22188 - SCTE Broadband - May2024

FROM THE INDUSTRY

network designs, navigating diverse work environments, and coordinating with multiple stakeholders. As such, it is vitally important to have a contractor field operations strategy that delivers efficient field operations, to meet customer demands, complete projects on time, and ensure the reliability of network infrastructure. In this article I outline three key areas that I feel require particular attention: 1. Enabling better network field design documentation 2. Creating more efficient task management execution 3. Enhanced reporting and analytics Enabling better network field design documentation To do their jobs properly and provide full visibility to the network operator, contractors need to be able to import data from various sources into the network model and for creating, editing, and documenting network designs in the field. In the past, many contractors have worked with just the data and resources they are given which could be incomplete

or outdated, and can lead to a lower quality deliverable that can damage the relationship with the network operator. Contractors must be able to easily access detailed network schematics, asset information, and geographic data on their mobile devices, enabling them to accurately assess project requirements and plan their work efficiently. Contractors working in the field play a key part in the road towards bringing high- speed internet to more rural and underserved areas.

In an increasingly interconnected world, access to high-speed internet has become essential for economic development, education, healthcare, and quality of life. However, many rural and underserved areas globally still lack adequate broadband infrastructure, creating a digital divide that hampers opportunities for residents and businesses. To address this disparity, various governments and institutions across the world are initiating programs to deploy fibre to the home (FTTH). For example, in Europe, the EU’s Digital Decade connectivity goals say that European households should have access to high-speed internet coverage by 2025 and gigabit connectivity by 2030, while in the UK, the government’s Unleashing Rural Connectivity fund aims to provide rural areas with better access to wireless networks. Because of the scale of the task at hand, so many network deployments depend on third-party work. Contractors working in the field play a key part in the road towards bringing high-speed internet to more rural and underserved areas, but only if they are supported correctly. These contractors face numerous challenges, including managing complex

May 2024 Volume 46 No.2

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