NBN Co finds network optimisation tool close to home

Stephen Withers
Thursday, 23 June 2011 14:31

IT Industry - Deals

NBN Co is using software from a local commercial mathematics company in the design of the NBN.

NBN Co is buying at least $6.5 million worth of services from Biarri, an Australian commercial mathematics (operations research) company. Biarri's Network Design Optimisation Engine produces a feasible and optimised network design based on a reference architecture and geographical information.

"Biarri has already demonstrated the engine's capability and benefits on projects for NBN Co," said Gary McLaren, NBN Co's chief technical officer. "It quickly generates low-cost fibre network designs based on the requirements of the reference architecture. It can determine optimal fibre area boundaries, the position of fibre hubs, and the layout and route of distribution and local fibre."

"Based on modelling that NBN Co and Biarri have undertaken in the First Release Sites, it is possible that the optimisation algorithms could save substantial costs in both design and construction," added Mr McLaren.

Biarri co-founder and director Joe Forbes said the Network Design Optimisation Engine uses a variety of techniques, including integer programming (an optimisation technique used where at least some of the variables can only take integer values).

The company's other customers include Australia Post, the Department of Defence, QR National Coal, Rio Tinto, and Schweppes. In addition to fibre network design, it has produced custom models for various activities including demand forecasting, manpower planning and inventory management.

The company is based in Melbourne, with an additional office in Brisbane.