Cerion can help you to minimize the amount of time that you spend on evaluation of a solution in the following ways.

For an initial evaluation of our capabilities we will provide you with extensive Case Studies, Customer Testimonials and Customer References that you can talk to, to substantiate the value of our solutions

We will then work with you on a minimally invasive basis to:

• Identify the Scope for improving performance of your network planning process.
• Make Recommendations on a customized solution
• Develop an associated Business Case for proceeding based on minimum 3X return on investment

If further justification is required, we will also provide a Proof of Concept (POC) Service that minimizes your involvement and enables you to uncover network risks while also validating the Business Case for moving forward and demonstrating concrete benefits we can deliver for your network.

With a combination of ever increasing data access speeds, extremely easy-to-use smart devices and a broadening array of mobile applications, it is difficult to predict how much demand is going to appear on a site at any point in time and to proactively plan the network to support this.

Cerion solutions overcome this challenge leveraging predictive site-level demand forecasting. This technology captures real-time demand at a sector level and uses cluster-based adaptive estimators to trend sites with similar growth characteristics and predict how demand will evolve forward over time. It also takes into account the overall market level growth forecast and rejects outliers using an advanced filtering process.

Our solutions leverage predictive site-level demand forecasts into a unified end-to-end network model that enables the quick and accurate prediction of overall network impacts. Users of our automated Optimiser^tm platform can then run what-if network scenario analysis and automated network configuration optimization and respond to performance concerns before they happen.

There are two main reasons, why a Cerion optimized or load balanced network does not mean that you will not have any room for maneuver when unplanned events occur:

• The Cerion end-to-end network planning and capacity optimization process leverages a combination of real world network measurements and advanced predictive modeling to accurately assess future network requirements. This includes the ability to capture and avert the majority of unplanned network events before they occur.
• While it is true that the process enables the load-balancing of network elements to realize better utilization efficiency - It also allows for the operating levels and margins of the load balanced network elements to be adjusted to allow for any totally unforeseen events. Meaning that the client can decide on the margin they wish to retain for maneuver even in a fully load balanced scenario.

Since the behavior of end-users stays largely the same in terms of usage and mobility as network technologies change, the most accurate way of planning for a new technology is to leverage demand and mobility data from the existing network to plan for the new one.

Cerion solutions use a combination of network measurements and predictive modeling to map existing network demand onto a model of the future network to determine what the impacts will be. As part of this process we identify the need for future network elements and determine the associated costs. Our solutions also determine the associated requirement for future transport network augmentation as network traffic increases.

In addition to addressing growth trends, with the decline of 2G traffic as users migrate toward 3G devices, we are able to predict when 2G network equipment can be removed from the network. Keeping 2G network infrastructure costs aligned with traffic declines can result in significant operational costs savings. We use an identical approach when migrating from 3G to 4G, enabling similar cost savings for the removal of legacy 3G infrastructure as traffic moves onto the 4G network. Our insights in this area are also used to optimize the planning of Operators tariff plans - Helping to obtain maximum ROI on legacy technologies while ensuring adequate capacity and quality is in place to support end-user migration to the new technology.

Given the huge investments made 2G, 3G and more recently 4G technologies, we also offer services that model the tradeoffs between 2G, 3G and 4G voice/data demand and associated investment. This enables us to make recommendations on the optimal timing for network investments and the decommissioning of each technology to sustain optimal network quality and achieve maximum return on investment.

Cerion Optimiser^tm software platform provides Network Planners with a fully integrated and automated end-to-end capacity management solution for 2G, 3G and 4G technology. This is based on a living model of the wireless network(s) that captures the current network configuration, planned future configuration and associated network forecast.

In the rapidly changing world of mobile broadband, having all of the requisite information available in one place for rapid 'what-if' scenario analysis is a real benefit - Helping Network Planners to respond to market needs by providing the ability to deliver faster and more accurate results.

