Foresight pays off for Unna municipal utilities

Success Story

Reliable IT infrastructure creates the conditions for advanced services and secure networks

Stadtwerke Unna has a wide range of requirements when it comes to IT infrastructure. These range from secure connections to branch offices to the operation of glaspower – a modern and powerful fibre optic service for end customers. When selecting components, the IT managers at Stadtwerke focus on reliability and future-proofing.

The MICROSENS portfolio impressed the municipal utility company in several respects: The ruggedised switches are suitable for DIN rail installation and are extremely robust. The micro switches use FTTO technology and can be installed quickly and easily in parapet ducts or floor tanks; the optimally matched central 19-inch core switches provide the necessary performance. An important plus point for the municipal utility company, which is part of the critical infrastructure: MICROSENS develops and manufactures the high-performance IT systems in nearby Hamm.

Robust switches for secure networks

The Unna municipal utility company became aware of MICROSENS during a project to connect branch offices to the IT network. The company was looking for switches that could be powered by 24V DC and mounted on top-hat rails. MICROSENS is one of the few manufacturers to offer the 6-port GbE Ruggedized Micro Switch G6 24V, which meets these basic requirements.

The ruggedised switches are mounted directly on the top-hat rail and supplied with 24V DC power. They operate in an extended temperature range from -25 to +65 degrees Celsius without the need for a fan. The municipal utility company opted for the version with two manufacturer-independent SFP ports, allowing for flexible implementation of a star or ring topology.

The big advantage: all sensors can be connected directly to the respective micro switches on site via copper connections. Michael Rauer, who is responsible for the network infrastructure at the municipal utility company, explains: "The MICROSENS components work absolutely reliably. The robust and practical design of the compact switches pays off. We have not had a single failure so far, not even a reboot has been necessary."

Flexible Wi-Fi in the city centre

In the city centre, Stadtwerke Unna has been using mainly ruggedised micro switches as Power over Ethernet versions since 2020. They are integrated into cable distribution cabinets and connected via the municipal utility company's fibre optic network. Two copper cables run from the compact switches to nearby street lamps, which are equipped with Wi-Fi access points that are also powered via Power over Ethernet. Visitors to Unna can use these hotspots to access free Wi-Fi in the city centre. For security reasons, the networks are defined as VLANs both in the broadband network operated by the municipal utilities as a provider and in their own network. Here, too, the MICROSENS switches score points because they support "stacking" of VLANs or "Q-in-Q stacking". Overall, Michael Rauer sees one of the biggest advantages in the flexible yet secure use of the network components: "The city marketing department sets up video surveillance for larger festivals in the city centre. We provide the infrastructure for this with just a few clicks. We can even deliver fast internet for streaming applications as a dedicated service via the existing MICROSENS switches on request."

Space-saving fibre optic cabling in the offices

MICROSENS switches have long been used not only in outdoor areas. The IT team relies on fibre-to-the-office technology for the municipal utility offices. The municipal utility headquarters is fully cabled with 12-fibre single-mode fibre optics. Each office is connected to its own fibre optic cable, to which a 7-port 10Gbe Micro Switch PoE++ is connected. Depending on the spatial conditions, this is either installed directly in the floor tank or in the parapet duct, or used integrated into a furniture base unit. The end devices can be conveniently operated via the familiar RJ45 interfaces.MICROSENS switches have long been used not only in outdoor areas. The IT team relies on fibre-to-the-office technology for the municipal utility offices. The municipal utility headquarters is fully cabled with 12-fibre single-mode fibre optics. Each office is connected to its own fibre optic cable, to which a 7-port 10Gbe Micro Switch PoE++ is connected. Depending on the spatial conditions, this is either installed directly in the floor tank or in the parapet duct, or used integrated into a furniture base unit. The end devices can be conveniently operated via the familiar RJ45 interfaces.

Smart technology from Germany

For Michael Rauer, MICROSENS products are a convincing example of how "Made in Germany" stands for high quality standards and clever solutions. With an additional industrial power supply, he was able to elegantly solve the installation of a micro switch in the city centre, as he explains: "We needed an access point for WLAN coverage at one location in the city centre, but we didn't have a distributor there. Instead of a ruggedised switch, we installed a 6-port GbE Desktop Mini Switch G6 PoE+ indoors. However, the distance to the access point could not have been bridged with PoE+ alone via a copper cable. MICROSENS offered a solution here too – we replaced the standard power supply with the adjustable industrial power supply offered for the switch, increased the input voltage slightly and now operate our AP at a distance of 120 metres." The applied PoE voltage can be read directly on the network management system.

Another plus point for him is the management of the pluggable transceivers (small form-factor pluggable – SFP). Unlike other switch manufacturers, MICROSENS allows existing SFPs to continue to be used. Michael Bauer sees this as a real advantage in terms of circular economy and economics.

Reliable connection of additional locations

With such positive experiences, the next projects are not far off: in future, MICROSENS 40G Multi 10G fibre switches will also be used for the municipal utility company's other locations. The switches used to date are no longer supported by their manufacturer. The municipal utility company's IT team opted for the German manufacturer here too. Further standardisation of the network also pays off in terms of the network management system. Even more components can now be transparently managed and controlled via the MICROSENS NMP. For Michael Rauer, one thing is certain: "If we find a European – or, as in this case, a German – manufacturer that meets our quality and safety standards, offers fair prices and also provides really good service, then that's just right for us."

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About MICROSENS

Transmitting information via fiber optic connections offers numerous benefits. MICROSENS GmbH & Co. KG recognised this very early on. As one of the pioneers, the company has developed and produced high-performance communications and transmission systems in Germany since 1993. Individually matched to the demands of diverse usage areas and embedded in comprehensive concepts for individual sectors. But, above all, close to the customer. Technical challenges from customer projects are incorporated directly into product development. This way, IP-based automation solutions are created for modern buildings, cost-efficient network concepts for the office and workspace, robust and fail-safe solutions for industrial environments, optical transport systems future-oriented wide area networks and efficient coupling of sites and computer centres.