Mentum Ellipse: Proven

enterprise-grade wireless

backhaul planning and

optimization software solution

As mobile network operators evolve their radio access networks to expand their data service offerings and increase average revenue per unit (ARPU), the cost of backhaul as an operational expense must be considered. Backhaul — transmitting voice and data traffic from a cell site to the network backbone — is a sizeable component of a carrier’s operating budget and with the proliferation of data services and bundled data service plans, it needs to be optimized for overall network profitability.

As operators look to add new coverage and capacity, or upgrade their transmission networks in support of a larger network upgrade, they need accurate planning and optimization software. Mentum Ellipse® is a simulation-based software application for dimensioning and planning microwave links and transmission networks. Relying on trusted engineering methods, it incorporates all the latest ITU specifications required for the accurate design of point-to-point and point-to-multipoint microwave transmission links.

More than just an engineering tool, Mentum Ellipse also supports planning, operation and optimization of wireless backhaul networks, and can be utilized as the reference transmission database management system for wireless operators.

Mentum Ellipse At A Glance• Mentum Ellipse is used by a network operator’s transmission engineers, including design engineers and microwave planners• Typical customers include network operators and the system integrators and consultants they employ• Mentum Ellipse is trusted by more than 90 customers around the world

Mentum Ellipse Supported Technologies And Frequencies• Microwave point-to-point or point- to-multipoint technology operating from 1.8 GHz to 60 GHz• LMDS (up to 31.7 GHz)• MMDS (2.1 GHz to 2.7 GHz)

Superior Microwave Link PlanningThe value of any engineering simulation tool is its ability to replicate the real-world environment. Mentum Ellipse features a full path-profile analysis that includes Fresnel zones clearance, multiple k-factors, terrain/clutter/building visualization, reflection analysis and antenna height optimization. It takes into account several resolutions for terrain altitude as well as obstacle heights associated with clutter type, buildings and digital elevation model layer.

Mentum Ellipse comes with comprehensive databases which allow stations, antennas and other equipment to be accurately configured for consideration in the link analysis. Templates chosen in configuration wizards help the user achieve a quick and robust link design by filtering according to distance range, antenna diameters and availability objectives. Additionally, using the Line-of-sight (LOS) engine, Mentum Ellipse will automatically detect all possible candidates from a particular site and find LOS path solutions between two sites with no direct visibility. The result: transmission engineers can plan short, medium and long-haul microwave links confidently knowing their designs will deliver in the real network.

The Mentum Ellipse Microwave (Core) Package also includes a variety of propagation models including Free Space, Ellipse (Free Space and triple knife-edged diffraction), two-ray optics and a comprehensive ITU-R P.452. Flexible rain and multi-path fading modeling is supported through inclusion of ITU, Crane, Vigants-Barnett and KQ factor methods.

2

Transmission Technologies Considered• SDH• PDH• SONET• WiMAX (802.16d)

improvements are all generated automatically. Space diversity can also be tuned using the reflection plane method. Mentum Ellipse also simulates advanced technology considerations like ATPC (Automatic Transmit Power Controller) and XPIC (Cross Polarization Interference Correlation) devices that support complex microwave network designs like SDH NxSTM-1 on cross-polarized antennas.

Mentum Ellipse now supports adaptive modulation used in modern radio equipment for point-to-point and point-to-multipoint applications. In point-to-point deployments, the application uses thresholds defined between modulation schemes to compute the exact availability per modulation and the duration of availability between two points. This concept in a microwave radio is usually tied to a static threshold and adaptive

To support the creation of accurate link budgets, atmospheric attenuation, selective frequency fading, repeaters, frequency and/or space diversity

( Mentum Ellipse Point-to-multipoint Module helps determine

the best position for repeaters or hubs based on all available candidates

for LMDS, MMDS and fixed WiMAX networks )

3

Mentum Ellipse Microwave (Core) Microwave planning and bulk reporting

Automatic ChannelAllocation Network interference and frequency planning module

Point toMultipoint

Planning/optimization of point-to-multipoint networks (LMDS, MMDS and Fixed WiMAX)

Cost Module Cost analysis of different transmission options

Transport Module Capacity flow and circuit inventory

Mentum Ellipse Product Structure

threshold — the latter being used when changing between two modulation schemes. The end result, with accurate simulations of adaptive modulation is that the transmission engineer can use smaller and less costly antennas for the same link capacity.

Point-to-multipoint PlanningPoint-to-multipoint networks extend and complete point-to-point networks where antenna installation restrictions and flexible bandwidth demand exist, but they can also add another level of complexity to point-to-point link design, especially in terms of interference considerations. The optional Mentum Ellipse Point-to-multipoint Module helps determine the best position for repeaters or hubs based on all available candidates for LMDS, MMDS and fixed WiMAX networks.

