet the demands of utility applications.

In this guide, we explore how Atoll addresses four key use cases for utilities, directly aligned with the webinar presentation:

1. Targeted coverage for fixed equipment and routes (e.g., intelligent reclosers, maintenance paths).
2. Capacity analysis for utility applications (e.g., SCADA, video surveillance, AMI backhaul).
3. Flightpath coverage for drones (e.g., transmission line inspections).
4. In-building coverage for power plants (e.g., equipment monitoring, metering).

Step 1: Targeted Coverage Planning with Automatic Cell Planner (ACP)

Why Targeted Coverage?

Utilities often need coverage only for specific locations and routes, such as:

• Fixed equipment: Intelligent reclosers, sensors, and automation devices.
• Maintenance paths: Routes used by field crews for inspections and repairs.

Targeted coverage planning reduces the number of sites required, lowering capital and operational expenditures while ensuring connectivity for mission-critical operations.

Step-by-Step Workflow in Atoll

1. Define Coverage Objectives

• Open Atoll and navigate to the Automatic Cell Planner (ACP).
• Right-click and select New to create a new ACP setup.
• Go to the Objectives tab and define your coverage goals. For example:
  • Cover 90% of fixed equipment points at -110 dBm.
  • Cover 90% of maintenance routes at -110 dBm.
  • Note: You can adjust the coverage percentage (e.g., 95%, 98%, 100%) and signal level thresholds based on your requirements.

2. Import Fixed Equipment and Routes

• Under the Zones tab, import vector files (e.g., shapefiles, MapInfo files) containing the locations of fixed equipment and maintenance routes.
• Example: Import fixed_equipment.shp for intelligent reclosers and maintenance_routes.shp for field crew paths.

3. Configure Candidate Sites

• Under the Reconfiguration tab, import all potential base-station locations. These could include:
  • Existing tower assets
  • Greenfield sites
  • Substations

4. Run the ACP

• Right-click on the ACP setup and select Run.
• Atoll will analyze the coverage objectives and candidate sites, selecting the optimal subset of sites to provide targeted coverage.

5. Compare Wide-Area vs. Targeted Coverage

• Wide-area coverage: For this example, require 58 sites to cover an entire county.
• Targeted coverage: Requires only 34 sites, a 40% reduction in site count.
• Why This Matters: Fewer sites mean lower startup costs and ongoing maintenance expenses.

6. Analyze Results

• Review the statistics to ensure coverage objectives are met.
• Visualize the coverage on the map to confirm that gaps do not overlap with fixed equipment or routes.

Key Benefits

✅ Cost Savings: Reduces the number of sites required by up to 40%, lowering capital and operational expenditures.

✅ Efficiency: Automates the site selection process, saving time and effort.

✅ Precision: Ensures coverage is optimized for utility-specific requirements

Step 2: Capacity Analysis with Traffic Simulation

Why Capacity Analysis?

Utilities must validate whether their network can support mission-critical applications with varying data rate requirements. For example:

• Low Data Rate Applications (10-100 kbps):
  • AMI per node.
  • Distribution automation.
  • Remote monitoring and control.
  • Outage management.
  • Asset management.
• High Data Rate Applications (500-2000 kbps):
  • Video surveillance.
  • AMI backhaul.
  • Wide-area situational awareness.

Traffic simulation ensures that the network can support these applications without congestion.

Step-by-Step Workflow in Atoll

1. Define Application Parameters

• Navigate to Parameters > Services and right-click to create new services.
• Define parameters for each application, such as:
  • Maximum Throughput: e.g., 2 Mbps for video surveillance.
  • Minimum Throughput: e.g., 10 kbps for AMI.
  • Priority: e.g., High for SCADA, Medium for metering.

2. Import Fixed Equipment Locations

• Create a Fixed Subscriber Traffic Map by right-clicking on Maps and selecting New Map > Fixed Subscriber Traffic Map.
• Import a vector file (e.g., fixed_equipment.shp) containing the locations of devices.

3. Assign Applications to Locations

• For each device location, assign the appropriate service (e.g., SCADA, video surveillance, AMI).
• Example: Assign SCADA to substation locations and video surveillance to power plant locations.