On the demand side, the Optimiser^tm platform imports actual measured network traffic and mobility parameters into the application at a BTS/Node B/e-Node B level. Predictive modeling techniques are then used to project these measurements into the future, to determine the current and projected future demand on each element in the network. This helps Network Planners to proactively and accurately assess future network impacts on each element before they occur. Helping them to improve the overall quality of the network plan, while concurrently improving network quality related KPI's

Cerion Optimiser^tm algorithms are another benefit for Network Planners. These algorithms derive the best-possible planning decisions much faster than conventional manual or semi-automated methods. The algorithms conduct a concurrent evaluation of network element load/balance, re-home requirements and mobility related border performance to derive the optimal plan at the click of a button.

Another benefit is that user changes to the living model at any level (forecast changes, add new equipment, element upgrades, connectivity changes, etc.) automatically result in the re-calculation of the capacity utilization for all network elements in the model for the current and future months. This dynamic fixed-network capacity management capability gives Network Planners the ability to conduct rapid and accurate “what-if” scenario analysis. When leveraged with the automated import of demand data, these features also make Network Planners more self sufficient, enabling them to carry-on with detailed scenario analysis irrespective of dependencies on other groups.

On the capacity side, the Cerion Optimiser^tm platform models network capacity (including both current and projected future capacity) for multiple vendors. The platform supports a user-editable custom vendor library that is owned and customizable by the Network Planner, enabling the planner to rapidly conduct comparative analysis of different vendor design scenarios.

Cerion Optimiser^tm and Intelligence Builder^tm platform enables the automated linkage of Network Performance Data into the platform through customized API's. Performance Data can be collected from either the Operations Support Systems (OSS), Network Management System (NMS) and/or related Configuration Management Systems (CMS) where applicable.

The specific measurements that are collected vary from one infrastructure vendor to another and as part of an engagement Cerion will review which vendor products and OSS/MMS/CMS platforms you are using, and provide a written document detailing all of the measurements/counters that will be required.

At a high-level these measurements comprise periodic, bearer-based voice and data demand at a sector-level from each site, as well as sector level hand-over data.

If customers require a deeper analysis of real-time device and/or specific service impacts on network then Call Detail Records (CDR) and/or Network Probe data is also used.

With accelerating uptake of smart devices and exponential utilization of mobile applications, broadband demand is extremely volatile and unpredictable. To avoid performance issues and capacity bottlenecks, Mobile Operators therefore need a real-time, predictive and accurate way of assessing the impact that changing demand has and will have on the network, combined with the ability to optimize the network from end-to end perspective.

Cerion's sophisticated network analysis leverages advanced predictive modeling methodologies and network measurements, to proactively identify end-to end network capacity and performance risks before they happen. When compared to traditional network optimization approaches (that are more reactive than proactive), this puts you in control, by enabling you to proactively optimize the network and avert problems before they ever affect the end-user.

Because our network optimization is conducted from an end-to-end perspective across the entire 2G, 3G and 4G mobile network(s), rather than a silo-based approach that has been traditionally been used to optimize the separate RAN, Core and Transmission components - We also uncover network risks and optimization opportunities that lie at the interfaces between the traditional silos, helping you to uncover network optimization opportunities that you would otherwise be unaware of.

When combined together our predictive modeling and end-to-end network approach, enable you create the most profitable and efficient network scenarios on a real time basis, future proofing you against risks to service quality while concurrently reducing the total cost of network ownership.

With accelerating uptake of smart devices and exponential utilization of mobile broadband services, the four most critical factors affecting Mobile Operators' ability to deliver best-in-class network planning is to adopt a solution that is:

• Unified - in terms of being able to concurrently address the critical components of the network upwards and downwards
• Automated - to maximize precision , efficiency, and consistency to the planning process and deliver engineering recommendations under real world dynamics and emergencies
• Real time - to be able to respond to the real world dynamics and emergencies
• Predictive - enabling proactive rather than reactive response to future changes, risks & needs, CAPEX and OPEX considerations

Cerions' best in class solutions deliver a fully integrated end-to-end (RAN and Core) design and planning capability that incorporates all of these features, whilst also providing concurrent support for 2G, 3G and 4G networks. Our solutions also incorporate predictive modeling methodologies that provide greater visibility of future network infrastructure requirements delivering capabilities for:

• Optimal end-to-end network design & decision making with increased visibility to network capacity
• Faster and more accurate what-if scenario analysis
• Reduced planning risk and improved quality of service
• Lower total cost of network ownership
• Automated project sequencing planning

These state-of-the-art capabilities provide a significant competitive advantage when compared to more traditional planning tools - Enabling Mobile Operators to run a faster, more accurate and more efficient planning process that helps to improve network quality and related revenues, while concurrently reducing the total cost of network ownership.

