GPON Installation and Project Management

The assignment focuses on the author's role in a GPON installation project. It details their responsibilities in planning, executing, and testing the network, highlighting technical skills used, problem-solving strategies, and contributions to team success. The document also includes a project review outlining the overall project goals and achievements.

CE 2.1 Project Information
Name of the project: Deployment of GPON and commissioning of FDH
Location of the project: Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Project Duration: From December of 2012 to July of 2015
Organization: Shahid Technical Contracting L.L.C Co
Role and Designation during the time: Field Manager
CE 2.2 Company Background
Shahid Technical Contracting L.L.C is one of the leading contracting, engineering and
construction companies in UAE. This company is also involved in the manufacturing of
microwave radio systems and providing Telecom and IT solutions to the network and GSM
mobile operators. It is well known for its innovative and creative approaches. This company
covers the deployment of equipments and CPE at different government and private premises.
Shahid Technical Contracting L.L.C Company is working for Emirates Telecommunication
Corporation Ltd or Etisalat UAE. Etisalat Group is known to be one of the leading telecom
groups in the world. It is based in Abu Dhabi.
CE 2.3 Project Background
CE 2.3.1 Characteristics of the project
The name of the project was deployment of GPON and commissioning of FDH. This was
undertaken by Shahid Technical Contracting L.L.C. It started in the month of December in 2012
and was completed in the month of July in 2015. It was conducted in Sharjah, UAE. This project

was undertaken to deploy and install GPON and commission FDH. The Gigabit PON technology
is known as GPON. This technology can improve the distance of data transmission and
bandwidth. GPON uses cabling infrastructure for transmitting signals. FDH can connect passive
optical splitters and fibre optic cables. The management of the company wanted to migrate and
replace the present services that are provided by different equipments and wanted to integrate the
services into a single platform of GPON. Deployment of GPON was planned for corporate as
well as residential customers. The plan was to deploy services like HIS, POTS and IPTV for the
residential customers and leased line services like PRIs, bulk IPTV and IPVPN for the corporate
customers. This project plan was also to provide new services through the deployment of GPON
network.
CE 2.3.2 Objectives developed for the project
GPON is deployed in various corporate and residential premises for getting high
improved bandwidth and a cost-effective network infrastructure. The main objectives of this
project were:
 To install as well as commission GPON equipments from different vendors such
as Alcatel, Zhone and Huawei
 To offload the existing or legacy equipments
 To provide all kinds of services over the FTTx network
 To provide GPON services to corporate and residential clients
 To deploy a network infrastructure that has highest speed and lowest cost
 To deploy an access network that is flexible and can be upgraded in an easy
manner

 To deploy GPON equipments for providing high bandwidth to the various types
of clients
CE 2.3.3 My area of work
I was appointed as the Field Manager of this project of deployment of GPON. The
management had assigned me to carry out this deployment in the region of West Coast. My main
area of work was to install and commission the GPON equipments in the telephone exchanges of
the West Coast region. My designation during the project was Engineer IS. I had to report to the
Expert Engineer of Etisalat Management for the access network. My main role was in the area of
DON or Digital Overlay Network. I had to work in a team of two to three team members who
were technicians. They were there to help me to execute the project plan in a successful manner.
I had to ensure that our team works in coordination with the other teams such as the logistics
team, fibre installation team, IP core team, FAO, BNO team and vendors. The location of the
OLT is based on the service requests that are received from customers of from the service
migration team. I was the Field Manager and had to supervise the overall activities throughout
the project.

