Date: 15th April 2008
Title: Transmode delivers improved networking to German gas company VNG 

German gas products and services company VNG has just completed a two-year network improvement project involving the installation of a suite of C- and DWDM systems from Transmode, a leading provider of Optical Networking Solutions in cooperation with the systems integrator ITM.

VNG supports its customers and manages its extensive utility metrology functions with a network of optical fibre-pair links between its 31 main network locations across eastern Germany. Now the network's capacity has been improved by a factor of up to 50 and newly enabled remote metrology services are increasing the company's profitability. Prior to the WDM installation, which was signed off on budget and on time in November 2007, VNG's network comprised a 2000km-long STM-1 network and a higher-powered STM-4 ring around its Leipzig headquarters.

"In the summer of 2005, we commenced this development project for long-distance traffic, which was transformed into our WDM network," said Ingo Gatzke, VNG's manager responsible for the administration of the communication infrastructure. . "However, we were not only seeking an engineering solution, we were also looking for a consultative solution provider to help us. Transmode's consultative approach meant that we discussed each stage and the technical possibilities in a creative, cooperative method that we really appreciated."

Transmode's technologies and systems installed included a combination of its TS System products, the 5400, 5500 and 7700 modules. Together the new arrangement supports 31 locations and 34 nodes,distributed across eastern Germany from Rostock to Sayda and from Kienbaum to Neukirchen. The new network offers point-to-point connections with CWDM, eight of which also offer DWDM-enabled. In total, 2000km of fibre-optic cable has been upgraded from SDH to WDM functionality.

Gatzke described the state of the improvement reached by the end of 2007. "We have achieved a capacity increase factor of between 10 and 50 for some users. The network is scalable and is now 70% complete. Further upgrades will be made as required, depending on new services offered."

The Transmode installation advantages were described as: system simplicity, robustness, and ease of set-up. One notable attractive detail was the use of pluggable optics to ensure all system units were available in a single wavelength independent

After such rapid change and delivery, were all of the original aims of the redevelopment project met? Gatzke commented: "At each of our key locations VNG now has the ability to collect information on the gas quality, with which it is now directly possible to raise the profitability of our gas business."

“We have had a very good co-operation with VNG throughout the project – from network design to installation and commissioning“, said Björn Andersson, Vice President Sales, Transmode. “The German market is important for Transmode and we are delighted to add VNG to the list of more than 35 City and Regional carriers and major enterprises in Germany“.

About VNG
VNG Group, headquartered in Leipzig, Germany, is a natural gas wholesaler and energy services provider. It serves utilities, regional suppliers and industrial operations across the country as well as logistics partners working for natural gas retailers and transportation companies. Core activities
comprise the buying and selling, transmission and storage of natural gas.

VNG also provides clients with a broad range of services, including marketing, cooperation activities and consulting, in order to optimise their business processes and ensure their gas facilities work safely and reliably. Based in eastern Germany, VNG uses opportunities throughout the whole country. It also
harvests the potential harboured by the markets in Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe.

About ITM
ITM based in Neuss Germany and Vienna in Austria, founded in 1987 is a major reseller and systems integrator of both voice and data communications solutions.

In partnership with many systems suppliers ITM works in the area network design, installation, service and consultancy. Technologies that ITM work in include Metro Ethernet, Voice and Data over IP, Multiplexed systems, Wireless, Test analysis, Transmission systems and interface conversion.

About Transmode
Transmode is a leading provider of optical networking solutions for transport of data, voice and video traffic, based on WDM-technology (Wavelength Division Multiplexing).

Our customer base consists of more than 200 network operators, service providers, large enterprises and public institutions across Europe, the Americas and Asia.

Transmode’s comprehensive product portfolio and strong global organization enable our customers to cost efficiently grow the capacity and to improve service level of their regional, metro and metro access networks, without compromising on functionality.

For additional information about Transmode, please visit http://www.transmode.com