Project Detail
Dark Fiber Delivery
How Vertex Innovations helped bridge the knowledge gap between design and deployment to help a leading national wireless carrier execute more than 200 dark fiber projects.
Project Highlights
The Challenge
A leading wireless carrier’s Transport division in Utah needed to increase its network capacity and coverage to better support its customers. The team lacked experience in the construction phase of fiber delivery and needed a partner who could inform the process, manage vendors, and create standards for fiber construction and implementation the team could use for future endeavors.
The Solution
The carrier brought on Vertex Innovations to manage the dark fiber deployment process, from design through completion of fiber delivery. This included building the scope of work, soliciting bid responses, and coordinating with the chosen fiber vendor to build a fiber backhaul network that provided redundancy in the cell site system ring-by-ring. In addition to providing project oversight and developing comprehensive fiber delivery standards, policies and project schedule, Vertex also:
- Documented pre-existing infrastructure to better understanding current network infrastructure and mitigate risks of potential service interruptions
- Ensured construction procedures were in compliance with carrier standards
- Facilitated negotiations between carrier and landlord while ensuring the property owner was kept abreast of project progress
A reoccurring obstacle throughout this program was landlord discordance. At several project sites, the landlord was resistant to construction, often due to unfamiliarity with the process and a desire for additional compensation. By arming the property owner with detailed program and project information, construction documents and education on the process itself, to reassure the landlord of minimal impact to their property. Vertex also utilized Smartsheet to track the program with timely, accurate data in twice-per-week updates that were auto-distributed to all parties.
The Outcome
Armed with the archetypes, workflows, policies and standards created by Vertex, the carrier eliminated the need for discovery phases, mitigated risks associated with service interruptions, and removed the need for change orders. In addition to these project successes, the carrier also realized the following benefits of Vertex’s involvement:
- Actionable data through frequent reporting
- Amicable relationships with landlords at project sites
- Contractors did not exceed estimates, thus eliminating the need for change orders and budge expansion
“We chose Vertex because of their proven track record in wireless construction. With their knowledge and expertise, they were able to keep pressure on our vendors, maintain consistency at each project, and get our cell sites dark fiber ready in an efficient manner. They established and upheld strong communication practices with my team, keeping us abreast of any possible delays or issues. Overall, we just sincerely appreciate how Vertex stays on top of the project to get it done well and get it done quickly.”
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