Mentum Ellipse embeds a powerful LOS analysis engine that identifies all possible connections with candidate sites.

4

This module incorporates tunable propagation models and displays coverage for up to three of the best servers relative to field strength, best serving station, downlink frequency and — when adaptive modulation is used — modulation footprint and rooftop coverage. It provides statistical information according to field intervals and clutter types.

Optimized WorkflowsDesigned specifically with the transmission engineer in mind, Mentum Ellipse’s user interface provides them with all the information they need, when and where they need it. This enables clearer, more efficient and faster workflows.

To facilitate a quick transfer of data into the tool, Mentum has developed translators for common equipment formats from other planning tools. Information on existing sites can be imported in CSV format and data from most reports as well as screens can be exported to Excel® — facilitating reporting requirements between regional and corporate offices.

Transmission Cost Analysis The financial analysis function within the optional Cost Module provides powerful support for network analysis from a resource perspective. “What if” scenarios for capacity, capital and operating expenditure models for single links or the whole network are possible.

The Cost Module also facilitates the comparison of several network topologies — from CAPEX, OPEX and capacity flow/growth points of view — and provides an automatic feasibility and cost analysis for transmission media/technology changes for all links per topology. This provides valuable assistance for business case preparation and with the embedded ROI analysis tool, assists in decision-making and efficient link deployment. During build

up, Mentum Ellipse can even help monitor costs and anticipated delays based on actual implementation dates as inputs.

Carrier-grade Data ManagementMentum Ellipse is built around an Oracle® database management system — a common repository in which all link information is stored — that allows secure multi-user capabilities on a proven and scalable architecture. Unlike simple link planning tools, the Mentum Ellipse database ensures consistent end-to-end engineering studies when multiple users access the same data, while giving each individual user access to a workspace (i.e., working database) and a coherent reference database.

Variable Deployment OptionsMentum Ellipse offers various deployment options that support standalone or enterprise client/server installations. Standalone workstations can operate with or without an Oracle database. Network administrators can opt for a standalone workstation deployment tied to a single Oracle database, or they can employ a centralized model supported through Citrix® or Windows® Terminal Services.

Mentum Ellipse Desktop Clients Connected to Database

Mentum Ellipse Laptop Clients Connected to Database

Printer/Plotter

Workgroup With Centralized Data

Desktop Clients: Mentum Ellipse Connected via Citrix

Citrix Server• Geodata Database (Optional)• Sentinel License Server (Optional)• Mentum Ellipse Software (Mandatory)

Mentum Ellipse Standalone

(Not connected to Database)

Oracle Database Server• Geodata Database (Optional)• Sentinel License Server (Optional)• Mentum Ellipse Software (Optional)

Mentum Ellipse Deployment Scenarios

The optional Cost Module allows users to define multiple expense models (for CAPEX and OPEX) on the same link for comparison and to determine the ROI point between models (i.e., leased line (red) and microwave (green)).

5

NODE_B_1 NODE_B_2 NODE_B_3 NODE_B_4 RNC

Fiber

Gateway to core

ADM

With the Mentum Ellipse Transport Module users can view a logical representation of a physical circuit between two points in the network.

Operator transmission groups can better plan and optimize their workflows within their enterprise IT environments using a client-server or thin-client model. Maintaining applications and data on central servers also makes upgrades, redundancy and workflows easier to manage.

Mentum Ellipse also offers a flexible licensing system, allowing software licenses to be acquired on a named end-user basis or more cost-effectively as a shared pool for multiple users. The licensing system also supports a disconnected mode for laptop users which permits engineers to use the software while out in the field and synchronize their changes with the database when they return to the office.

Integration of Project Management Processes, Requests and WorkflowsCollaborative work can be efficiently organized around Mentum Ellipse. Through the use of fully customizable flags and fields, tasks can be assigned to specific users who — once their tasks are complete — can pass them along to the next person involved in the process. The information used to organize workflows in Mentum Ellipse can easily be imported via batch mode from another tool and then exported in the same fashion to another part of the global information system. This powerful feature allows a single, enterprise-grade reference database to be linked into other systems such as the Mentum Planet® RF database.

Unique Transport ModuleThe unique Transport Module for circuits and capacity management lets users centralize their microwave links, transmission links and circuit management in a common repository — the Mentum Ellipse database. Having one single reference database, with redundant backups, helps avoid mistakes and the need for manual post-processing while performing capacity management and circuit inventory.

The optional Transport Module permits operators to:

• define all existing circuits in their network

• plan new circuits taking into consideration capacity bottlenecks

• model protected rings • plan the shortest available routes

through the use of advanced wizards

( The unique Transport Module for circuits and capacity

management lets users centralize their microwave links, transmission links

and circuit management in a common repository )

What Sets Mentum Apart?