Ahmad Shahab Abdulla
Sr. Director
Talal A Saeed AwadhAlakbary Al Hameery
Director
Norman E Albarillo
Manager
Sobin Mathew Antony
Sr. Engineer (O&M)
Syed ImtiazAlam
Sr. Engineer (Development)
Khalid Mehmood Inayat
Ellahi
Supervisor (O&M)
Fazal Mahmood Shaikh
Supervisor (Development)
Rajesh Kannah
Ramasamy
Supervisor (O&M)
Azhar Kamal
Field Engineer
CE 2.3.4 Project Group

Figure 1: People involved in the project
CE 2.3.5 My responsibilities throughout the project
I had several responsibilities throughout the project. Being the Field Manager and the
Team Leader of this project team, my main responsibility was to ensure that the installation has
met the standard quality. I was responsible for coordinating with the various sections for
commissioning of the GPON OLT. I had to distribute the tasks among the team members and
supervise their activities in order to ensure that the work was done within the given ECD. I was
responsible for the performance of the team. I had to guide the team members so that they are
able to achieve the objectives. I was also responsible for carrying out the alarm testing with the
FAO and automating the OLT ports. I had undertaken significant research for understanding the
requirements of the project in a proper manner. I had to raise CPN for OLT uplink with the
corresponding teams. I had to coordinate with logistics team for the transportation of racks and
equipments. I was responsible for ensuring that the hardware is present according to the required
list. I had to coordinate with the DWDM and IPCORE teams for testing of the 10G uplink. My
supervisor had given me the responsibility of installing racks and sub-racks of OLT according to
the required standard and coordinating with the power team for carrying out correct rating. I also
had to upgrade the OLT software. I was responsible for ensuring that all services are working
through OLT and the acceptance tests are successful in coordination with the FAO and
maintenance team. I had prepared a checklist of all the activities that included data plan for all
services that were provided by the IPCORE team, block diagram of uplink connectivity and
physical termination document with the optical power level. I had to provide backhaul for the 3G
site. One of my main responsibilities throughout the project was to monitor the activities of the
team members and check the progress of the project work as per the plan.

CE 2.4 Distinctive Activity
CE 2.4.1 Engineering knowledge and skills applied in the project
I have utilized my electronics engineering skills and knowledge for the successful
completion of this project. My critical problem solving ability has helped the project to run in a
systematic and smooth manner. I have used my interpersonal skills to maintain harmony in my
team and to coordinate with other teams. My electronics engineering skills and knowledge has
helped me to carry out the installation and testing of GPON in an effective manner. I have
efficiently used my leadership skills to motivate the technicians of my team for increasing the
overall productivity of the team. I have used my technical and design skills to create data plan for
the activities and services, and block diagram of the uplink connectivity.
CE 2.4.2 Accomplishment and task performed
This project was accomplished with the help of proper planning and designing. The
installation had met the standard quality. I had conducted regular meetings with my supervisors
as well as my team members for getting feedback about the project and for monitoring the
progress of the project work. I maintained an approachable attitude towards the team members.
The team members were cooperative and had obeyed my instructions to carry out their work
according to the work schedule. I had used several techniques to avoid delay of the project.
CE 2.4.3 Identified issues and their solutions
2.4.3.1 Issues

I had initially faced issues in understanding the requirements of the project. There were
faults in the installation plan. A major issue that occurred during the project was the conflict
between the team members.
2.4.3.2 Solutions
I had undertaken a relevant research work before starting the project. This had helped me
to understand the requirements of the project and create an effective project plan. The installation
plan was revised after identifying the faults. I had conducted regular meetings to solve the issue
that occurred between the team members and sort out their differences. The opinions of each of
the members were taken into consideration for making the installation plan and for the successful
completion of the project.
CE 2.5 Project Review
CE 2.5.1 Project Overview
This project was successful in installing GPON and commissioning FDH. This project
was undertaken by Shahid Technical Contracting L.L.C. It began in December 2012 and ended
in July 2015. The existing or legacy equipments were offloaded and this installation was able to
provide all types of services over FTTx network.
CE 2.5.2 My contribution to work
I had applied my technical knowledge and skills in all the phases of the project to ensure
successful completion. I was involved from the planning to the execution and acceptance phase
of the project. I was able to convert the business objectives or customer requirements into the
final design of the products by designing, developing and evaluating advanced or new network

technologies. I was able to overcome the hurdles and ensure continuous progress of the project
work. My dedication and effort played a major role in the success of the project. I was also
praised for my contribution by the top management and all the other teams.