Secure network infrastructures – creating synergies for digitally sovereign projects

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How telecommunications providers realize high-availability managed services and regulatory-compliant projects with Rohde & Schwarz Networks and Cybersecurity

Modern telecommunications providers (or carriers) face the core challenge of transforming simple data lines into highly secure, value-generating and legally compliant end-to-end solutions for business customers. While these providers supply the underlay – that is, the essential physical transport line, or underlying network infrastructure such as fiber optics or mobile networks – Rohde & Schwarz delivers the intelligent overlay, the virtual, controlling network that sits on top of it. This combination of technologies makes it possible to enrich transport lines with customer endpoints, IT security and centralized management tools, enabling providers to offer these connections as scalable, turnkey managed services. Carriers frequently also provide service level agreements (SLA) to ensure uptime and performance.

The physics behind the partnership: shaping, controlling and securing signals

On an abstract level, every network architecture involves generating, transmitting, controlling and protecting signals. The telecommunications provider is responsible for transporting the physical signals over optical, electrical or wireless media such as fiber optics, copper lines (xDSL) and LTE/5G. Rohde & Schwarz processes, converts and amplifies these signals directly at the network edge (the customer handover point) via routers, switches and WLAN access points, while encapsulating data in encrypted packets. In addition, automated software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN) mechanisms control the signal flows through dynamic path selection and prioritization based on the importance of traffic. Integrated security features protect the actual content of the signals from unauthorized access, while continuous monitoring in the form of system surveillance measures signal quality to trigger countermeasures in the event of latency or packet loss.

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Rohde & Schwarz: The solution portfolio for joint carrier projects

To successfully implement large-scale collaborative projects, telecommunications providers can leverage a comprehensive portfolio from Rohde & Schwarz. The ready-to-use hardware for the customer location, known as customer premises equipment (CPE), includes high-performance routers, gateways, switches and indoor/outdoor WLAN access points, including specialized, ruggedized DIN-rail switches and firewalls for industrial environments.

The Management Cloud forms the technological foundation for high operational efficiency. Utilizing software-defined networking functions, it enables automated control – or orchestration – centralized configurations and transparent remote monitoring of all locations. Thanks to its comprehensive support for heterogeneous access technologies, the systems operate seamlessly with numerous line types ranging from supervectoring to 5G; mobile backups can thus be deployed to increase fault tolerance.

In the area of security and compliance, the portfolio integrates virtual firewalls and hardware firewalls with unified threat management (UTM) capabilities – a comprehensive security package featuring automated, machine-learning-supported defense mechanisms against malware and cyberattacks. For exceptionally high protection requirements, specialized encryption products such as network encryptors and hard drive encryption are available from the parent company as supplementary options. The Engineered in Germany quality label and a GDPR-compliant management platform are core components of digitally sovereign deployment scenarios. Open interfaces to security information and event management (SIEM) systems, centralized software used for analyzing security alerts and network access control (NAC) systems further ensure seamless integration into existing IT security architectures.

Drawing on decades of expertise in network testing, Rohde & Schwarz provides the infrastructure to detect signal drops and 5G interference before they impact airport workflows. Using fixed sensors or mobile units, the system verifies across the entire airport whether the network actually delivers the required performance. This data-driven approach supports the following areas:

Project stakeholders – who assumes which role?

The typical project lifecycle takes place across six distinct phases. First, Rohde & Schwarz Networks and Cybersecurity and the carrier jointly develop the project concept and design; then, targeted procurement is initiated. This is followed by centralized digital preparation of configuration in the cloud, followed by physical on-site installation by technicians from specialized system integrators. Once integration into the monitoring systems has been completed, the project goes live and seamlessly transitions into the final phase: ongoing, monitored service operations.

A successful project requires structured interplay, from the initial design through to live operations, between the following key players:

Carrier/telecommunications provider

Supplies the physical transport infrastructure (fiber optics, internet connections, mobile networks) as a stable underlay; provides redundant backup paths and typically offers corresponding SLA products.

Rohde & Schwarz Networks and Cybersecurity: round handling services

Provides the entire suite of hardware (CPE) on-site at the customer’s premises, in addition to the software and control plane as a logical overlay and extends the solution portfolio with specialized encryption and security components for high protection requirements.

System integrators, installation and field partners

A network of national and regional partners handles detailed on-site planning, physical equipment installation, mass rollouts, functional testing and ongoing technical support (first and second-level support) for the end customer.

Security and ecosystem partners

Integrate specialized software tools for logging, network access control and incident management (SIEM/BCM) into the centralized management system.

Customers, business departments and IT security committees

Define specific security and operational requirements, manage tendering processes and monitor compliance with regulatory mandates (e.g., NIS-2, BIS, KRITIS-G).

Operations and monitoring teams

the network operations center (NOC) ensures 24/7 infrastructure monitoring, manages fault handling and deploys automated software updates.

Joint project types with a focus on critical infrastructure

These technological synergies enable standardized deployment of high-availability network projects in industries with minimal fault tolerance

  • Object surveillance and OT security: autonomous, strictly isolated security and alarm networks within operational technology (OT) environments, utilizing rugged industrial hardware, mobile backups and direct SIEM/NAC integrations for continuous monitoring of sensitive areas.
  • IT networking for sensitive public authorities: auditable, role-separated network structures with strict access control to meet stringent compliance requirements.
  • Large-scale location and branch networking: centralized, uniform management of widely distributed locations using automated SD-WAN configurations for cost-effective, rapid and secure data exchange.
  • Campus and school network rollouts: scalable, easy-to-manage campus solutions featuring bring-your-own-device (BYOD) support, ensuring stable operations even during extreme peak usage periods.

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