FOCUS• Mentum is dedicated specifically to wireless planning and optimization solutions. It does not use these products to sell network equipment or consulting services. We work directly for the customer

DEPENDABILITY• Mentum is committed to the long-term success of Mentum Ellipse through best-of-class services and development efforts

LEADERSHIP• Mentum anticipates and participates in the evolution of wireless and software technologies to offer the most benefit to our customers — both today and tomorrow

Transport Module - Viewing A Complete Circuit

6

Interference Calculation and Automatic Channel Allocation The optional Automatic Channel Allocation Module allows automatic selection of channels for minimal interference, vastly reducing the transmission engineer’s planning time, and improving overall Quality of Service (QoS). The Automatic Channel Allocation Module also enables quality assessments of “What if” scenarios in minimal time.

This advanced module is used by operators to plan clean frequencies in one bulk operation on newly added links or on new greenfield-type microwave networks. Since it reduces the number of channels used in the network while maintaining the targeted level of interference on the microwave network, the Automatic Channel Allocation Module is also being used as a cornerstone for microwave optimization activities and services.

Comprehensive Reporting Tools for Workflow OptimizationThe ability to generate automatic reports from tools, such as Mentum Ellipse Link Analysis, combined with the ability to configure formatting allows engineers to produce professional reports for other departments or for management. This helps reduce the need for time-consuming import/export operations and reformatting in other tools.

In fact, Mentum Ellipse is flexible enough to support all internal and regulatory (e.g., frequency coordination, link acceptance) reporting requirements. The resulting standardization of reports allows the engineer to focus on planning tasks instead of report generation.

Multiple Geodata OptionsMentum now includes a geodata converter within Mentum Ellipse that will convert public data such as GTOPO30 900m, SRTM3 90m, SRTM 30m or NED 1 30m data from the USGS into a MapInfo® format that can be used within the application. When data is unavailable or of poor quality, terrain, clutter (land use) and building polygon data can also be acquired through the Mentum Geodata Department.

AutomaticChannel

Assignment

InterferenceAnalysis

TransportData

Management

4GLTE

WiMAX

ACPRenaissance

AFPNetwork-based

FrequencyOptimizer

Mentum Software Portfolio

It also blends PDH and SDH/SONET traffic seamlessly, models and manages any equipment in the real network (such as DACS, Multiplexors, BTS, etc.) and models the actual ports used by each defined circuit. Capacity can now be entered as Ethernet/IP traffic and IP addresses can also be assigned to each port in the network.

7

As the single point of contact for the customer, Mentum can minimize customer costs while offering an extremely wide variety of services. The standard Mentum geodata for Mentum Ellipse is offered at 30m and 100m, but higher resolution data sets, including building heights and polygons, are also offered to meet specific customer requirements.

Specialized Services and Customer CareMentum services are focused exclusively around Mentum products, so our in-depth knowledge provides a unique and distinct advantage. Our highly-trained professionals have years of experience delivering specialized solutions to the wireless industry.

Services offered include:

• Training: Tool or technology-based courses delivered on customer premises, at Mentum training centers or online

• Implementation services: Project planning, system integration and data migration delivered by on-site consultants or remotely with customer access provided to internal IT systems

• Technology or Mentum Ellipse mentoring: Mentum engineers stay on site with an operator’s engineers to improve operational efficiency through applied microwave/ transmission and tool knowledge transfer

• Custom integration: Integration of Mentum Ellipse within operator systems, or development of specific features to tackle key workflows

Mentum delivers support to its global customer base through regional support centers. Support staff blend a myriad of skill sets including IT, transmission and software programming to help ensure customer productivity on Mentum products. Mentum prides itself on after-sales support, and uses leading technologies to provide the best support in the backhaul planning and optimization software industry.

A Unique Offering That Keeps Winning CustomersMentum Ellipse is a proven leader in microwave design and optimization, providing a solution that supports planning, operation and optimization of wireless backhaul networks. It is a product uniquely positioned to support enterprise environments in which customers require reliable solutions, flexible deployment options and workflows that support operational efficiency. Ongoing development efforts continue to make Mentum Ellipse the category leader in enterprise-grade wireless backhaul design and optimization software.

( It is a product uniquely positioned to support enterprise environments

in which customers require reliable solutions, flexible deployment options

and workflows that support operational efficiency )

Mentum Capabilities Include: • Worldwide sales, support and customer care• Offices in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Paris, Ottawa and Dallas• Specialized products/services around Mentum Ellipse and Mentum Planet• Implementation services• Training and mentoring• Mentum Geodata • A corporate commitment to deliver well beyond software — Mentum delivers results

www.mentum.comsales@mentum.com © 2008-09 Mentum S.A. Mentum, Mentum Planet and Mentum Ellipse are registered trademarks owned by Mentum S.A. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Fiber

NodeSDH Ring Inter-city

Connectivity

Fiber

Fiber Ring

POP

Copper (DSL)

POP

Rev. 2/09