About the Client
A leading pan-African ICT provider
Challenge
The leading pan-African telecommunications provider was facing a critical challenge with its Trans-Mediterranean subsea cable infrastructure. The company’s line-terminating equipment, hosted at a French telecommunications company’s Data Centre (DC) in Marseille, had to be relocated due to the end of their contract. It identified a new DC provider but encountered space and power constraints, limiting the relocation of their equipment. Compounding the challenge was a tight deadline to avoid service disruptions, which could jeopardize operations and customer satisfaction.
Requirements
Equipment Limitations
The provider needed to ensure the critical subsea supervision equipment could be relocated while decommissioning the rest without affecting operations
Service Continuity Risks
Delays in the move or missteps in execution could lead to significant service outages, impacting operations and the customers
Complex Coordination
The task required seamless collaboration across multiple stakeholders, including equipment vendors, data centre teams, and the subsea provider’s internal resources
Solution
The major subsea link provider partnered with TCTS to address these challenges head-on. TCTS’s Subsea Network Operations Centre (SNOC) took ownership of the project, employing a structured approach to deliver a successful outcome.
Strategic Planning
- Defined the project scope and aligned all stakeholders, including the company’s team, OEMs, and the new data centre provider
- Developed a detailed Statement of Work (SOW) covering all critical tasks:
- Decommissioning 15 idle ASN channels and replacing them with 29 new Ciena ASE channels
- Relocating only one essential sub-rack for subsea supervision to Interxion
- Reconfiguring subsea fibre design at both Aboutalat and Marseille locations
- Secured stakeholder approvals, power and space arrangements, and vendor support through a comprehensive procurement process
Focused Execution
- All tasks were completed during a planned change window, ensuring uninterrupted service
- TCTS decommissioned 10 racks and 30 sub-racks, freeing up valuable space, leaving only the critical subsea supervision sub-rack in operation at Interxion
- Post-move monitoring confirmed system stability, validating the success of the project
Seamless Handover
TCTS documented all changes and provided detailed reports to the provider’s assurance team, enabling smooth ongoing operations.
Results
Service Continuity
Relocation completed with no outages, ensuring uninterrupted operations for the client’s customers
$20K
Saved by leveraging in-house expertise
Optimized Infrastructure
The new setup is leaner, more efficient, and future-ready, aligning with the client’s strategic goals
The successful relocation of the critical trans-Mediterranean subsea cable infrastructure stands as a testament to the power of expert collaboration and meticulous execution. With TCTS’s strategic oversight and operational excellence, the client not only avoided service disruptions and ensured business continuity but also optimized its infrastructure for future growth — all while delivering significant cost savings.
