Team Leader - Planning and Optimisation Technology Information at MTN

RESPONSIBILITIES

Key Performance Areas

Task Complexity: 

Strategy Development

• Support development of Radio Network strategies and key technology projects
• Support translation of the network and radio strategies into both long range and near term plans and drive the execution of these    plans within the regional teams
• Support HO with regional access network controller node as well as Site Capacity planning to ensure the nodes’ provision for    sufficient capacity and support future technologies and features as well as marketing initiatives within budget constraints
• Assist and support a regional training and development strategy for regional Planning team members. 
• Support development of regional strategy for network roll-out as well as quality improvements
• Escalate and advise on proposals for  MSP improvements

Planning & Delivery:

• Produce detailed and comprehensive designs for regional  radio network planning with consideration of the requirements of radio    optimisation
• Ensure implementation of regional radio network planning and optimisation support plans are carried out fully and integration into    the live network
• Align planning with other functions
• Research, investigate, test and evaluate and implement all technologies, features and processes which will result in improvement    of the quality of the network and   without compromising its profitability. This could be in the form of direct involvement and/or    strategic support.
• Forecast traffic and capacity requirements against organic as well as forecasted Network Requirements
• Translate high level plan to low level design as well as specify detailed configuration setting of design
• Identify geographical location for equipment to be installed: Planning the growth of the radio network considering general    engineering principles, analysis & interpretation of network statistics, geolocated coverage and quality statistics, knowledge of    market requirements & profitability 
• Planning of Radio sites: (including but not limited to 2G/3G/4G and Wifi)
• Achieve  most effective design of RF installation to satisfy the demands of the market while delivering satisfactory return on    investment
• Consider cost of installation, market requirements and expected traffic, environmental management legislation and knowledge of the    existing radio access network 
• Specify hardware/software requirements in advance for implementation
• Specify testing requirements and ensure testing by relevant parties
• Evaluate site integration process for sites as well as support Site Acceptance
• Ensure that routine performance of network audits is done i.e. drive testing, configuration audits, etc
• Assist in testing and approval of any new equipment to be used in the radio network 
• Responsible for the Radio Parameters of the live network (2G/3G/$g…) and the integrity thereof.
• Testing and monitoring network performance 
• Ensure quality is of high priority in planning and execution of projects in what both the MSP (Managed services provider) as well    as Planning Teams do
• Control the regional management of WLA (Working Level Agreements) and ensure that the SLA (Service level agreements) is applied    between internal and MSP
• Interact and act as go-between various departments i.e. Planning and Optimisation, MSP and Complaints centre/ Customer services.    P10 
• Obtain special event warnings/notifications and plan accordingly -  and early MSP warning
• Arrange Special event monitoring (if required).
• Ensure projects are prioritised in accordance with MSP, Marketing, Healthindex impact, Complaints (VIP) feedback/input, etc.
• Maintain sufficient Radio Capacity Headroom; perform own Capacity dimensioning as well as MSP vendor Capacity suggestion vetting
• Ensure proper Capacity execution management and PM (Project Management) interaction (MTN and any other Operator (i.e. Project    Green)) - upgrades and sites; prioritisation; escalate if required
• Monitor Enforcement of focus on customer complaints and perform as the Regional Complaints Radio P&O SPOC – crucial team keeps a close tab on customer experience
• Development of 3G & 4G technologies to alleviate MTN’s 2G technology utilization and Spectrum load.

Network Optimisation & Performance:

• Strengthen the Network. This includes Primary and Secondary KPI’s, Worst performing cells and Data and Network Discrepancies as    well coverage improvement through Automatic Cell Planning (ACP)
• Provide continuous improvement from the radio department and feedback to confirm that plans meet objectives
• Monitor worst cells for the RAN 2G/3G/4G, and escalate for  relevant short term (optimisation) as well as long term (planning)    resolution 
• Escalate network performance impacting issues with Operations dept (REs, HLS, DCG, CNO, BSS), MSP and HQ 
• Review of design and drive optimisation changes
• Suggest/ vet best radio network parameters for 2G/3G network to deploy 
• Ensure the integrity of cell parameters within the 2G/3G network 
• Ensure that network quality is monitored on a continual basis and service levels remain within the predefined KPI’s 
• Ensure guidance, assistance and high level support to Radio Planning and Optimisation Engineers on Radio  network optimisation and    performance issues as well as support in resolution of end-to-end network issues
• Solving network problems through knowledge-sharing, experience in radio network design and operation, detailed knowledge of Radio     system design and principles, as well as vendor specific operations
• Providing guidance to aid the performance, growth and career development of those in the team
• Analyse areas for improvement; identify possible solutions for improvement and escalate; provide inputs for improvement strategies
• Assist with Area, Specific KPI improvement Prioritisation, and SLA revision formulation.
• Assist in Device technology migration strategies and ensure radio network readiness
• Ensure all team initiatives and decisions align towards Perfect-10 customer experience and are in the best interest of MTN.

Communication and co-ordination

• Communicate plans and integrate feedback
• Co-operate with and support other network group and departments at all levels (e.g. Property, Maintenance, SMC, etc.)
• Cooperate with other Business Unit departments within MTN and external parties (e.g. Telkom and external software development    houses such as Arieso, TEOCO) 
• Interface with Project Management and attend project management meetings to align site, Node as well as other project delivery to    requirements.
• Interface with vendors for various issues impacting the planning and optimisation tasks (e.g. Ericsson, Huawei etc)
• Ensure co-ordination of radio optimisation and its implementation with those of core and transmission
• Interfacing with MTN clients, e.g. landlords - presenting proposals on site builds, VIPs, Corporate and general customers when    required
• Co-operate and communicate regularly through meetings with vendors and ensure daily MSP interaction
• Report on plans, status reviews and change approvals
• Ensure measures for Site Requirement qualifications are in place, functional and applied. 
• Assist with the coordination and resolution of customer complaints across Various Teams ie NQC, MSP, etc.
• Interface with the HQ based MSP governance teams.
• Ensure sufficient and appropriate regional based drive testing/ field visits to assure better understanding in site planning.
• Ensure support tools function or escalate with constructive support if this is not the case.

Financial Management:

• Support RH and HO in ensuring regional network budgets are optimised for investment where necessary
• Continuously strive to identify and eliminate non-contributory expenditure
• Ensure sites deployed provide maximum ROI
• Continuously strive to identify and eliminate non-contributory expenditure
• Identify low ROI areas and assist marketing and other initiatives to support ROI improvement

Technology Competencies:

• Very good knowledge of radio network planning & optimisation techniques 
• Very good understanding of radio network planning tools
• Profound understanding of the Radio Network planning process
• Very good understanding of the frequency planning and refarming process
• Understand drive test tools well
• Very good knowledge of radio technology including GSM,UMTS, LTE and Wifi
• Detailed knowledge of Radio system design and principles, the Logical and Physical layers of radio interface and RF propagation    principles
• Good understanding of the operational level of the BSS, RNS including UTRAN and eUTRAN and Wifi access networks
• Understanding of wider trends in the international and local telecoms industry, incl. latest technological and market developments    in relation to all aspects of Network Planning and Optimisation as well as offload of 2G to 2G/4G and Wifi

QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Minimum of 3 year degree/diploma in BSc Electric/Electronic Engineering
• Fluent in English and language of country preferable

Experience: 

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in Radio Planning & Optimisation. GSM and/or UMTS experience is a prerequisite
• Experience in supervising others