Telecoms companies cover vast expanses of land to keep the service up and running for customers. This involves several tens of thousands of plants and facilities, from mobile phone towers to street cabinets for the wired network. This underlines the value of a standardized access control strategy to simplify access to all sites.

ISEO has pioneered an easy-to-install solution. No cables are needed for doors as the cylinders are passive and the key supplies the power and access rights. Old mechanical cylinders are replaced with maintenance-free electronic versions and no alterations are needed on the doors.

With ISEO’s access control solution, maintenance technicians no longer need to worry about accessing the numerous facilities during their daily inspection rounds. Once configured, their single ISEO F9000 mechatronic key guarantees access to the right place at the right time, allowing technicians to focus their attention on the task at hand. Operators can now rest assured that their field teams – often subcontractors – can carry out all maintenance work during specified times in line with their specific access processes.

Most of the facilities requiring protection are outdoor sites particularly exposed to wind, sun, snow and sea spray. Access control systems must be able to withstand corrosion caused by bad weather. ISEO delivers a certified, conceptual solution to this challenge with cylinders that meet the requirements of the EN 1670 corrosion resistance standard with a IP66-67-68-69 rating to guarantee maximum protection.

The latest-generation electronic keys also use inductive technology for contactless information exchange between the key and cylinder. With this technology, the electronic key can transmit access rights to the cylinder even if the humidity at the site corroded the surface of the lock. In other words, bad connections no longer prevent information from being transmitted between the key and lock.

At some telecommunications towers, access is restricted to those authorised to work at height. With the ISEO access control solution, the LSA software liaises with the operator’s information system, collecting select information from the various user profiles to limit access to authorised individuals. This allows operators to use the software to assign access rights for specific areas, based on the technician’s profile and authorisation.

To improve on-site control activities, electronic keys work with the MyLocken app and new technology (RFID, beacons, etc.) to send technicians verification messages about their access rights or required safety instructions (wearing a helmet, the buddy system, etc.). Similarly, users can interact with the central system and submit on-site attendance reports, flag up anomalies errors, etc. These custom-made features are designed to meet ever stricter security requirements in companies.

Subcontractors are an increasingly common fixture in both maintenance activities and emergency callouts; several officers require daily access to a number of scattered, remote facilities. The access control system is further complicated by the fact that sites may be shared by different businesses, such water towers that are often used to support radio masts.

ISEO delivers an effective response to multi-activity sites with just one electronic key needed for countless locks. Officers no longer need to carry large bunches of keys between sites – they can access the right place at the right time in maximum security.

Communication infrastructures may be the prime target for large-scale attacks looking to compromise the country’s economic potential. They may also attract various types of vandals (urbex), tempted by the challenge of scaling facilities or the apparent vulnerability of street cabinets.

ISEO solution is invaluable when it comes to protecting facilities from harm. The F9000 mechatronic cylinders and padlocks have CEN 1303 certification with the highest level of resistance to drilling and therefore vandalism. What’s more, a lost or stolen electronic key can be disabled to prevent any unwanted intrusions. The reporting feature in the LSA software aims to report any attempts to gain access outside specified time ranges or in out-of-bounds areas, thus detecting any anomalies.