Operating Model for Digital PMR

1
Operating Model for Digital PMR
3rd TETRA Middle East Conference Graham
Wilde BWCS 6 September 2005 graham.wilde_at_bwcs.co
m
2
Who are BWCS?

• BWCS is a management consultancy specialising in
  telecommunications
• We work with vendors, network operators and users
  organisations
• We have worked on assignments covering digital
  PMR, 2.5G and 3G cellular, and fixed line
  networks
• In Europe, Middle East and Asia-Pacific
• Publishers of Building a Cost Effective Trunk
  Dispatch Mobile Radio Network

3
Why talk about an operating model?
4
Priority given to thinking about

• Acceleration
• Top Speed
• Alloy Wheels
• Leather seats
• Sat-Nav
• MP3 Player

5
And less about

• Insurance cost
• Service interval
• Service cost
• Depreciation
• Warranty
• Anti-theft devices

• Acceleration
• Top Speed
• Alloys
• Leather seats
• Sat-Nav
• MP3 Player

6
In digital PMR, the equivalents are

• Geographic coverage
• Handheld vs vehicle coverage
• Network technology
• Network topology
• Network features
• Terminal devices
• Which vendor?
• Roll-out phasing

• Who will operate the network?
• How can the network be operated cost-effectively?
• How should users pay to use the network?
• How do we ensure that the network stays aligned
  with user requirements in the future?

There is no single solution to suit everyone
7
Who cares who runs the network?

• Todays digital networks are more sophisticated
  than ever
• Which means they are more complex to operate
• And more costly too
• Often, many agencies will share the same network
• The consequences of strategic or tactical errors
  in network operation are greater
• It is more important than ever to consider who
  will run the network, and how.

8
What does a network operator do?

• Network operations tasks
• Network engineering
• Maintenance
• Billing and customer care
• User Training
• Vendor management
• Provision of management information
• Management of relationship with government
• Implementation of security policy
• Disaster planning
• Public relations
• Sales and marketing of network services

9
Options for Network Operation
Increasingly different from earlier models
10
Examples from Europe
11
Key Factors to Consider

• Ability to manage risk/Allocation of risk
• Risks from malicious attack, espionage, weather,
  technology, project management, commercial
• Contract complexity
• What is your track record of managing complex
  contracts?
• Labour flexibility
• How will you find and retain the best people?
• Cost effectiveness
• What is your track record of running efficient
  operations?
• Financial transparency
• How will you see where the money comes from and
  goes to?
• Core tasks
• What are the core tasks of operation versus those
  which are non-core?
• Number of current and future user groups and user
  representation
• How will you ensure users get what they need
  (within reason)?
• Culture of service provision
• How will you ensure that good service is
  provided?
• Regulation
• What are you allowed to do?

12
Pros and Cons of Private Operators
13
A final word about private operators

• When used, they tend to have a pre-existing track
  record in defence in that country, and are often
  headquartered in that country
• Belgium
• Telindus is a shareholder in ASTRID
• Netherlands
• KPN is a shareholder in TetraNed
• Spain
• Telefonica Espana is a shareholder in Telefonica
  Moviles
• Sweden
• Saab is a shareholder in Rakel
• UK
• Contract originally awarded to BT, which
  de-merged its mobile arm (now called mmO2)

14
Which operating model is right for you?

• There is no one size fits all solution
• But setting the operating framework for the
  network operator is crucial, no matter who they
  are
• Even government departments should have a clearly
  defined set of responsibilities, clear lines of
  reporting and accountability to users
• Big benefits to early and thorough planning

15
Thank you!