Cerions' advanced predictive modeling capabilities provide greater visibility to future end-to-end (RAN and Core) network infrastructure requirements and deliver a network design that is engineered to address future end-user impacts.

This enables you to proactively identify and avert end-to-end network performance risks before they happen - Delivering a better engineered lower-cost network, with lower risk of network outages, less touching the network and significantly improved network performance that gives you a distinct competitive advantage.

Cerion leverages the automation of the Intelligence Builder^tm server and Optimiser^tm desktop client software, to deliver lightning-fast visibility and predictability of network planning requirements.

Cerion Intelligence Builder^tm Server

• Enables the automated linkage of Network Performance Data into the platform through customized API's
• Data collection is fully automated, within the capabilities of the respective OSS/NMS platforms and related configuration tools where applicable
• Fully integrates with Cerion Optimiser^tm client application for automated building and maintaining of Network Models
• Enhances Site-Level, BSC/RNC and Voice/Packet Core planning by using real-time and accurate input data
• Enables near real-time response to end-user demand changes and network design what-if analysis by directly linking actuals to the client - Helping to minimize associated network QoS risks

Optimiser^tm Desktop Client

• Enables fully integrated planning of Site Level, BSC/RNC and Core Network Voice / Packet capacity in 2G, 3G and 4G networks
• Avoids unplanned capacity bottlenecks and QoS issues with associated improvements in customer experience
• Improves planning predictability by driving the process using trended actuals
• Engineer all network elements based on different 'system' busy hours

The Intelligence Builder^tm and Optimiser^tm platform delivers a fully integrated capability for end-to end 2G, 3G and 4G network design planning and optimization that has been shown to improve planning efficiency by up to 90%.

The integrated platform delivers a faster, more accurate assessment of real time planning needs than traditional ad-hoc/spreadsheet methods and also improves the alignment between Network Engineering, Sales and Marketing groups that reduces capital and operating expenditure and improves risk management.

With exponential increase in the utilization of smart devices and applications it is difficult predict who is going to use which app where and when, and more importantly the impact that this will have on the network from an end-to-end perspective.

For network planning purposes it therefore becomes imperative to capture network demand as it materializes at a cell-site or sector level and feed this into an end-to-end integrated planning process so that the impacts can be analyzed and the network optimized to meet present and future needs.

Cerion solutions leverage site-level predictive forecasting to accurately predict how present day demand will evolve over time. We achieve this by using cluster-based adaptive estimators to trend sites with similar growth characteristics, reject outliers due to measurement errors and take into account the market level growth forecast.

Our solutions feed this information into an advanced end-to-end automated planning process that accurately predicts and addresses the overall network impacts. As part of this process we predict capacity and performance issues by capturing abnormal network behaviors, based on calibrated normal profiles. This provides early detection that enables proactive resolution of network problems before network quality is eroded.

Cerion partners with the leading RF companies to deliver a fully integrated solution that delivers seamless network optimization from the mobile device through to the Internet.

While Cerion specializes in optimizing mobile networks for capacity and quality of service, from the base station through to the Internet, our RF partners deliver optimization of the air interface. By joining forces we are able to deliver a fully integrated solution that provides the capability to seamlessly optimize both the air interface and fixed network from end-to-end.

Cerion has partnered with Mentum (www.mentum.com) and we will be making announcements regarding other leading RF companies shortly.

Mentum is a global leader in software and service solutions that allow customers to efficiently design and optimize wireless access and backhaul networks. Mentum solution components include a combination of automated network management applications, wireless network planning software and in-depth wireless engineering expertise spans 2G, 3G, 4G and microwave technologies.

Our RF partner solutions deliver seamless process integration at the site-level that flows critical parameters from the RF optimization process, through to the site-level capacity planning process. Our integrated site-level engineering includes predictive modeling of site/sector level demand and automated planning /optimization of the associated 2G, 3G or 4G base station configuration(s).

