Drones to facilitate mobile network management and maintenance.

As part of its commitment to innovation and support for start-ups, Orange Luxembourg has teamed up with FIRIS, a start-up specializing in 3D modeling and mapping technologies, in particular using drones.

The start-up's know-how enables the operator t o improve and secure the management and maintenance of the antennas that make up its entire mobile network. Drones, in particular, avoid the need for men or women to climb pylons. The LIDAR technology they carry also makes it possible to carry out a range of measurements and collect a wealth of data useful for improving the network.

Bertrange, June 30, 2023 - To guarantee optimum mobile network coverage for its customers throughout the country, Orange Luxembourg manages and maintains a large number of antennas, and continues to deploy new ones. Located high up, on pylons or on rooftops, these elements must be regularly checked, maintained and repaired, to meet regulatory requirements, guarantee the efficiency of installations and user satisfaction.

"With a view to improving network management and enhancing the safety of our operators, who regularly have to climb to heights to check or intervene on our antennas, we approached the start-up FIRIS, which specializes in 3D mapping of locations using LIDAR technology, explains Christophe VAN YCK, Network Manager at Orange Luxembourg. Based on this company's expertise, we developed a new use case for the technology. Embedded in drones, it enables us to check the condition of our antennas without exposing our teams to risk, and to monitor the surrounding environment to ensure that nothing disrupts the network."

Facilitate network management and maintenance

FIRIS is a Luxembourg-based start-up that uses LIDAR technology and drones for new applications, particularly for indoor and outdoor measurements. "The technology enables us to scan an environment and, using point clouds, to establish models, maps and measurements with extreme precision, explains Christophe ANTOINE, Partner at start-up FIRIS. In the case of our collaboration with Orange Luxembourg, the drone enables us to make direct observations, to check the condition of the antenna or its orientation. We are the eyes of the operator, who no longer has to climb a tower to carry out these checks. What's more, the technology enables us to scan the environment and take measurements, to ensure that no object interferes with network coverage."

As part of a project to install a new antenna, the technology can also be used to scan the environment and take measurements to support the architect's work, making it easier to draw up plans for a permit application, for example.

Reduce risks and costs, improve satisfaction

 "A single flight is enough to collect a lot of data, which can then be exploited in a variety of ways, as required, without having to go back up the tower or make another flight," explains Christophe VAN YCK. This in-depth knowledge of the environment of each of our antennas supports our approach to continuous network improvement."

 The use of drones, LIDAR technology and FIRIS mapping expertise offers numerous advantages. In addition to reducing the risk to which operators in charge of network management and maintenance are exposed, the approach is more efficient and less costly. The time needed to carry out network management and maintenance operations has been reduced by 60%, and costs by 40%," comments Christophe VAN YCK. Thanks to these gains, we are improving the quality of our network and, ultimately, the satisfaction of all our customers."

Innovation and support for start-ups

This collaboration with FIRIS is also in line with Orange Luxembourg's approach to innovation and support for start-ups. We're very proud of this partnership project, which meets our challenges as an operator, and enables the start-up to strengthen its expertise through a new, concrete use case for its technological solutions," explains Corinne Lozé, CEO of Orange Luxembourg. This project reveals in a very concrete way how innovative solutions can be implemented, in a co-design approach, to meet key business challenges, support our operations and improve the quality of our services to our customers."

 This innovative use case for technology was highlighted by FIRIS at the Vivatech trade show in Paris in mid-June. The start-up was part of the Luxembourg delegation represented at this key trade show dedicated to technology, digital technology and innovation. FIRIS is also present this Thursday June 29 and Friday June 30 at the ICT Spring to present the project.

 Orange Luxembourg has been committed to supporting start-ups for many years, in particular through its "Orange Fab" acceleration program, which every year enables innovative young players to carry out projects in collaboration with the operator while benefiting from its network.