REPORT: INTERNSHIP AT SCO

July-Aug 2010

ABUBAKAR SIDDIQUE
MCS - NUST

SCO Internship Report

Introduction to SCO
Week 1:
INTELLIGENT NETWORK (IN)
IN services gives additive facilities over the existing telecom network by
providing following value added services:

Prepaid services
0800 / 0900 Calls etc.
Premium
VPN
Calling Cards
Utility bill payment
Tele-voting
Home country direct
SCO IN network has the following network:

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SCO Internship Report

Week 2:
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT)
In the 2nd week, we were given information about IT and its importance in an
organization. A team of good IT professionals is vital for the survival of an
organization in this age of IT. Good and dedicated IT professionals produce good end
results and provide an edge over the competing organizations.
SCO provided internet and data communications to its users in AJ&K and Gilgit
Baltistan using a network of routers established across the whole Northern Areas
and the above mentioned places. Its routers are IP / MPLS configured which is a
leading technology nowadays. SCO utilizes Cisco routers which are configured in
three layers as defined by Cisco: Core, Distributive and Access. 6 core routers are laid
in 6 cities with all connected to 6 distribution routers and the rest access routers are
connected to the distribution router and provide data communication e.g. internet
and networking.
To add security to the routers and the SCO network, multiple preventive
measures are taken. Firewalls are added at routers which prevent unauthorized
access. Intrusion detection and intrusion prevention system are used in accordance
with the firewall. To overall maintain and monitor the system, a security operation
center (SOC) is used.
IT professionals are also responsible for developing business intelligence (BI)
software. BI helps the executives of the organization to review the status of
operation of their organization in a summarized and user friendly interface. This
interface is called the dashboard. In BI environment, data warehouses are required
which are manufactured by different companies such as IBM, Oracle and ZTE etc. The
BI software used by SCO is provided by ZTE.
SCO is also an internet service provider (ISP) to its users. It provides DSL and
dialup connectivity to its users through its network of routers. To provide dialup
connection, a remote access server (RAS) is connected to the router of the area
where dialup connection is required and the phone line is connected to the RAS. The
RAS provides authentication and connects to the internet. To provide DSL services, a
DSLAM is connected to the router which multiplexes the voice and the data in the
phone line and the user phone line is connected to the DSLAM.

Week 3:
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SCO Internship Report

INTERNATIONAL GATEWAY AND SATELLITE EARTH STATION (IGWE & SES)

FLOWCHART of IGWE

Introduction: IGWE & SES

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SCO Internship Report

An international gateway and an associated exchange is required i.e. IGWE for

providing international voice communication to users. For establishing international
communication, an international connectivity is established using a gateway which is
mostly established using satellite communication links; thus having the need of a
satellite earth station (SES).
SCO is the sole provider of international voice communication to the users of
Northern Areas and AJK with the help of its IGWE. The flow chart of the IGWE and
SES is given in the above shown figure.

Explanation of Flow Chart

Transit Exchanges
These are installed in each city. They collect the international calls and
forward it to DDF which is located in gateway.
E1
E1 is a European telecommunications standard in which one frame of duration
125 us consisting of 32 channels is used to carry voice of the users. Of the 32
channels, one is used for synchronization/frame alignment and one is used for
signaling; while each of the rest 30 channels are allotted to 30 users.
Synchronous Transfer Module (STM)
STM is a method of communication in which STM frames are used. There are
many types of STM frames. Following are their capacities of data rates:
Type of STM

Rate

STM-0

51.84 Mbps

STM-1

155.52 Mbps

STM-4

466.56 Mbps

STM-16

2488.32 Mbps

STM-64

9953.280 Mbps

STM-256

40 Gbps

Digital Distribution Frame (DDF)

DDF collects calls from the transit exchanges, i.e. it terminates the cables
coming from transit exchanges and then forwards the calls to the exchange ZXJ 10. It
consists of a National side where the terminating ends of transit exchanges are
located and the international side which is further connected to DCME for
compression.
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SCO Internship Report

ZXJ10 Switch (Exchange)

