David Young

IT / Telecoms Consultant, Programme Manager and Business Coach

Global VoIP service design & build – "Next Gen" global telecoms carrier

Summary:

In order to turn business plan into revenue, this start-up telco needed to quickly design, build and implement a global ‘Next Generation’ MPLS QoS based VoIP infrastructure and organisation. Due to funding agreements, it was necessary to have the network and supporting OSS/BSS systems based predominantly Cisco and HP equipment. As Programme Director, David ensured the realisation of the business plan in terms of technical infrastructure (network, systems and data centres) and an operating infrastructure (people and processes) in time and to the co-managed budget. He achieved this by:

  • Managing the expectations of the business and it’s stakeholders (investment bodies) against the agreed end-to-end requirements
  • Coaching the Network, Systems and Voice interconnect streams to over deliver against pre-defined plans
  • Building relationships with suppliers to ensure quality of deliverables, joint alignment of objectives and reporting of performance
  • Outsourcing the day-to-day project management, detail (specialist) design and physical implementation
  • Challenging the technical designs and retaining in-house Technical Design Authority
  • Negotiating Data Centre locations and contracts
  • Negotiating and planning interconnection with various carriers, both traditional and VoIP based
  • Providing over-sight management, industry knowledge and expertise for deployment of all local (per data centre) LAN and Systems infrastructure, International WAN infrastructure and local Carrier interconnects
  • Developing / recruiting in-house knowledge and expertise (primarily to build, but later to support)
  • Ensuring stakeholder engagement, awareness and continuous buy-in be reporting of progress, risks and issues on a regular basis

    • Key Skills Deployed:

  • Senior stakeholder management (Cxx level)
  • Technical and Operational Strategy development
  • Programme Governance, development and reporting
  • Organisational design and implementation
  • Global Supplier Management and Negotiation
  • Service Introduction (Customer facing and back-office teams)
  • Hand's on Technical Management and Coaching
  • Investment community and Press liaison

    • Outcome:

    The initial deliverable - a US based integration lab environment with a true representation of network and all systems - was built and tested prior to main roll-out. In parallel, planning of the first four global pops (2 x US, 1 x Europe and 1 x Asia) was carried out and processes for further deployment and operation written along with commissioning test scripts for each location. Following successful testing man-power was ramped up and deployment of a true QoS responsive MPLS network, IP billing system and integrated network management / provisioning system took place. Following commissioning and hand-over to support teams, the network went live – on time and within budget.

     

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