Risco Group chosen to protect Mexican cell towers

June 30, 2008
Company’s solutions utilized at remote Mexican, Latin American antenna sites

A leading cellular provider in Mexico required a reliable and cost effective solution for protecting its remote antenna sites, mainly due to repeated burglary of copper cables and equipment in the facilities. The company also required remote control over the systems installed on-site from a central control room.

The Challenge

Remote antenna sites in Mexico and in Latin America in general are usually located in isolated areas without telephone line infrastructure. This eliminated the possibility of using an alarm system that will communicate with a control room over standard phone lines. Long-range radio was also not applicable, as it enables one way reporting from the site to the central control room, but does not allow the Security Officer to remotely control their security systems from the control room. The only available means of data communications remaining was by transferring IP data over the GSM/GPRS channel that is available for use at all antenna sites.

The Solution

RISCO Group ProSYS with Dual-Path IP and GSM/GPRS communication was chosen by several cellular providers as a solution that met all requirements. The ProSYS Integrated Security System includes both IP and GSM/GPRS communication modules enabling rapid and cost effective reporting and remote system control. Both the IP channel and the GSM/GPRS can serve as the primary communications channels for system reporting and control. Encrypted reporting is transmitted to RISCO Group’s IP/GSM Receiver installed in the Central Control Room. The GSM/GPRS module is also utilized to automatically send SMS alerts of onsite equipment malfunctions to Regional Technical Engineers. Additionally, RISCO Group’s WatchOUT outdoor detectors and ProSound external sounders are installed at each site. These accessories are installed on the ProSYS RS485 Bus and are remotely controlled and diagnosed from the Central Control Room. RISCO Group's SynopSYS Integrated Security & Building Management Software is the ideal choice for Security Officers seeking to monitor and control their distant remote sites via intuitive synoptic maps in real time. With SynopSYS, a Security Officer can receive alerts on security events in real time and take the necessary measures to handle the event.

The Highlights


• The Cellular Provider used its own IP/GSM Communication infrastructure.
• Remote Control and Diagnostic capabilities is enabled via the ProSYS Upload/Download Software in the Company's Central Control Room.
• Ability to receive alerts on events in real time using SynopSYS Security & Building Management Solution
• RISCO Group's Solution is currently installed at 250 remote sites. The intention is to implement the solution at all 1000 antenna sites.

Customer’s Point of View

RISCO Group's Remote Site Security Solution was successfully implemented to the full satisfaction of the Cellular Provider. The Cellular Provider has not only managed to save communication costs by using its own IP and GSM/GPRS communication infrastructure but the equipment used also surpassed their stringent security requirements.