4. Run the Traffic Simulation

• Navigate to Simulations and right-click to create a New Simulation.
• Select the Fixed Subscriber Traffic Map and configure simulation parameters, such as:
  • Global scaling factor: e.g., “1” for 100% of defined load.
  • Max number of iterations: e.g., 100.
• Click Calculate to run the simulation.

5. Analyze Results

• Review the traffic load for each sector to identify congestion.
• Example: If a sector shows 28% loading, it means there is sufficient capacity. If a sector shows 92% loading, it may require optimization.

Key Benefits

✅ Accurate Resource Allocation: Ensures sufficient capacity for mission-critical applications.

✅ Congestion Identification: Highlights sectors that require optimization.

✅ Future-Proofing: Validates whether the network can scale to support new applications.

Step 3: UAV Coverage Analysis for Drones

Why UAV Coverage?

Drones are increasingly used for inspections of transmission lines, water towers, power plants, and pipelines. Reliable connectivity is essential for:

• Over-the-horizon control.
• Data transmission for real-time monitoring.

Atoll’s UAV module simplifies flight path coverage analysis, ensuring drones remain connected throughout their operations.

Step-by-Step Workflow in Atoll

1. Import Flight Route Vectors

• Click on the UAV Module toolbar button.
• Select Import UAV Path and navigate to the vector file (e.g., drone_routes.shp) containing the flight paths.

2. Configure Prediction Parameters

• Define the prediction type (e.g., RSRP, SINR)

3. Run Coverage Predictions

• Atoll will analyze coverage along the flight path.

4. Export to KMZ

• Click Export to KMZ and provide a file name (e.g., drone_coverage.kmz).
• Atoll will generate a KMZ file that can be visualized in Google Earth.

5. Analyze Coverage in Google Earth

• Open the KMZ file in Google Earth to visualize coverage along the flight path.
• Example: Color-coded signal levels (e.g., red for strong coverage, green for weak coverage) help identify gaps.

Key Benefits

✅ 3D Coverage Analysis: Models coverage at various altitudes for accurate results.

✅ Visualization: Provides a clear, intuitive view of coverage gaps.

✅ Efficiency: Simplifies the process of validating drone connectivity.

Step 4: In-Building Coverage Design for Power Plants

Why In-Building Coverage?

Facilities like power plants require seamless connectivity for:

• Equipment monitoring.
• Metering.
• Video surveillance.

Atoll’s in-building module synchronizes indoor and outdoor coverage, eliminating silos in the design process.

Step-by-Step Workflow in Atoll

1. Design the Building Layout

• Navigate to the Building Layouts and create a new building.
• Use the New Building Parts tools to design the building layout, including walls, windows, doors, and floors.
• Example: Design a power plant with multiple floors and rooms.

2. Place Antennas and Distributed Antenna System (DAS)

• Use the equipment palette to place antennas, sources, and cables.
• Example: Place antennas in key locations to ensure coverage throughout the building.
• Connect the antennas to create a distributed antenna system (DAS).

3. Run In-Building Predictions

• Right-click and select New In-Building Prediction.
• Choose the transmitters to include in the prediction (e.g., indoor antennas, outdoor antennas, or both).
• Example: Select both indoor and outdoor antennas to visualize coordinated coverage.

4. Analyze Results

• Review the coverage map to identify weak spots.
• Example: If coverage is weak in a basement, add additional antennas or adjust existing ones.

Key Benefits

✅ Coordinated Planning: Synchronizes indoor and outdoor coverage for seamless connectivity.

✅ 3D Modeling: Provides accurate predictions for multi-floor facilities.

✅ Flexibility: Supports both schematic and floor-view design.

Conclusion

Atoll provides industry-leading solutions for designing private LTE and 5G networks tailored to utility needs. By following the workflows outlined in this guide, utilities can:

• Optimize coverage for fixed equipment and routes using Automatic Cell Planner (ACP).
• Validate capacity for mission-critical applications with traffic simulation.
• Ensure reliable connectivity for drones with UAV coverage analysis.
• Design seamless in-building coverage for power plants and substations.
   

Ready to get started?

Watch the webinar replay to see Atoll in action, or contact us for a personalized demo.