Cerion solutions incorporate a detailed analysis and summary recommendations for all point-to-point transmission requirements, from end-to-end across the entire network.

This includes all of the main 2G, 3G and 4G interface link requirements listed below:

• 2G - A-bis, A-ter, A, inter-switch, PSTN
• 3G - Iur, Iub, IuCS, IuPS, Gs, Gn, Gi
• 4G - S1u, S1mme, S2, S3, S5, S7, S10, S11, X2

We also partner with the leading transmission planning and inventory management companies to deliver a fully integrated solution that provides the capability to seamlessly flow point-to-point transmission requirements into the related circuit provisioning and inventory management processes.

Cerions' best in class Optimiser^tm platform, delivers a fully integrated end-to-end (RAN and Core) design, planning and optimization capability that provides concurrent support for 2G, 3G and 4G technologies.

Our solutions also incorporate predictive modeling methodologies that provide greater visibility of future network infrastructure requirements delivering capabilities for:

• Optimal end-to-end network design & decision making with increased visibility to network capacity
• Faster and more accurate what-if scenario analysis
• Reduced planning risk and improved quality of service
• Lower total cost of network ownership
• Automated project sequencing planning

These state-of-the-art capabilities provide a significant competitive advantage when compared to more traditional planning tools - Enabling Mobile Operators to run a faster, more accurate and more efficient planning process that helps to improve network quality and related revenues, while concurrently reducing the total cost of network ownership by:

• Accurately forecasting end-to-end mobile broadband network demand, enabling the proactive and precise dimensioning of all network resources.
• Automatically assessing network control plane performance to proactively ensure sufficient network processing and signaling capacity is in place.
• Rapidly assessing and predicting end-to-end network capacity bottlenecks to drive just in time deployment, while avoiding quality of service issues.
• Accurately defining capital and operating budgets and improving ROI by enabling real-time what if scenario analysis across the entire network.

Cerion network optimization is directed towards optimizing the capacity and quality of the fixed network (RAN and Core) from the Site-Level back to the Internet/PSTN for 2G, 3G and 4G technology.

When discussing network optimization many people think of 'RF or radio frequency optimization' which is quite different from what Cerion does. This type of optimization involves the 'drive testing' of a network to collect location-based radio frequency signal-strength data, that is then post processed and used to improve coverage and interference problems.

Cerion Optimiser^tm platform incorporates a multiple-vendor, vendor-neutral constraint library for all key elements of 2G, 3G and 4G networks.

The constraint library is fully configurable by the customer or alternatively we can provide configuration as part of our standard Support Agreement.

Cerion has established partnership agreements with many of the leading infrastructure vendors (OEM's) and has extensive experience in keeping constraint libraries up-to-date for multiple-vendor networks. We achieve this by implementing a three-way partnership between our Clients, their preferred Vendors and Cerion that facilitates this.

Alternatively if delivered as part of our standard Support Agreement then we will work with the client to complete a 3-way NDA with preferred vendors and to implement a process for keeping all constraints up to date as new hardware and software becomes available.

Cerion has extensive experience of working with customers to align our automated process with yours.

As part of an engagement, Cerion consultants will work with you to understand your present planning processes, communicate our standard process and identify the differences between them. We then work collaboratively to review and customize our process to bring maximum performance benefits to your business, while meeting any specialized requirements that you may have.

In many instances we have found that our clients choose to modify their existing processes to align with Cerion's automated, end-to-end closed loop planning process that is driven by network measurements.

Some of the benefits of modifying your process include:

• Reducing network planning by as much as 90% - By automating the process from end-to-end and removing the planning dependencies between traditional planning silos
• Improving the time to market for new network designs from weeks to hours - By leveraging a combination of automation and advanced algorithms to complete fast and accurate 'what-if' scenario analysis
• Providing better visibility and accuracy regarding future network requirements - Leveraging predictive modeling and real-time measurements
• Permanently improving network KPI's for ongoing network evolution - Leveraging a closed-loop end-to-end predictive planning process.

