Projects

Utility telecommunications data and voice network

"Advanced, High Speed Data Telecommunication Network Utility Design, Build, Operate And Transfer Program" of one of the largest commercial bank in Turkey - a multi-million dollars nation-wide project:

The objective of the program was to fully define all the actions, steps and skills resources to design, build, operate and transfer a utility telecommunications data and voice network service provider capable of selling services in the local market and to fully integrate the bank to the new utility as its first client.

The Program was consisting of six phases.

• Requirements Collection

• High Level Network and Organizational Designs

• Detailed Network and Organizational Designs

• Implementation

• Assisted Operation and Network Performance Evaluation

• Business and Network Evolution

Requirements Collection

• Determine the business drivers and agree on the charter and mission of the new company

• Obtain a public network operators license

• Potential suppliers of equipment and services are identified and initial contacts initiated

• An external market research company will be contracted to provide external market requirements to specify service types providing volume traffic and performance requirements by geography and by service.

• Based on the objectives, organizational requirements are identified. Key staff positions and job descriptions are defined, to assure that these positions can be filled quickly.

• To allow the Program's core team to respond to changes while keeping control, a change control methodology, procedures and support tools are specified.

• Service requirements are specified for voice and data, followed with their performance characteristics and by requirements for network care, customer care, reliability, safety and security.

High Level Network and Organizational Designs

• The high level design consists of two parallel tracks: the design of the network infrastructure and the design of business processes with the supporting organizations and support systems

• After the design of the initial architecture, final results from the market survey is used to update the requirements and to design the topology, the trunk circuits and the equipment.

• After the design of the overall organizational structure, the business processes, the supporting organizations and support systems for Planning and Provisioning, Network Care, Billing and Customer Care are designed.

• High level plans for facilities are developed early to allow sufficient time to select, inspect, refurbish and equip sites that are to host equipment.

Detailed Network and Organizational Designs

• Detail specification for the network elements are drafted, RFQ's are issued and vendors selected for circuits, trunk transmission equipment, voice and data switches, communication processors and routers.

• The design is validated again by running simulations. A lab environment is created and equipment that is not yet proven to interwork is tested.

• The final facilities to host network equipment are identified, inspected and selected and development and refurbish plans are created.

• The details of banking network integration are designed. Orders are placed immediately to assure the bank's network is ready to participate in the pilot data service.

• The overall organization is designed and business procedures, the departmental organizations, staffing, job descriptions, support systems etc. are designed for Planning and Provisioning, Network Operation, Billing and Customer Care departments. Support systems such as the billing system are again purchased immediately after the design is completed to avoid any delay in the implementation.

Implementation

• Trunk circuits and transmission equipment is installed

• Once the trunk network is in place and tested, the data switching equipment is installed followed by the “edge” equipment such as communication processors and routers

• On a parallel track the banking network integratin is implemented. The integration will follow with pilot data service testing.

• In parallel to the implementation of the data switches and edge equipmet, voice switches are implemented. The voice switching nodes will enter a data/voice integration test followed by a integrated data/voice pilot service.

• The organization and the supporting systems are implemented on a parallel track to the network infrastructure: network care, customer care and administration & billing. These organization and supporting systems are implemented and ready to participate in the data pilot and the integrated data/voice pilot services.

• At the end of the implementation, the network infrastructure is accepted by the customer.

Assisted Operation and Network Performance Evaluation

• Customer and user oriented metrics to measure customer satisfaction with the network services are designed. The satisfaction of customers is then measured for both the network services as well as for customer care and other business relationships between customers and the network service provider organization.

• Network services are monitored to determine if the specifications agreed to in the requirements phase are met.

• Operational acceptance plan for the organization is developed to define when and under what criteria the organization can operate the network on its own and without the assistance of the Program Team.

Business and Network Evolution

• Assess existing services provided by the network operator and within the market.

• Track the technological evolution and future product and service opportunities

• Track the market environment.

• Make recommendations and proposals for modifications to current services, introduction of new services, extension to new markets, deployment of new technologies, etc..

Supporters Loyalty Program

The objective was to develop “Supporters Loyalty Program” with a theme of “From Cradle to the Grave” for one of major football club with 20+ million supporters world-wide to generate $15 million revenue in the first phase of the program by employing smart card technology:

• formulating a fundamental strategy for managing supporters and supporters relationships by using segmentation analysis along with economic opportunity assessments, multi-channel strategy assessments, and supporter behavior analysis,

• defining growth strategy built on the new bundles based on an existing- products, brand equity and distribution networks,

• defining strategies for consolidating suppliers, renegotiating contracts, reducing the total cost of ownership for key purchases, and streamlining purchasing processes to reduce shared costs,

• developing a service strategy based on a deep understanding of the value of supporter service,

• gathering supporter information at a broader set of touch points, performing analysis, and making critical information available to relevant functions,

• assessing the price/benefit trade-offs that supporters make in their buying decision process,

• designing a high-impact program or improve the design of an existing program, adding critical relationship management elements and developing a powerful partnership strategy with other industry participants,

• designing new marketing organizations and processes to support and sustain successful programs by taking into account the roles, skills, organizational capabilities, performance evaluation, and compensation and,

• defining criteria to select technology platform that support CRM.

Virtual Telecom Operator - Call Shops and Calling Cards

Assesing new business opportunities in the areas of Virtual Telecom Operation, Call Shops and Calling Cards for one of the leading Industrial Affiliation Group in Turkey.

Work included:

• market analysis and understanding customer segments,

• business model & processes,

• infrastructure,

• value-added services,

• building systems and capabilities to reach targeted market segments,

• Operation Support Systems, Billing & Settlement Systems and CRM,

• outsourcing,

• regulations and,

• tactical issues including financial requirements.

Internet based distance learning

Defining internet-based learning strategies and preparing an operation & project plan to implement an effective e‑Learning program for the world’s 3rd. largest University in distance learning.

Studies ranged from requirements collections through to service and technology evolution with particular emphasis on:

• operation model,

• return on investment,

• sourcing,

• content development,

• appropriate resource allocation,

• technology selection and system integration,

• test and support services,

• tracking and monitoring,

• organization design and

• change management.