Client’s challenge
This Glotel client project in Maryland and Pennsylvania consists of approximately 1,000 sites ranging from Northern Virginia to Northern Pennsylvania and New Jersey. These site locations contain many types of equipment: Nokia and Ericsson 2G (GSM),Lucent 3G (UMTS), LMU’s, Telco racks, power plants, battery units, etc. Glotel employs technicians that are experienced and knowledgeable in all types of equipment.
The client’s challenge was to find a resource that could efficiently provide highly skilled technicians, as well as project management to deliver over 9,000 IuB T1s to the UMTS network. In addition to this, the client was in need of a solution to provide accurate Ethernet project site survey and installation services for delivery of Ethernet fiber to their cell sites. The objective is to be able to shed costly legacy T1s by replacing many of them on site with one Ethernet connection.
Project
In 2009, the client agreed to use Glotel’s in-market resources that had been successfully performing all aspects of 2G work to execute the UMTS IuB Growth, as well as perform survey and installation solution services to deliver and execute the Ethernet initiative.
Project management – Coordinate all field and support functions; maintain constant communication with the client and provide daily progress reports.
Field technicians – Perform services at the cell sites. Specifically: Extending new circuits from the network interface unit to the Node B; Installing Node B IuB port expansion kits to facilitate the new circuits; full testing and acceptance of the circuit making it ready for integration into the network; installing UCU III (baseband capacity/traffic card) to add traffic capacity to the network; survey the site to propose Ethernet fiber extension solutions and document all aspects of the specific site information required for this delivery from the Demarc/ MUX location to the cell site location. This includes installing power drops for the network interface devices and full SIAD device installation.
Provisioning/transport engineers – Create all cross connections in the switch and test with field personnel; Support the field technicians during the test and extension process; Perform troubleshooting as needed.
The Scope of Work
Scope 1: Extend the circuit from the local exchange carrier’s network interface unit to the Node B location and terminate fully through to the Node B in preparation for integration. This scope has also grown into the installation of UCUIII cards which are responsible for pooling traffic and signaling which is directly associated with adding to the IuB capacity.
Scope 2: Install the Tellabs SIAD and groom the T1s to it to dynamically route the traffic from the site to the network.
Scope 3: Perform site surveys to assess the feasibility of extending Ethernet fiber from the Fiber mux to the cell site location. This includes photo documenting challenges and paths as well as proposing the path to take to get the fiber delivered.
Our resources
As a part of the solution, Glotel selected talented resources for this project and all projects. Glotel provided resources that are skilled in all facets of provided services. We were able to provide high quality subject matter experts to meet their needs.
Project management
Glotel provided a Project Manager to manage each project which ensures that every aspect is covered from a customer and scheduling standpoint. The projects are still in progress and have been an ongoing success. In addition to an onsite PM to oversee the projects, Glotel assigned an internal Regional Project Manager to oversee the macro on project deliveries and ensure that resources, budgets and timeline obligations are being met.
Glotel delivery
Glotel has been engaged in activities related to these projects for the last year. Our deliverables are IAW budgets and customer requested timelines. We have stayed flexible and adapted to many changes along the way to ensure that a win-win relationship is created between Glotel and our customer. This approach will only lead to project longevity and a high level of trust that the project will be completed on time and within budgets.