Cerion supports all leading infrastructure vendors and offers vendor neutral products and services. The Cerion Optimiser^tm platform incorporates a multiple-vendor product library that contains advanced constraint models for all of the main vendors products, is customer configurable and that facilitates easy modeling of different vendor networks.

For new network builds a key benefit of our vendor neutrality is that we are able to support the vendor selection process by offering vendor evaluations and recommendations that incorporate side-by-side comparative modeling of different vendor solutions.

Similarly when considering or implementing a change of vendor in the RAN/UTRAN, Core or end-to-end network - Our vendor neutral Swap-Out Service enables you to identify the optimal network evolution plan that minimizes cost while improving/ sustaining overall network quality throughout the process.

The Cerion Server solution known as Intelligence Builder^tm has customizable API's that interface with our clients Network Management or OSS platforms.

We have significant experience of interfacing the Intelligence Builder^tm platform with the leading NMS and OSS systems. In instances where a standard API's do not fulfill the integration requirements for a specific vendor or project scope we developed new API's, such that all interfaces to client systems are fully automated.

The data on the Intelligence Builder^tm server is updated at predefined intervals with little to no human intervention and a server health monitoring mechanism is provided to help maintain the quality of the data and to alert administrators if there are any issues associated with periodic data loading.

Cerion solutions are customized to incorporate engineering formulae that meet the specific requirements of each of our customers and we have extensive experience of doing this at a global level.

Based on a combination of our global experience, sophisticated methodologies and vendor neutral stance, many of our clients also ask us to provide recommendations on the best formulae to use, in order to maximize overall planning efficiency and performance.

As part of any engagement Cerion consultants work with you to capture all of your present engineering formulae, compare these with the engineering formulae that we use, and highlight the differences. We then work collaboratively to review and agree the best solution to implement, based on delivering maximum performance benefits for your business. Once the engineering formulae have been agreed our solutions are then customized for each client prior to delivery.

Experience has shown us that Cerion solutions often provide a deeper and more comprehensive analysis of network requirements than has been available using traditional network planning approaches and associated formulae. For this reason our clients frequently choose to modify or supplement their existing formulae, with formulae that we recommend to provide improved planning resolution and accuracy.

Cerion partners with the leading RF companies to deliver a fully integrated solution that delivers seamless network design, planning and optimization from the mobile device through to the Internet.

Cerion specializes in 'end-to-end' design, planning and optimization of the 'fixed' part of the mobile network, from the base station through to the Internet. Our RF partners specialize in RF / air interface optimization. By joining forces we are able to deliver a fully integrated solution that provides the capability to seamlessly optimize both the air interface and fixed network from end-to-end.

Cerion has partnered with Mentum (www.mentum.com) and we will be making announcements regarding other leading RF companies shortly.

Mentum is a global leader in software and service solutions that allow customers to efficiently design and optimize wireless access and backhaul networks. Mentum solution components include a combination of automated network management applications, wireless network planning software and in-depth wireless engineering expertise spans 2G, 3G, 4G and microwave technologies.

Our RF partner solutions deliver seamless process integration at the site-level that flows critical parameters from the RF optimization process, through to the site-level capacity planning process. Our integrated site-level engineering includes predictive modeling of site/sector level demand and automated planning /optimization of the associated 2G, 3G or 4G base station configuration(s).

Cerion has created standard templates for importing network build and configuration information into the Optimiser^tm platform.

As part of any engagement, Cerion works with clients to understand the format presently used for storing this information and provides recommendations on the best solution for either importing it into the standard template(s), or for replacing the existing format with the standard template.

With skyrocketing utilization of smart devices and applications, it is critical to Mobile Operators' profitability, to understand how service pricing affects end-user demand on the network and to accurately plan the tradeoffs between network capacity, cost and quality.

Cerion solutions balance these tradeoffs, delivering the best-possible alignment between service pricing , network demand, network cost and quality.

This improves profitability and shareholder value by helping to improve network quality and related revenues, while concurrently reducing the total cost of network ownership.

