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Case study

U.S Wireless network operator automates spectrum management, saves development and Opex cost

OUR CLIENT

With roots dating back nearly three decades, this global telecommunications company is a leader in the wireless services industry. The company serves more than 190 million customers across North America.

THE CHALLENGE

U.S Wireless network operator needed an automated system to manage FCC spectrum licenses and usage

Telecom companies need to meticulously manage spectrum bandwidth usage to bill customers for cell phone services, manage profitability, and comply with FCC spectrum licensing regulations. Our client was using spreadsheets and email communications to manually manage spectrum usage-a cumbersome, time-consuming, and error-prone process. The spectrum asset management team wanted to implement a centralized platform to manage FCC licenses and its associated transmission frequencies across regions and markets in USA and its territories, calculate frequency utilization and identify ways for Spectrum optimization. Ideally, the team wanted a robust solution with:

THE TRANSFORMATION

“Blue sky thinking” led to robust spectrum management solution with efficient DevOps application delivery

The project team deployed an end-to-end, cloud native spectrum management platform that included architecture solutioning, data engineering, APIs, and UI/UX. The first application-to manage spectrum transmission compliance-went live in just six months, and more applications launched in rapid succession over the next six months. The comprehensive solution provided functionality to address each item on the client’s wish list, including:

THE IMPACT

Now, the spectrum asset management team has a comprehensive, unified platform to manage FCC licenses, perform compliance checks, identify issues in complex spectrum patterns and monitor detailed usage of the company’s most important asset, valued at nearly $100 billion.

In addition to the successful platform deployment, the software engineering team has a streamlined process to deliver new features, functionality, and applications. Technical product managers work closely with Business Owners to translate business needs and ideas into new features. Then, software architects define the architecture and technical design of modules to identify reusable components, accelerating application delivery and improving developer productivity. The business and technical teams collaborate each quarter on high level software delivery goals and clearly defined sprint objectives.

With the new spectrum management platform and application development ecosystem in place, the telecom company has achieved these goals:

The client is well-positioned to expand the spectrum management platform to other business units, like spectrum clearing, spectrum planning, network strategy, and national development, to automate and streamline processes—and achieve even more cost and productivity savings.

RESOURCES

https://www.ust.com/en/industries/tmt

https://www.ust.com/en/industries/tmt-telecom

https://www.ust.com/en/who-we-are/ust-newsroom/ust-featured-in-women-in-cable-telecommunications-event--tech-it-out
https://www.ust.com/en/insights/what-is-devops-and-where-are-all-the-ops-going