RF Link Routing and Link Design

A thorough, accessible model of terrain profiles and regional clutter is critical to the delivery of a fullyfunctional, effective wireless network.

NbW is unrivalled in our ability to tailor a solution to the area it will cover thanks to our significant investment in extensive information databases.

We use a range of RF planning software, based on Oracle SQL databases, to provide both transmission planning and RF coverage predictions.

The availability of this wealth of accurate information, which is regularly updated, means that our planners can achieve typically 90% accuracy on the desktop, before physical surveys are carried out. This enables us to perform actual surveys at a much quicker rate, allowing design verification and commercial sign-off early in the delivery process.

Our terrain databases provide height accuracy to within a few metres for the entire UK. This is supplemented by a Building Vector database providing a complete record of heights and edges of buildings to enable us to accurately model RF propagation within any UK town or city.

In addition, a tower database provides heights of towers along with details of ownership and shows whether we can rent space on them, so helping our planners to design the network. This database represents over 40,000 sites from operators including Arqiva, NGW, O2, C&W, BT and Police & Fire services.

NbW can also plan networks for any area of the world once terrain data is acquired. Our software includes RF propagation characteristics for Tetra, ISM, UMTS, GSM and all authorised ETSI and FCC modulation plans.

As an infrastructure provider, NbW is unique in providing such an extensive planning service as part
of our turnkey solution.

Distance (km)

Site Surveys

Our engineers provide physical line of sight confirmation of our desktop predictions using high intensity starlight torches. The engineers are highly trained and have extensive safe working practice and health and safety certification, enabling them to work in any environment and on any third party site.

In preparation for installation, they conduct a thorough build survey of each site, measuring steelwork for clamps, providing sketches of cable runs, taking photos for point of entry and identifying special circumstances
such as the presence of asbestos or concrete flooring.

Such thorough attention to details means that our installation teams arrive on site with all the equipment
required to complete the task, keeping any risk of delay to a minimum.

Third Party Liaison

Once NbW has engineered a network for our client and confirmed this via physical surveys, we will apply to Ofcom for licences to construct the parameters of each link. A thorough knowledge of the licensing
process is critical to avoid unnecessary delays and expense. NbW has a good working relationship with Ofcom, ensuring that the process is a smooth one.

NbW is also accustomed to liaising with local planning authorities and has a thorough knowledge of legislation
such as the Town and Country Planning Act and General Permitted Development Orders.

Our master site sharing agreement contains terms and conditions agreed with all the major tower operators.
We are also skilled in securing legal agreements with owners of other sites.

As in other areas, our experience and depth of knowledge regarding site share and planning procedures adds considerable value to our client relationships, both in terms of reduced delivery timescales and reduced costs.

“ At LCC we have set a number of unique and challenging objectives for the way we will deliver service innovations. NbW clearly showed us that they understood our way of thinking and that they could demonstrate an intimate knowledge of their technology portfolio. Excellent pre-sales planning and survey services coupled with unbeatable experience and credibility allowed us to go to contract with a high degree of confidence.”Doug Sutherland – Head of Innovation, Leeds City Council