CE 3.1 Project Report: Exchange Evacuation, Migration, Shifting of DON

This report details a project undertaken by Etisalat Facilities Management in Sharjah, UAE, focusing on the exchange evacuation, migration, and shifting of Digital Overlay Network (DON) and access network elements. The project, initiated in July 2015, aimed to identify and recover unused equipment, migrate traffic-carrying equipment, and optimize the network for cost savings and improved operations. The author, in the role of Field Manager, was responsible for preparing action plans, equipment identification, and migration strategies, coordinating a team of technicians and collaborating with other teams. The report outlines the project's characteristics, objectives, the author's responsibilities, and the engineering skills applied. It highlights accomplishments such as successful migration and documentation of the CPE equipments, as well as challenges like managing large equipment lists and NMS connectivity issues. Solutions included equipment recovery and traffic diversion, leading to the project's overall success in achieving its objectives. The author's contribution, including problem-solving, leadership, and documentation, was recognized by the management.

CE 3.1 Project Information
Name of the project: Exchange Evacuation, Migration and shifting of DON and Access
network elements
Location of the project: Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Project Duration: From July of 2015 till present
Organization: Etisalat Facilities Management
Role and Designation during the time: Field Manager
CE 3.2 Company Background
Etisalat Facilities Management is a well-reputed company that has more than five
thousand sites that are operating within the United Arab Emirates. It is considered to have the
largest network in the business of facilities management. It is known for offering soft and hard
facilities management as well as consultation services for the Etisalat International Operations in
several countries within Africa, Asia and GCC. Etisalat Group is known to be one of the leading
telecommunication groups in the world. It has high credit ratings and is amongst the profitable
telecom groups. It is known for its innovative solutions to 162 million subscribers across 16
countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. This group aims to provide the best customer
service internationally as well as domestically.

CE 3.3 Project Background
CE 3.3.1 Characteristics of the project
The exchange evacuation, migration and shifting of DON and access network elements
project was undertaken by the Etisalat Facilities Management, which is under the Etisalat Group.
This project started in the month of July in 2015. This project was conducted in Sharjah, United
Arab Emirates. This project was undertaken for the purpose of identifying and recovering
equipments that were unused from the exchange. This project was planned to migrate the
equipments that were carrying traffic to new exchange building.
CE 3.3.2 Objectives developed for the project
One of the main objectives of this project was to evacuate the exchange as well as shift
the access network equipments especially Alcatel 1515 cross-connect racks that were having the
most of the DON or digital overlay network equipments. The objective of this project was also to
identify all the active equipments that were present in the network of Etisalat on which no
services were running. This project was aimed at planning for recovery and optimizing the
existing equipments for saving cost and for better management of the network for the purpose of
operations.
CE 3.3.3 My area of work
I was appointed as the Field Manager for this project. The management wanted me to
prepare a detailed action plan and give a proposal about network shifting. I was also asked to
prepare a detailed recovery and equipment identification plan. My area of work was to optimize
and migrate at backhaul and at the side of the end device that was situated at different locations. I
was under the supervision of the Expert Engineer of the Integrated Services Management. I had

to work in a team of 5 to 6 technicians whose responsibility was to assist me in the execution of
the project plan. I had to make sure that our team has a good coordination with the data and fixed
access operation teams. My area of work was to check the working type of the circuits on
different equipments. We had shortlisted 180 equipments for rerouting purpose. I had to
categorise the customers based on the type of circuit. Most of the equipments were not on NMS
and my area of work was to ensure that every detail is sent to the FAO for migration purpose.

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 3.3.4 Project Group

Figure 1: People involved in the project
CE 3.3.5 My responsibilities throughout the project
I was responsible for several activities throughout the project. I had to understand the
requirements at the initial stage before starting the project. As a Field Manager and Team Leader
of this project team, I was mainly responsible for managing the team and monitoring the
activities and progress of the team members. I was given the responsibility to make the migration
plan from the field side in coordination with the FAO. I was also responsible for carrying out
implementation at the field side within the desired time. I had to configure and optimize the
system in the field. I was responsible for updating and maintaining a proper record. My main
responsibility was to supervise the activities of the entire project team and to ensure that the
project was successfully completed.
CE 3.4 Distinctive Activity
CE 3.4.1 Engineering knowledge and skills applied in the project
I have comprehensive knowledge in the field of electronics engineering. I have used my
engineering skills to carry out the migration of the access network equipments in an efficient
manner. My critical thinking ability has helped me to get a proper understanding of the project
requirement. My experience in the field of telecom transmission involving access network, DON
and SDH have helped in the smooth execution of this project.
CE 3.4.2 Accomplishment and task performed
The project was successful because of proper planning. I had understood the project
requirement and segregated the traffic carrying and un-used equipments in the exchange and
submitted a report. I had initially started with auditing the current network database but later on

to get a realistic picture, I had cross-checked the list with network management systems. I had
explained my team members about the project requirements and had shared my knowledge with
them. We were successful in the implementation of new routes and migration of the links with a
proper outage. We made sure that the services were available from the allocated exchange. My
main objective was to find out the details of the CPE equipments that were present in different
locations and regions. After the migration of the CPE equipments was completed, I had carried
out proper documentation and had submitted it to NOC. I had also documented the details
regarding the other access equipments and made proper plans for shifting the equipments to the
allocated exchange. This shifting was done in coordination with the Fibre and Power Plant team.
CE 3.4.3 Identified issues and their solutions
3.4.3.1 Issues
I had realised that the actual equipment list was very huge, especially for the unmanaged
systems. This was one of the main issues that were faced during the execution of the project.
Another issue was to carry out NMS connectivity of DSLAM equipments from complete
regions.
3.4.3.2 Solutions
The first step that was taken was to work on the recovery of the equipments that were
traffic free and dump them to the stores. Then the various equipments were sorted on the basis of
the traffic to divert the traffic from other routes and making the equipment free. These two steps
were taken to solve the issue of the huge list of equipments. To solve the issue of NMS
connectivity, I had carried out a precise survey in new locations so that things would be smooth
at the time of shifting. I had done a backup of the system and arranged the required arrangements

with the other sections. I had also tested and labelled the links in a proper manner. Proper
management had led to successful shifting.
CE 3.5 Project Review
CE 3.5.1 Project Overview
The project of exchange evacuation, migration and shifting of DON and access network
elements was successful in accomplishing its objectives. This project was under the
responsibility of the Etisalat Facilities Management and was conducted in Sharjah, United Arab
Emirates. This project was successful in evacuating the exchange and shifting the access network
equipments. All the active equipments that were present in the network of Etisalat and had no
services running were identified. This project was able to save cost and carry out better
management of the network for carrying out operations. After the shifting was completed, the
systems were switched off and marked for the purpose of recovery.
CE 3.5.2 My contribution to work
My contribution played a significant role in the success of this project. I had taken active
part from the initiation to the planning stage of the project. I had identified the scope of E1s to be
migrated and had also checked for the feasibility of the migration. I was able to identify the
discrepancies in the database tool of the network. I had accepted all the challenges and was able
to overcome the hurdles with ease. I have used my problem solving skills to solve complex
issues during the execution of the project. I have been able to prioritize plans based on its
importance. I have also used my interpersonal skills to cooperate and coordinate with my team
members as well as the other teams. My leadership skills and qualities have helped me to resolve

any kind of conflict that occurred amongst the project team members. I had also carried out
proper documentation of the migration of the CPE equipments. The management had appreciated
me and my project team for carrying out successful migration.