ULTRA-BROADBAND

About This Project

We are working with the main operators in Italy in order to build new-generation fibre networks

We have a primary role in the development of ultra-broadband networks in Italy. We have taken part in institutional tables that have enabled the formulation of the domestic ultra-broadband plan and we have currently set up numerous collaborations with the most important telecommunications operators in Italy in this sector.

In particular, Vittorio Trecordi, partner and founder of ICT Consulting, was at first involved in 2013 in the team of experts organised by the “Commissario Straordinario per l’Agenda Digitale” (Extraordinary Commissioner for the Digital Agenda) – the Ing. Francesco Caio. He was subsequently involved in 2014 in the work group set up by the “Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri” (Prime Minister’s Office) for the definition of Italian strategy vis-à-vis the ultra-broadband sector. The first stage intended to verify whether the plans set up by the telecommunications operators in Italy would enable Italy to achieve the coverage and penetration objectives of the broadband and ultra-broadband network as laid down by the European Union for 2020; whilst the second stage enabled the drawing up of the strategic plan for the ultra-broadband sector in Italy that would later become the operative plan for public investment of over three billion euro.

We are currently working with the most important operators in Italy in the following areas:

• Strategic planning of FTTC/B/H fibre-optic networks.
• Program office for the management of the ultra-broadband access network “from planning to development” – both fixed and mobile networks.
• Selection of technologies and supplies.
• Outlining of creation and management of the network processes (Network Creation, Fulfilment, Assurance and Billing).
• Development of the support systems for processes.
• Management of regulations and institutional relations.

Strategic planning

Main activities undertaken:

• Development of fibre-optic network massive planning models with FTTC/B/H technologies applied to Infratel and ISTAT databases.
• Evaluation of the networks’ quantity according to topological parametres (number of building units, number of buildings, density, coverage, density and distribution of the population….network records – telephone lines, radio/mobile stations.…), applying planning criteria according to the differing technologies (FTTC/B/H) as well as network architectures and planning decisions/solutions (redundancies, sizing of cable, number of splitters and their ratio, passive components of attestation/termination/permutation.… and possible active components).
• Evaluation of the costs pertaining to the realisation of the network according to the different deployment strategies (installation in existent ducts, installation on aerial infrastructures, traditional excavation and mini-invasive techniques – mini-trench and no-dig, traditional and high-quality restoration) and the costs of all the elements in the technical document for the implementation of the network (including planning, realisation, trial and delivery of turnkey activities).
• Evaluation of existent infrastructures and IRU acquisition, access to DB Telecom Italia (GIOIA process) and Infratel, expression of interest, feasibility studies, installation and mini-tube reintegration.

Program Office

Main activities undertaken:

• Support for the roll-out program office: target and final balance plan management, expenditure check on the basis of consolidated benchmarks (cost per cabinet, per metre, per attested client etc.), construction of executive reporting panels and progress analyses (from average realisation times to unitary deployment costs), risk management and escalation and set-up of logistic processes.

Selection of technologies and supplies

Main activities undertaken:

• Procurement of the materials and services for the realisation key-in-hand of all civil, electro-technical and electrical works and their associated obligations (including the definition of the technical documents, the contracts, the price-lists and the service levels and penalties).
• Selection of technologies and supplies: passive components (e.g. cables and cabinets), active components (e.g. mini-DSLAM, OTN), excavation services and system integration.
• Processes of RFP/Q, support for selection, formalisation of agreements, restructuring of the monitoring processes of service levels.
• Certification of products and drawing up of technical supply regulations, installation, configuration and acceptance for the various infrastructure and network components.

Support processes for the creation and management of the network

Main activities undertaken:

• Knowledge of support activities (processes and systems) in an end-to-end logic for the planning, the realisation, the commercialisation and the maintenance of fibre network services in a wholesale logic.
• Outlining and optimisation of the Network Creation and the Network Roll-out processes for the deployment of fibre optic networks, in particular for the phases of: analysis of the territory, planning, horizontal and vertical creation, evaluation and acquisition of existing infrastructures, relations with the authorities and entities owning the land/area for permits, relations with the property/building management, network acceptance testing and quality monitoring.
• Knowledge of processes related to the phases of interaction with client operators for activities concerning commercialisation, contracting, management of activation/deactivation, management of malfunctioning and drafting of usage statements and calculation of payments.
• Knowledge of processes and systems related to the analysis of data and extraction of information used for operative and business processes.
• Knowledge of processes and systems related to the drawing up of yearly budgets for the development of support, monitoring and progressive accounting processes and systems.

Development of support systems

Main activities undertaken:

• Management of the development of the systems supporting processes related to the creation and the management of the networks.
• Activities concerning the gathering of requisites and demand management, feasibility analysis, specifications of processes and systems, cost estimates, management of supplies for the realisation of systems, program management and the direction of development works, trials and fine tuning (including user acceptance tests), training of the final users on the support processes and systems at the disposal of the differing functions (internal and external), analysis of malfunctions with third-level competence and with end-to-end knowledge of the phases of process and transversal systems.

Regulations and management of institutional relations

Main activities undertaken:

• Knowledge of regulation topics and inter-operator tables: access to multi-operator cabinets, coordination of technological developments (multi-operator vectoring), sharing of investments, simplification of regulations/laws (e.g. the “Decreto Scavi” – the Excavation Decree), symmetrical regulations in the area of access to physical network infrastructures (Agcom, deliberation no. 538/13/CONS).
• Management of the relations between entities and authorities, services for the institutions, management of the relations with technical offices, permit requests, duties and excises (TOSAP, COSAP, etc.).
• Knowledge of the applicable regulations/laws for the realisation of works and legal provisions (AGCOM reference and consultation offers) and support for the analysis of documents to consult (e.g. support for the production of responses).