Planner - Radio Planner BAU Technology Information at MTN

JOB DESCRIPTION

Context: (Global influences, environmental / industry demands, organizational mission, etc.)

• Highly technical and fast changing environment
• Highly regulated industry
• Very competitive market 
• Competitive pressure to continually improve network quality and coverage
• Rapid smartphone usage and data traffic escalation trends
• Public pressure for low environmental impact base station sites, lower RF emission, fewer sites
• Impact of increasing input costs, such as rentals and electricity, on site and MTN’s profitability

Key Performance Areas: Core, essential responsibilities / outputs of the position (KPA's)

Task Complexity:

• Planning & Delivery 
• Mass Market roll-out
• Ensure that the radio network coverage and capacity is sufficient in residential, business and industrial areas
• Ensure Coverage provide in such areas are at all usable- Signal, Quality and Dominance is within a predefined standard
• Prioritize radio planning and activation in high value areas as defined by radio planning head office, Radio Quality Management (Optimisation), marketing and sales. 
• Identify high Rol areas and address their requirements e.g. high density, low to medium value subscribers. 
• Consider macro solutions and sectorisation of existing sites 

Special Events Planning

• Obtain knowledge of special events planned for specific areas e.g. concerts, air shows, expos etc
• Verify indications of additional coverage and capacity required for the duration of these events
• Plan and deploy appropriate and adequate technologies and solutions to service the anticipated voice and data traffic
• Generate cell data for temporary deployments
• Interface with and coordinate optimisation initiatives related to the special event.
• Document the voice and data traffic; lessons learnt and advice for future use or improvement (annual recurrence of same events)

Dimensioning 

• Monitor network utilisation and be aware of an increasing demand due to promotions and /or organic growth
• Provide for sufficient network capacity especially in regions with increased utilisation trends 
• Ensure that frequency allocation (2G), neighbour planning and carrier deployment strategy (3G), concurrent users and carrier bandwidth (LTE) are applied to standards
• Assist in optimal Technology/ spectrum selection as well as support of Frequency Planning Strategy and re-farming exercises
• Consider upcoming market and coverage/ capacity demands based on experience as well as received requirements and forecasting     
• Releasing of upgrades
• Identify and highlight hotspots to the Radio Planner – Special Projects for deployment of HetNet solutions

Live Network Trials of new BTS and planning features

• Select correct site within parameters of installation cost, customers needs, expected traffic, environmental aspects, legislation and regulatory compliance and the existing radio network 
• Oversee the installation of new base station equipment (macro)
• Generate and provide the radio network data, cell data and configuration 
• Site Surveys, Site Integration and Cluster Tuning Process and Acceptance (3rd Party or internal)
• Field Surveys and Site Finding including drive testing
• Prepare cell data (or provide the criterion for 3rd Party generated site data)
• Work within predefined Service Level Agreements (SLA)/ Working Level Agreements (WLA)
• Perform Task Management and participating in workflow management systems
• Ensure compliance of all rules, regulations, legislation, standards etc applicable on radio transmission including demand forecast inclusion into Transmission Planning
• Advise and support other specialists in the department
• Investigate, specify and manage the development of tools and processes for network planning
• Investigate and recommend the procurement of tools and systems for network planning
• Manage the removal of redundant Cell Extender deployments as new sites are integrated and/or spectrum refarming requires it. 

Network Optimisation & Performance Support

• Network evaluation of new planning features to boost coverage and capacity (optimisation of existing site performance)
• Continuously refresh and enhance technical skill and knowledge especially regarding new developments in the field of radio technology, radio network design and operation, network quality and network problems 
• Suggest best radio network parameters for the radio network
• Ensure the integrity of cell parameters all over the radio network as well as the integrity of frequency and scrambling code allocation.
• Be fully aware of present poor network performance and quality areas - integrate this into site design and rollout prioritization.
• Be fully aware of what new sites can do to network performance - incorporate tailored best practices into site design
• Evaluate and perform alternative solutions to improve coverage i.e. Automatic Cell Planning 
• Work within predefined Service Level Agreements (SLA)/ Working Level Agreements (WLA) as required by the Optimisation Service provider or MSP team.
• Prioritise rollout and/or major site expansion towards improving customer experience in line with P10.

Supervisory Complexity:

• No indication of subordinates 

Leadership Complexity:

• Demonstrating a visionary approach to planning and peripheral responsibilities by contributing new ideas, attitudes and systems for the improvement of the network and the performance of the team. Contribution and motivation.
• Managerial complexity:
• Understanding the value and cost of all available resources  (these include time, physical resources, time-saving developments such as automated processes, intellectual capital, streamlining workflow etc.) and acting accordingly to achieve the best results with the least possible cost to MTN in both the short and long term.
• Lateral dimensions of the position

Creativities (improvement/innovation inherent)

• Keeping abreast with future and current planning and optimisation technologies and market developments, consumer requirements and international trends.
• Improvisation innovation and adaptation for competitive advantage. 
• P10 and Customer Network Quality of Experience improvement

Vulnerabilities (control span)

• Sensitive to non-delivery of work by other parties both within MTN and external to it (Telkom for example). 
• Limited by slow of development of tools for both process-automation and new technology developments.
• Limited information relating to the market to be serviced and the forecasted demand. Since radio planning are first line initiators of access network traffic demand –the responsibility of the cost implications of site deployment rests within.

Collaboration 

• Responsibility towards:  who are they and what do they receive from the incumbent.
• Direct reports:
• Matrix reports:

Key customers: 

• MTN Client base: Design a network with acceptable GOS levels 
• Marketing & Sales Departments: Giving info about the networks current status and future role out.
• Radio Maintenance Engineers: Offer support on network performance.
• Implementation Engineers: Offer support on implementation and future role out of network.
• Planning Manager: Reporting on network role out and new capex requests for future budgets.
• Optimisation manager Radio Quality Management): Reporting on network performance and GOS.
• Regional Manager: Reporting on network performance and network role out.

Key suppliers:

• Contractors for site builds: Specifications & procedures. 
• Work orders correctly defining the scope of work.
• Hardware/Software vendors: Testing, commissioning and implementation of new hardware, features and applications.
• Implementation: Delivering and implementing sites as designed by RP&O.

Relations, etc.

• Radio Optimisation
• BSS
• CNO.
• Implementation
• Property
• Maintenance Engineers
• Regional Managers
• SMC

Discretionary Space 

• Independent thought and Judgment:
• Much independence, wide judgement within flexible boundaries of radio network design. Personal experience relied upon for effective planning of radio network.
• Authorities:
• Network parameter changes on live network (not Customer affecting)

Minimum Requirements

Education:

• Minimum of 3 year degree/diploma B Sc Electrical/Electronic Engineering 
• Fluent in English and language of country preferable

Experience:

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in  RF or telecommunications. Wireless experience will be an advantage.
• Experience working in a medium   organization