Senior Manager, Data & IP Services
MTN NIgeria
Total years of experience :26 years, 11 Months
Leading the operation and support organization responsible for end-to-end data service offering for MTN Nigeria. Packet core, security, IP transport operations. Delivering robust data experience KPIs for the IP transport infrastructure to enable the deployment of digital product and services to over 90 million mobile subscribers. Managing opex and capex deliverables to achieve favourable EBITDA for shareholders.
Selected achievements:
• Achieved 15.6% opex reduction on support cost year on year 2021/2022 by consolidation of IP transport and network security infrastructure services.
• Stable packet core network to achieve daily data volume of 9.88Pb. Highest in the market per Network operator.
• Maintained 100% overall service availability on the IP transport and security network for 2 years running.
• Improved staff engagement by 16% on the 2021 MTN GCA survey.
Reporting to the CTIO. Providing leadership and direction to the Operations and Maintenance Business Unit made up of 107 talented engineers of diverse cultures. Providing support to EBU, Mobile money, Data Centres, VAS, and other critical value chains in the organization.
Responsible for network operation & maintenance, planning and optimization, rollout, and NOC. Managing the transition to Managed Services in the O&M, NOC, Optimization and Network Performance functions. Providing technical leadership and support to the enterprise business and financial units Responsible for financial, network and customer experience key performance indicators. Collaborating with other C-levels to deliver on MTN Group strategic objectives for South Sudan operation.
Working as Head of Transmission Network Operations Department responsible for Transmission Network Operations in the MTN Nigeria with IP/MPLS, Wireless Bearer, Transmission Edge and Satellite Support functional teams. Providing high level technical and strategic leadership for MTN Nigeria transmission support and operation. Planning and evaluating operational guidelines for support, operating and maintaining Transmission elements, media and infrastructure. Responsible for the network management (NMS) infrastructure for live core networks, enterprise customers and new rollouts. RAN and WAN Optimization scheme support. DXX drop and insert, Metro-Ethernet O&M.
Selected Achievements:
• Planned and set up three SEA international gateways for MTN Nigeria located at Lagos, PHC and Asaba. Developed Operation and maintenance procedures for its maintenance.
• Engineered the in implementation of Network Management Systems for MTN Nigeria’s over 6000km SDH and PDH microwave backbone systems.
• Developed reporting format for capturing network statistics to reflect business KPIs.
• Developed Vendors performance management framework to manage vendors in delivering business KPIs.
• Worked in the team that implemented 4500km DWDM Fibre backbone infrastructure in Nigeria from technical scripting to commissioning.
• Support and maintenance of MTN fibre backbone for over 6 years. Achieving average yearly availability of above 99%.
• For three consecutive years, (2005 to 2007), managed OPEX and secured savings running into millions of Dollars.
• Set up and managed services performance level agreement with key vendors. (Huawei, Cisco, Ericsson and Aviat) in network support and spare parts management service SPMS.
• Set-up maintenance model for MTNN field operations.
• Provided technical and operational support requirement for new enterprise customers eg. Chevron, Etisalat etc.
• Change management process in the merging of RF/BTS Support Engrs and ESS Engineers into Field Support Engineers in 2005.
• Successful commercialization of Lekki Cable Landing Station for WACS submarine consortium.
• Change Control and operational efficiency framework development for MTN Nigeria change management process. 2012.
• WACS submarine cable is an ultra high capacity optical submarine cable system which links South of Africa and Europe, spanning west coast of Africa and termination in United Kingdom. This 4 fibre pair system with total length of approximately 16, 000km is well complemented with 15 terminal stations forming a consortium of 11 leading international telecom carriers which MTN Group is a major stakeholder.
• Coordinating the formulation of Operation and Maintenance Process and Procedures for the running of WACS submarine system including the landing stations. Definition and appointment of Network Operation Center and Overall Maintenance and Coordinating Officer functions. SDH Equipment specification and selection. Drawing up of specifications for universal jointing spares and test equipment. Developing disaster recovery plan (DRP) for WACS DCN system. O&M budgeting and management.
Oversee the Network Operations activity in the area of leased circuits, carrier operations and international traffic management. Provide high level support to TX/RF/BTS support department. Provide cross-functional team training, coaching, and mentoring. Operate company IP security systems. Design, implement managed services based on connectivity, IP network and bandwidth requirements. Support Planning and Implementation Department in network design audit before rollout. TX spares Inventory management for the entire network.
Selected Achievements:
• Developed Escalation procedure for the international OMC.
• Developed Access Procedure for MTN BTS, TX and MSC sites.
• Achieved 99% average satellite link availability for BTS sites running using satellite links as backhaul by effective SLA management.
• Developed solutions for A-bis interface optimization for BTS using satellite transmission. (Ideal for rural telephony).
• Achieved 50% savings in OPEX in the area of satellite segment lease from operators.
• Set-up and developed Transmission first line support team at the Network Monitoring Center.
• Initiated the concept of interconnect clearing house to MTNN interconnect Committee in 2003 of which I was an active member. Today it is a model being followed copied in other operating countries.
Joined as Telecoms Technologist in 1996 and rose to Operations Manager in 2000.
Set up and head the Regional Operational Office for Gateway Communication in Abuja. This supports over 500 VSAT stations and look for new business requirement for the entire Northern Nigeria.
Develop, and implement operational processes for the installation and maintenance of FWA radio (SR500). A TDMA point to multiple access last mile solution.
Manage the operation and maintenance activities of the Abuja teleport.
Manage and implemented corrective maintenance activities.
Develop and manage the preventative Maintenance activity.
Develop Corporate Quality Assurance System and ensuring the conformance of all activities, performed by the Abuja Operations Section, with the Quality Assurance System.
Made suggestions to Management which resulted to increased sales from $2M in 2000 to $28M in 2002.
Ensure that adequate and accurate feedback regarding the progress with corrective maintenance is passed to the Network Control Center for reporting to the customers.
Conduct site surveys, link designs and equipment specifications to accomplish LAN/WAN network requirements of new customers.
Install and maintain International Private Lease Circuits for Clients such as Cononco Nigeria, ChevronTexaco Nigeria, Australian Embassy Lagos,
Conduct Satellite Systems Operating Guide (SSOG) test line up for Intelsat designated earth stations. (NCC Type Approved).
Install, configure and operate SR500 Central Station with 51 outstations. This is a microwave radio point to multipoint network on 2.4GHz licensed band used as last mile solution for customers in Abuja FCT.
Specialized engineering training in an academic environment aimed at harnessing the application of engineering solutions to tackling societal challenges. My MSc thesis is on the contribution of telecommunication sector to national GDP of Nigeria, 2001 to 2011.