ZXJ 10 is a switch which is manufactured by ZTE. It can be configured to be
used as any kind of exchange, be it a tandem, or end office etc. In the SCO gateway,
it is used to route calls from national side to international side.
Digital Circuit/Compression Multiplication Equipment (DCME)
To reduce cost, compression is required. SO DCME is used for compressing the
data from the E1s. DCMEs in the SCO IGWE are configured to perform 14:1 and 4:1
compression.
Antenna Control Unit
To have effective communication, it is imperative that the earth antenna is
aligned with the geostationary satellite Intelsat. For this purpose, SCO has a control
system and an antenna tracking system. The tracking system is called the antenna
control unit (ACU). It aligns the antenna with the transponder at the satellite. Using
the azimuthal and vertical directions, the antenna aligns itself by moving its
horizontal and vertical motors.
Modem
Modem is used for the conversion of TDM to FDM or vice versa i.e. it
multiplexes and demultiplexes.
Solid State Power Amplifier System (SSPAS)
SSPAS is an amplifier which is used for the amplification of the signal after its
up-conversion. This is needed since the signal has to travel from the dish antenna to
the satellite which is a lot of distance.
Low Noise Amplifier (LNA)
LNA is an amplifier which is used for the detection and amplification of the
incoming signal. It also reduces the noise. It is used for the detection of very low
power signal.
Parabolic Dish
Since the signal has to travel a lot of distance from the antenna to the
satellite, so an antenna is required which is a high gain. So a parabolic dish antenna is
used due to its nature of high gain. The antenna size is 16.4m in diameter and is
operating at 62 E. Transmitting frequency is 6 GHz and receiving frequency is 4GHz,
which lie in C-bands.
Satellite Communication
SCO uses satellite communication for providing international communication
to its users. For this purpose, it has a dedicated link with the Intelsat which further
communicates with the country for which the call is destined. SCO uses C band for
this communication. Following are the frequency bands that are used in satellite
communication:
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SCO Internship Report

Frequency Band

Rx

Tx

C-band

3,700-4,200 MHz

5,925-6,425 MHz

Ku-band

11.7-12.2 GHz

14.0-14.5 GHz

Ka-band

17.7-21.2 GHz

27.5-31.0 GHz

Power
For the survival and sustenance of any electronic system, power is the base. If
there is no power, not even a transistor can work. So, there should be ample
importance and attention given to the provision of power.
At the SCO IGWE, there are three sources of power:
WAPDA: It is the nationwide government electricity provider.
UPS: UPS is an abbreviation for Uninterrupted Power Supply. When electricity
breaks down, the devices working on electricity will not stop working rather
they will switch on the UPS which runs on batteries. At the IGWE, two UPSs of
60 kVA are installed. When electricity from WAPDA resumes, the batteries of
the UPSs are recharged.
Generator: This is an electricity producing machine which uses fuel i.e. diesel,
petrol etc. for the production of electricity.

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SCO Internship Report

Week 4:
CDMA , MEDIA, & MARKETING
CDMA
SCO also provides CDMA connectivity to its users in limited areas. CDMA
stands for Code Division Multiple Access. One of the basic concepts in data
communication is the idea of allowing several transmitters to send information
simultaneously over a single communication channel. This allows several users to
share a bandwidth of different frequencies. This concept is called multiplexing.
CDMA employs spread-spectrum technology and a special coding scheme (where
each transmitter is assigned a code) to allow multiple users to be multiplexed over
the same physical channel.

Media
SCO provides communication through many media. These include Microwave,
Optical fiber and satellite communication. SCO has the biggest Microwave network in
the whole world laid all across Northern Areas and AJ&K. The SCO M/W network is
shown in the following figure:
MW

NW

Jandoli

Gupis

20

40

Chator
Khand

30

Gulapur

Tower
Heights

60
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
07

=
=
=
=
=
=

Hunzal
Jotal
Bala
40
30

40

Sonikot

Dassu

16

51

22

SS

Shigar
50

(Exch)

20

30

40

Thoril
Hill

35

Chilas

50

35
Jaglote
(BTS)
Hattupir

50

30

Radio
Cly

40
Alochoi

40
Patuwal

50
Astore

Ginni
Hill

Tial Hill

Shaheed
Gali

20

Shumalgul

20
Kamarsar

20

Derai Hill

30

Naran

Ghan
Chhattar

02

Mansehra

CMH
30

30

Shingri

15

30

SAKARDU

30

Lumsa

60

10

Maloot

Murree

30

Huller
07 Syedian

BAGH
15

Jhika
20 Gala

B.A.Pur
30

Rera
40

F/Kahuta
10
20 Chirala

On Roof=03

30

TOPA

Datoot

Chitra Topi

30

30
20
Thorar

30

30 Harigal
30 Paniola

30

Birpani 40

NARH

Lasdana

Chak
35 Chhota
Gala Dhamni
20

30
30
Junjal Hill

30

30

Rawlakot

Topa(Soun)

