Streamlining Operations: reducing alarm volume by millions

In the ever-evolving landscape of network operations, the ability to drive operational efficiencies is crucial. One of our long-term clients, a Tier-1 operator, recently embarked on a journey to streamline its operations by significantly reducing the volume of alarms that its Network Operations Center (NOC) team had to manage. The result? A remarkable 75% reduction in monthly alarms was achieved through a joint program that combined deep domain expertise with cutting-edge automation techniques. 

Before delving into the solution, it was essential to understand the magnitude of the challenge. Operator Global Network Operations Center (GNOC) was inundated with a staggering volume of alarms on a monthly basis. Not only was this sheer volume overwhelming, but it also hindered the GNOC engineers’ ability to focus on critical tasks. It was clear that a change was necessary to enhance efficiency and productivity. 

Aspire and the client recognized that addressing this alarm overload required a holistic approach. The joint program initiated to tackle this issue had three key stages: 

Clearing noisy alarms (18% fewer monthly alarms) 

The first stage involved identifying and clearing noisy alarms. These were alarms that were persistently recurring because of a known issue, such as a fluctuating MW link generating a huge count of alarms, or a HW-related RAN alarm impacting the service availability. Through a combination of advanced analytics and expert insights from both Aspire and the client side, the team successfully filtered out 18% of monthly alarms, reducing unnecessary noise in the system.  

Alarm de-duplication (49% fewer monthly alarms) 

The second stage was all about eliminating redundancy. Alarm de-duplication techniques were employed to identify and merge duplicate alarms, resulting in a 49% reduction in monthly alarms. This step not only lightened the load on the GNOC team but also enhanced the accuracy and relevance of the remaining alarms. 

Alarm Correlation (Improving GNOC Efficiency) 

The final stage focused on enhancing GNOC efficiency through alarm correlation. This involved linking related alarms and providing engineers with a more comprehensive view of network issues. By doing so, the GNOC team could quickly identify the root causes of problems and take proactive measures to address them, ultimately reducing the number of alarms that required manual intervention. 

The end results of our efforts have been nothing short of remarkable. By reducing the volume of alarms in a strategic and systematic manner, the GNOC team has achieved a significant 75% reduction of alarms per month. This not only relieves the burden on the team but also frees up valuable time and resources to focus on critical network maintenance and optimization tasks. 

This project serves as a testament to the power of collaboration, domain expertise, and automation in the telecommunications industry. It’s a shining example of how a holistic approach can yield substantial gains in operational efficiency. As the industry continues to evolve, these efforts to enhance efficiency will undoubtedly keep our client at the forefront of telecommunications innovation. We are grateful for yet another opportunity to work together and look forward to the projects that are in front of us.