Cerion network optimization delivers a network that has been proactively engineered to address future end-user impacts, resulting in far less operational rework and associated performance impacts. Much like a motor vehicle that has not had a service for a long time, a network that has not been fully optimized from end-to-end perspective for traffic and mobility related impacts, will typically require a one time re-configuration that can incur a significant number of re-homes. However like a repeat vehicle service, once the network optimization has been completed, little if any adjustment is then needed moving forward.

This trade-off in higher up-front versus ongoing lower level operational costs has been proved many times via our service delivery, to provide a net reduction in operational costs of at least 15%. Our case studies include a leading US east coast market, where once optimized the network did not need touching at all for a period of two years afterwards.

The business case for Cerion solutions has been proved many times over, typically delivering a minimum of 3X return on investment. If you do not have immediate CAPEX budget available to work with us, we will work with you to gain budgetary approval by proving the value of our solution and developing a customized business case.

In situations where you do not have available CAPEX budget but do have available OPEX budget, we can also assist you justifying the transfer of CAPEX based purchases to OPEX. Since there is a high ROI on our solutions the business case for this is typically quite straightforward - Involving showing where we will incur incremental savings on existing OPEX expenditure, some of which can then be reallocated to working with Cerion.

As part of our engagement, we also work with you to understand the accounting guidelines of your operating country and organization and develop friendly payment terms that can help with overall budgetary management relative to the delivery of our solutions.

No, Cerion solutions deliver an absolute reduction in CAPEX that is combined with an element of capital deferral.

The principal way in which we reduce CAPEX is by significantly improving the accuracy and efficiency of the traditional network planning process. This gives mobile operators the confidence to operate network platforms at higher operating points, thereby requiring less of them. It also allows them to recover stranded capacity and associated capital for network elements that are not being effectively utilized.

We realize these benefits in three ways - (i) By driving the entire process using network measurements that are far more accurate than the traditional marketing forecast (ii) By leveraging integrated end-to-end automation that improves planning accuracy by removing planning dependencies and data errors (iii) By using advanced predictive modeling to improve forward planning accuracy.

When combined together these factors give engineers improved confidence in the plan allowing operating safety thresholds to be reduced, which translates to an absolute reduction in CAPEX.

The second way in which we reduce CAPEX is linked to capital deferral. As explained above, the Cerion automated planning process enables mobile operators to have higher confidence in the accuracy of the network planning process, which allows then to operate a leaner network and to defer any capital investments that are required for longer. Given the pace of technology change, the lifecycle of network platforms has become shorter and shorter and we have proven that the capital deferral element of our impact frequently becomes a permanent CAPEX saving.

Furthermore, as new network platforms become available they typically have a higher specification than prior models and so capital deferral also helps mobile operators get to a new and better product, where they can realize a better return on their investment.

Cerion was established in Texas in 2002 and we were first to market with Cerion Optimiser^tm a fully automated platform for the integrated end-to-end capacity management of 2G, 3G and 4G networks. A supplier to the worlds leading wireless operators and managed service providers, our solutions help to improve network quality and related revenues, while concurrently reducing the total cost of network ownership.

Below is high-level track record of our business achievements, additional details can also be found in our Case Studies or by contacting us for further information at sales@cerioninc.com:

• In 2002 the Cerion R&D team delivered initial pilot services to a Tier 1 US Mobile Operator. This showed that they could increase network capacity by 10%, reduce dropped callas and save $1.5M/annum in operational costs by removing one of four MSC's from a leading metropolitan network
• The company was fully incorporated in early 2003 went onto to delivered RAN/BSC optimization services for a Tier 1 Operator in Los Angeles and New York
• 2004 saw revenues treble as service delivery to several US Operators continued and in 2005 we planned a seamless integration of two of the largest North American networks
• In 2006 we deployed the world's Core Network Optimization tool - Cerion Optimiser^tm
• In 2007 we supported network planning and the development of capital budgets for for a US national 3G network deployment
• In 2008 we sold products and services to a leading European Operator and supported network planning for the Republican National Convention in the US
• In 2009 we supported network planning for the Presidential Inauguration
• During 2010 we expanded our activities globally and successfully delivered our client-server solution for a leading European Operator.
• From 2007-2009, we supported AT&T's aggressive iPhone launch through our Engineering Consulting services and state of the art tool