CASE STUDY
Detecting the Unseen
How a Network Provider secures Fibre Optic Access Points
A cellular network operator based in Malta providing FTTH (Fibre To The Home) services nationwide, implements real time alerts on critical access point openings of metal caps for fibre optic cables, to detect and prevent unauthorised access or tampering that could disrupt critical network services.
What Prompted the Project
Manual inspections of underground fibre access points were time-consuming, labour-intensive, and prone to human error.
The project was prompted by recurring incidents of unauthorised access to underground fibre infrastructure, leading to service disruptions and increased maintenance costs. The operator needed a proactive way to detect tampering attempts in real time and safeguard network reliability.
Key challenges
The real-world problems that needed solving
Field teams were often deployed reactively after service disruptions, increasing response time and inefficiency, leading to prolonged downtime and customer dissatisfaction.
Lack of historical data to analyse trends in tampering or unauthorised access resulted in missed opportunities to identify vulnerable locations or repeated incidents.
Inability to correlate physical access events with service performance issues resulted in inadequate root cause analysis, leading to repeat failures.
The lack of precise insight severely hindered efforts to identify or incriminate unauthorised individuals responsible for tampering or damage, and correlate timings with camera footage.
Rising maintenance and repair costs due to reactive rather than preventive approaches, and the absence of data insight, resulted in long-term revenue loss from dissatisfied clients and SLA breaches.
Our Solution Architecture
Hardware
IoT Pro Tilt, battery-powered, was bolted to the metal caps of the access points. A single device was used for undivided caps; two devices for divided caps.
The hardware was safeguarded with four PVC plastic stubs, held with M8 bolts and spring-loaded nuts, ensuring durability even if caps were dropped.
Network
SIM-based, wireless over 4G/5G Cellular Grade NB-IoT, using a licensed spectrum, ensuring reliable coverage through multiple gateways.
Communication over UDP protocol to IoT Solutions cloud servers.
Software
IoT Pro Software Cloud Platform includes Live Overview, Reporting, Automated Reporting, and Live Alerting via Email, SMS, Phone Calls, and API.
A REST API connection to the SCADA system transferred alarms to the operator’s central monitoring platform.
Used for automated reports, breach trends, and location insights—eliminating the need for custom development by the client.
Detailed REST API documentation was provided.
Competitive Advantage
The same hardware and product has both an 8.5Ah battery option and 17Ah, always coupled with a pulsed hybrid capacitor that allowed the client to choose the non-standard option to ensure 10+ years battery life and bring maintenance costs to near zero.
Sensor pre-configuration ability in factory allows the device to be deployed on the field without any mobile apps or any extra tools, and simply by removing a magnet from the back of the device.
Full Firmware Upgrade over the Air and remote configuration of on device real-time tilt alerts generation allows application changes and security patches possibility without need of on-field maintenance.
IP68 housing with IK10 rating, allows the hardware to withstand the mechanical shocks when the lids are opened, closed or dropped whilst remaining in service if there is water ingress.
An internal high gain antenna is chosen as opposed to an external antenna, which makes installation easier and the product more mechanically reliable.
On-board microampere current monitor, allows to continuously monitor if the IoT Pro is consuming unnecessary battery energy and take action through FOTA or configuration, avoiding sudden device battery drain.
IoT Pro closing system using bushings and bolts as opposed to plastic screwing, seal design, and IP68 rated pressure stabilising mechanism allows battery replacements to be carried out on the field without the need of commissioning and linking a new device.
Direct IoT Pro software integration and REST API option is very well documented.
Results and Impact
Key Performance Indicators & Achievements
30–40%
reduction
in field inspection costs due to more targeted field inspections.
€50,000
saved annually
by preventing avoidable service outages linked to undetected tampering.
20%
drop
in network incident investigation expenses due to faster and more targeted diagnostics.
100%
traceability
of access events through timestamped logs of cap openings and closures.
>90%
correlation rate
between sensor data and actual field incidents, enhancing root cause accuracy.
75%
reduction
in camera footage review time was achieved through event alerts, enabling focused analysis within a specific timeframe.
35%
drop
in downtime incidents related to fibre cable tampering within the first year.
