Broadband Network

Over the years, Motorola has been involved in numerous wireless technologies, including GSM and Canopy networks. Today, both of these Motorola technologies are somewhat outdated, with newer communication standards such as 4G, LTE, and 5G supplanting the older GSM standard, and more modern wireless networking solutions available compared to the Canopy system. However, it is still interesting to reflect on how Motorola deployed these technologies as managed services.

In 2007, Motorola was awarded a four-year full-operations and managed services contract by Warid Telecom for its GSM and Canopy networks in major cities and sub-districts in the eastern part of Bangladesh. Motorola began operating and maintaining the GSM and Canopy networks with the rollout of Warid's commercial services in March 2007. The contract included managed services covering the operations and maintenance of GSM Base Station Systems, transmission quality, as well as operations and maintenance of the MOTOwi4 Canopy systems used for last-mile customer connectivity. Motorola's Managed Services provide out-tasking and outsourcing options to meet individual and customized business requirements. Motorola offers innovative build, operate and managed network services where key performance indicators and service level agreements are jointly defined.

1. Motorola GSM: GSM stands for Global System for Mobile Communications, which is a standard developed by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) to describe technologies for second generation (2G) digital cellular networks. Motorola was one of many companies that manufactured mobile phones and infrastructure that supported the GSM standard. Motorola's involvement in GSM networks included both manufacturing GSM mobile phones and providing network equipment for mobile operators.
2. Motorola Canopy: Canopy was a brand of wireless networking products designed and sold by Motorola Solutions. The Canopy line was primarily intended for wireless internet service providers, offering high-speed broadband access. Canopy products used a proprietary protocol that was similar to, but not exactly the same as, the IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi) standard.

The Canopy system was composed of multiple parts:

• Access Points (AP): These were typically mounted on a tower, building, or other high point, and provided wireless coverage over a specific area.
• Customer Premise Equipment (CPE): These devices, also known as subscriber modules, were installed at the user's location and connected to the Access Point.
• Backhaul units: These were used to connect multiple access points together, forming a larger network.

The Canopy system was known for its robustness, relatively long range, and ability to operate in a variety of environments, including areas where traditional wired infrastructure was difficult or costly to deploy.

What do Managed Services Contracts Typically Include?

Managed services contracts, which detail an agreement between a client and a managed services provider (MSP), can vary greatly depending on the scope of services provided and the specific needs of the client. However, there are some elements that are typically included:

1. Scope of Services: This section clearly defines what services the MSP will provide. It could range from IT support, network management, cybersecurity, data backup and recovery, to cloud services, and more.
2. Service Level Agreements (SLAs): SLAs specify the level of service expected from the MSP, often in terms of availability, performance, and response times. They should also include how the service levels will be monitored and what happens if the levels are not met.
3. Payment Terms: This details how much the client will pay for the services, when payments are due, and what payment methods are acceptable. It may also outline any penalties for late payments.
4. Terms and Duration: The length of the contract and terms for renewal, termination, or modification of the agreement are outlined in this section.
5. Responsibilities: This outlines the responsibilities of both parties. For the MSP, it could include details of maintaining and updating hardware and software, monitoring systems, providing regular reports, etc. For the client, it could detail responsibilities like providing access to facilities, systems, or information needed by the MSP.
6. Confidentiality and Data Security: This section usually specifies the MSP's responsibilities in terms of protecting the client's data and maintaining confidentiality. It may also detail compliance with specific regulations like GDPR or HIPAA.
7. Dispute Resolution: This outlines the process to be followed in case of a disagreement between the client and the MSP.
8. Indemnification: This part of the contract protects the parties from certain legal liabilities. It typically states that each party will compensate the other for any harm, liability, or loss caused by their own failure or wrongdoing.
9. Force Majeure: This clause frees both parties from liability or obligation in case of an event not reasonably foreseeable or beyond their control, like a natural disaster or war.
10. Insurance: The contract might specify the types and amounts of insurance coverage the MSP is required to maintain.