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Carrier Ethernet Featured Article

February 10, 2009

ECI Telecom Managed Services is SMART Choice

By Tim Gray, TMCnet Web Editor



ECI Telecom (News - Alert) recently signed a two-year managed services contract with SMART Communications, the Philippines largest cellular operator. ECI has been providing infrastructure solutions to SMART and other Philippine operators for over a decade and considers the local market an important and strategic part of its APAC operations.

 
The Israeli-based networking infrastructure solutions provider recently took the time to answer some questions about the deal and the managed services platform overall.
 
What does a managed services contract entail?

In general terms a managed services contract usually includes a package of network-related services and equipment, delivered to a customer under a service delivery performance commitment (SLA based). Some of the parts of the managed services contract could include planning, implementation, operations, maintenance and management. These Individual services provide the operator with increased professional capabilities either through knowledge transfer from ECI experts, or by ECI managing activities so the operator can focus on their core operations.
 
 
What are some complexities of this network?

As in many cellular networks in high growth markets, SMART's network was expanding rapidly, new network elements were being deployed often, and supporting such a dynamic infrastructure was a real challenge for the operator. In addition, SMART was determined to constantly improve their network availability, which meant involving a highly skilled engineering work force in the maintenance and preventive programs in order to help reduce the risk of possible network outages.
 
 
What type of support is typically required of this kind of contract?
 
A typical Managed Services contract may include:
  • 24/7 network surveillance
  • Design and execution of network preventive activities
  • Faults management and resolution under strict SLA
  • New services planning and configuration
  • Manage the capacity of network resources for cost effective operation
  • Governance-Service management, Forums (e.g: change management) and Methods and tools (e.g: work processes)
  • Weekly and monthly control reports that provide full network status, i.e. events, capacity, services, availability
  • Network administration activities, security, users' profiles, data base back-up
Does ECI have similar contracts in other parts of the world?
 
ECI has several Managed Services contracts worldwide. A few include Schiphol Telematics (ST) in the Netherlands – based on ECI equipment built ST’s new SDH and Access, following which ECI won a three-year managed services contract with ST to operate and maintain their NOC (News - Alert).
 
Other contracts include out-tasking part of Bharti's NOC in India, and an unannounced contract with a key Africa-based operator to build and operate their NOC.
 
What are some facets of the turnkey programs?
 
For most of our Managed Services contracts the mode of engagement is comprised of turnkey elements including the first step which is consulting the customer as to the most cost effective solutions, the second phase which is the definition phase, in which EC takes end-to-end responsibility, from planning all the way to design (leveraging the relevant in house technical and business expertise required), with the third and final phase being the delivering, in other words implementation and final acceptance.
 
Why is this an important project for ECI?
 
This and other managed Services contracts are pivotal part of our 1Net vision. It allows ECI to be a true partner for growth for operators and provide them with real value above and beyond network infrastructure solutions.
 
This type of project enables the customer and ECI to develop a real and long term partnership based on trust and confidence and creates a win-win situation for all whereby an operator can leverage ECI's 40 year expertise in network operations and management, so the carrier itself can focus resources on other core competencies, develop new services for end –users while maintaining a high functional network with good quality of experience for their end-customers.
 
For ECI, it’s a great opportunity to bring real value to the customer on top of the technology expertise to better understand network needs and develop solutions that are customized and focused for each and every one of our customers.

Tim Gray is a Web Editor for TMCnet, covering news in the IP communications, call center and customer relationship management industries. To read more of Tim’s articles, please visit his columnist page.

Edited by Tim Gray


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