20

20

Dhardarch

Mong

30
Niarian
Sharif

30

20

B.
Khurd

10
Hajeera

Baloch

Plandri

Azad
Patan

Rwp S/Tn
10

Chikar

`Rangla

30
Ghaziabad

Reflector=03

30

30

Dana Kachali

DhirKot

45

Dana Top

20

50
Khad
Bazar
30

Garhi
Dopatta

30
30

Muzaffar
Abad

Thandiani

50

Pir
Chanasi

30
10

Abbotabad
(PTCL)

02

Patika
30

Nalochi

35

07

New
MZD
30

30

35

= 110
= 20

Rwp
Misrial

30

Jaglote

Konadas
20

01

Charaan

Gamba

20

20

D/Top

10

=
=

Alam
Bridge

40
Oshkandas

10

Total = 130

GS

50
nsit
Tra

GILGIT

20

133
133

S
BT
Danyore

50

35

Shutial

02

=
=

=
=

25

20
20
Angur
Nala

Total Links
Total Sites

Aliabad

50 BTS
30
Sikandarabad

Khandiah

01
14

40
Karimabad

50
30

EXCH

Jutial 30

02

(AJK & NAs)

Mechier

Thingdas

50

Gakuch

70

30
Hyderabad

Ishkoman
20
(Dalti)
40

40

SCO

20

Naar-II

(PTCL)

Sarsawa

Agaar
20
30

20

50

35

Tatta Pani
Charohi

KOTLI

Nakial
40

20

Khui
Ratta

30

30

HQ SCO

Unit Wise
MW Sites
- CSB

SITES

Pir Lasura
20
50
40
Pir
Sensa
Tarala
Khattar Makaal
Tharochi
Dilawar
30
10 Pray Valley
40

Self Supported
Guy Supported
On Roof (S.S.)
Reflector
Tower Height (M)
Name of
MW Link

Link
Colour

Evo Sr-1
NL 292
Terrester
STM 1
Evo Sr-2
STM O
Evo Sr-3
NL 242
SAF 16
SRAL-16
SAF 8
SRAL-8
NL 181
CTR210
TOTAL

13

70

30

Tanyot

Chornaar
30

Dhudial-II

20

Link
Capacity
(E1s)

No. of
Links

Total
E1s
(Ports)

75
64
63
63
40
21
20
16
16
16
08
08
04
08

05
07
01
18
03
23
37
12
00
03
05
05
13
04

375
448
63
1134
120
483
740
192
000
48
40
40
52
32

13

133

3647

Chakswari

30

30

Dhudial-I
Khadim
Abad

30

35

Nangi

SAROTA-II

30 Pir Gali
40

Islam
Garh

Kadali

45 MPR F-3

30

70

MIRPUR
Jhelum
(PTCL)

40

50

Bimbar-II 20
7
Ind Est

30

MPR
30
B-4
Jatlan

41
11
38
36
07

Towers per Site

30
Samani

15 Thothal

Mangla

61
62
63
64
65

30
Bimbar-I

35
Barnala

Mirpur
Bhimber
Dudyal
Muzaffarabad

05
02
02
03

Media Branch
HQ SCO.
(December 2008)

M/W communication requires line of sight between the M/W towers and the
average distance between the towers is 30 to 39 km depending upon the terrain.
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SCO Internship Report

Marketing
For the good sales of a product, an efficient marketing is required. A product
needs marketing only if there human needs for that product in an area. Since there is
a need for communication in Northern areas, AJ&K and Gilgit-Baltistan, SCO has
fulfilled the requirements of people through marketing their products. The products
provided by SCO are:
PSTN Landline
Internet dial up and DSL
CSMA & WLL
SCOM (Mobile Communication - GSM)
Digital Cross Connection (DXX)
Calling cards
A customers needs should be satisfied by the products fully and up to mark.
The products should fulfill the promises made by the organization producing
the product.
For efficient marketing, a SWOT analysis (Strength Weakness Objectives
Threats) is required. This tells how much marketing of a product is required.

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