The client is a mineral and
chemical company, one of the world’s largest producers of mineral fertilizers.
Previously, the company’s wireless network architecture was fragmented: each city operated an independent network segment. This created challenges for end users—particularly traveling employees—who often experienced connectivity issues when moving between locations.
In addition, some of the networking equipment had reached end-of-life status and was no longer covered by manufacturer support or warranty.
The locations included both office spaces and large-scale industrial facilities in Moscow and other areas of Russia.
Key Challenges
- Create a unified wireless network environment across the company’s entire perimeter.
- Prepare budget estimates for modernizing regional office networks.
- Conduct an on-site pre-project infrastructure survey at the head office.
- Install and commission the network modernization solution while managing user migration from the legacy network.
- Migrate to the upgraded network.
- Integrate the upgraded infrastructure with the client’s SIEM system and Zabbix-based monitoring platform.
Implemented our solution
- As part of the project, ICL Services specialists carried out a detailed assessment of the IT infrastructure at the Moscow head office and a regional industrial site. This provided objective insights into the current state of the wireless network. To collect data from remote locations, we developed and distributed a custom questionnaire to field engineers. This allowed for quick gathering of up-to-date information on network configurations and physical access point layouts. Based on the collected data, we prepared precise equipment specifications for procurement and design.
At the head office, the site survey was conducted according to the company's internal schedule. Most of the work was done in the evening and overnight hours due to limited daytime access caused by scheduled meetings. The team used the Ekahau SideKick tool—designed for surveying, verifying, optimizing, and troubleshooting wireless networks—which ensured highly accurate results.
Radio surveys were performed twice: once before the upgrade and again after implementation. These surveys produced three comprehensive reports showing the initial state, model-predicted coverage, and final coverage post-modernization.
The industrial site presented unique challenges, including vast areas, tough environmental conditions for hardware, and limited access to some zones. Most access points were designed from scratch to meet the demands of the production environment and ensure fault tolerance.
While the survey was underway, the team also began developing the new wireless data network concept. This included an in-depth analysis of the client’s requirements and technical constraints. As part of this work, the following were developed:
— Target network architecture diagrams
— Migration plan
— Controller and access server layout schemes, adapted to the geographical distribution
— Equipment type and placement recommendations
— Budget estimates for all facilities
In addition, specialists prepared unified configuration templates for controllers, covering both basic parameters (access point discovery, DHCP, NTP, SNMP) and advanced security settings (AAA, 802.1X, RADIUS). These templates provided the client with a ready-to-use, scalable configuration model for future infrastructure expansion.
The project documentation took into account the company’s internal documentation standards as well as international best practices. This ensured a streamlined approval process and strict adherence to the project timeline.
After completion, a final radio survey confirmed that the upgraded network delivered the required coverage and performed reliably, even in demanding industrial environments. Clear, detailed reports were provided to both technical staff and company leadership, offering a valuable reference for future wireless network development.
The modernization of the network architecture, including the deployment of new equipment designed for simple and user-friendly connectivity, will be carried out in the near future.
Results
- We successfully designed a new wireless data network architecture for all client sites and replaced outdated equipment with modern solutions.
- The upgrade resulted in a 20% reduction in wireless network management and maintenance costs.