NaTran (previously GRTGaz), the European leader in gas transport offers infrastructure and logistics tailored to gases that are part of the energy transition (biomethane, H₂ and CO₂) and manages over 32,000 kilometers of high-pressure pipelines. With the obsolescence of PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network), NaTran faced a significant challenge in maintaining secure and efficient communication with its remote sites. 

In 2017, the managed service provider for NaTran, Orange Business Services (OBS), informed them about the upcoming obsolescence of PSTN. NaTran realized that they needed a secure and reliable replacement solution that adapts to challenging field conditions.  

Map of Natran network, photo credit: NaTran

It was important that the new solution reduced site visits, is able to withstand extreme temperatures, and has a long lifespan all whilst the equipment consumes little power to conserve battery in case of blackouts. NaTran tasked OBS with managing communication between the 4000 remote sites and finding a networking solution.

Solution

To address these challenges, OBS and Westermo proposed replacing the old analytic copper PSTN lines with a network solution based on cellular radio communication. The solution involved Westermo industrial routers, which enabled communication via either ADSL/VDSL or LTE-M.

The device enabled NaTran to replace its telephone lines, either by reusing existing PSTN cables to communicate using ADSL/VDSL, or wirelessly, taking advantage of the extended communication range of 4G LTE Cat M, which supports distances of up to 10 kilometers with a data rate of around 1Mb/s. The low frequency of the LTE-M signal (ca 800Mhz) means it is robust enough to overcome obstacles, and has a very long range to reach most remote sites in the French countryside.

As the project progressed, the need expanded to include even more major sites, requiring fiber optic connections or 4G connectivity. Various models, such as the Merlin 4600 which offers both fiber and 4G, were added to enhance the solution.

The solution also includes a service level agreement (SLA) between OBS and Westermo. The SLA gives David Bruno, Project Managerat OBS, extra confidence that his customer, NaTran, will be prioritized in terms of delivery and support. As a result, OBS can fulfill their service agreements with NaTran.

Implementation and progress

To ensure a successful router deployment, NaTran collaborated with five integrators across France. It is anticipated that approximately 3,500 routers will be replaced during the project, which began in 2021 and is expected to be completed in 2027. As of February 2025, over 1,500 routers had been deployed across France, with 50-70 additional routers being deployed each month.

Gas pre-expansion or expansion/delivery station, photo credit: NaTran

To help with implementation and deployment, Activator, an automated provisioning and monitoring system, has played a crucial role in the successful deployment of this project. By leveraging Activator, OBS has streamlined the installation process enabling integrators to deploy routers across multiple sites quickly and effectively.

No configuration is required by the integrator, since Activator sends the router's definitive configuration over the air. Activator runs on a server and stores all router configurations for each site in its database. As a result, deployment can be carried out securely without the risk of manual configuration errors.

With the use of Activator, NaTran has been able to reduce the need for physical site visits, thus saving both time and environmental resources.

"Activator is working well and its very quick"

- comments Jean-Thomas, Network and telecoms project manager at NaTran.

Conclusion

The collaboration between NaTran, OBS, and Westermo has successfully addressed the communication challenges posed by the PSTN obsolescence. As the project moves towards completion in 2027, continued partnership and innovative solutions will contribute to NaTran's sustainable success and operational excellence. All with the common goal: to ensure safe, reliable and sustainable gas transportation throughout France.