Senior Solutions Architect

• Apr 2023 - Present

Solution Architect: Complex Solutions

• Dec 2019 - Mar 2023

• Created responses to request for information (RFI’s) and request for proposal (RFP’s) for public sector customers and was successfully awarded to be a panel member.• Coordinated local and international partners to create bespoke solutions.• Proposed and presented Smart Farming and Smart Agriculture IoT solutions to a customer to solve their specific business problems.• Engaged with various partners to understand the industry’s IoT device and platform offerings and capabilities to form an IoT partner eco-system.• Consulted with partners for designing customer specific solutions.• Doing research on digital service technologies such as IoT.• Created end-to-end managed firewall security solution for a customer RFI.• Fulfilled equipment quotations for KAMs’ by requesting vendors and distributors to quote.• Worked on large and complex bids. Show less

Project Manager: Integration Implementation

• Dec 2018 - Nov 2019

Managed the following network engineering projects:• Transition of a major service provider who is responsible for core IT service planning and IT service assurance;• Integration of the new NMS (Network Monitoring System) to existing systems (automating the generation of network tickets and the use of bots);• Upgraded the BNGs (Broadband Network Gateways) on the IP Core network;• Delivery of Wi-Fi to the Cape Town Data Centre and updating the Wi-Fi network architecture;• Relocation of a site which required migration of existing services; and• Migrated enterprise wireless customers to MTN. Show less

Specialist: Technology and Innovation

• Mar 2011 - Dec 2018

• Lead technical product development initiatives• Conduct technology evaluations and acquisitions, inclusive of technology benchmarking (i.e., benchmark new products and services, capture the parameters and set expected performance levels)• Keep abreast with technological developments that can be used by Neotel / Liquid Telecom • Execute on type approvals of new CPEs (Customer Premises Equipment) and handsets• Lead and manage cross functional teams• Lead RFx related processes and facilitate proof of concept initiatives• Lead the translation of business requirements into technical technology specific product specifications.• Responsible for the end to end technical functioning of services before product launch.• Definition of technology assessment documents defining product architectures in IT systems architecture and middleware.• Experience of working with IP networks, Next Generation Networks, optical transmission networks, current data technologies and protocols and wire line & wireless access technologies (CDMA, WiMax). Show less

RF Specialist

• Jun 2007 - Mar 2011

• Type approval testing new CDMA terminals, in line with technology standards.• Evaluation of terminal supplier / terminal features / terminal types and making recommendations accordingly.• Developed terminal test and acceptance procedures.• Achieve 100% synergy between terminal vendor and network vendor and determine if terminal or network needs modification to resolve incompatibility alignments.• Liaising with terminal vendors to ensure interoperability between terminals and network is achieved and make recommendations / suggestions / changes of terminals accordingly as per standards.• Created RUIM card specification.• Technical evaluation of CPE outdoor antennas.• Engaged a terminal supplier with the network vendor to successfully resolve interoperability issues to make Fax over CDMA work.• Distributing worst and best performing sectors’ statistics to RF team daily resulting in pro-active response to poor performance.• Allocate IMSI numbers to all terminal suppliers.• Maintain inventory register of test terminals and test MDN assignments.• Coordinate supplier to design and install in-building repeater solutions to improve signal within retail stores, thereby increasing sales.• Verified configuration/parameters of 2% of new batch of CDMA terminal stock received.• Conducted more than 20 ISS surveys in Johannesburg region. Show less

Senior RF Planning and Optimisation Engineer / Team Leader

• Feb 2005 - Jun 2007

• Managed a team of 4 people, assigning tasks and motivating them to meet deadlines.• Accountable for the performance of several designated BSC’s serving the major metropolitan areas of Johannesburg.• Monitored the sites’ Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) and optimised poor ‘performing cells.• Implemented enhanced features on a trial basis in conjunction with BSS Engineering.• Attended to VIP and high tier customer complaints. Where possible site optimisation was done or else a coverage solution proposed.• Created and submitted repeater, micro-cell and dualband upgrade proposal reports to management.• Planned indoor coverage solution for new airport building.• Actively involved in trialling EDGE and verifying downlink throughputs.• Approved Least Cost Router (LCR) applications by confirming adequate signal strength and cell capacity. Congesting cells were upgraded.• Done radio network troubleshooting for poor performing LCR’s. Show less

RF Planning and Optimisation Engineer

• Mar 2004 - Jan 2005

• Monitored and analysed statistical and drive test data to improve system performance indicators such as dropped calls, blocked calls, call setup failures, etc.• Analysed worst performing cells individually for frequency interference, neighbour optimisation, antenna downtilting, and new site recommendation.• Generated frequencies for capacity upgrades.• Assisted in network frequency retune.• Participated and occasionally chaired departmental weekly meetings.• Constantly updated site progress tracking tool. Show less

RF Planning Engineer

• Jun 2002 - Feb 2004

• Created nominal cell plan based on population demographics and terrain.• Applied propagation theory, cellular theory, link budget calculations, RF engineering tools and antenna theory to choose tower antenna placement, height, and power.• Determined site parameters, frequencies, neighbour definitions and handover margins for new sites and submitted for database creation.• Performed site integrations and activations.• Drive-tested hot-spot areas to identify coverage holes and proposed repeater solutions or re-engineered live sites.• Approved site share applications.• Verified prediction models of planning tool by comparing actual drive test data with predicted coverage.• Evaluated the feasibility of friendly sites offered by property owners.• Managed a project to evaluate the performance of existing dualband sites. Those which were carrying low traffic were earmarked for decommissioning and were later relocated to areas requiring the extra layer.• Responsible for maintaining planning tool database and producing updated national coverage plots. Show less

Software Engineer

• Nov 2000 - Mar 2001

• Studied the Tigris MultiService Access platform. • Coded the data structures for Ericsson’s Inter-Working Function (IWF) for interoperability with a Nortel BSC. • Studied the Tigris MultiService Access platform. • Coded the data structures for Ericsson’s Inter-Working Function (IWF) for interoperability with a Nortel BSC.

RF Engineer

• Oct 1999 - Sep 2000

• Designed nominal network plan for potential customer using RF planning tools and attended site surveys.• Assisted in transmission link planning and scheduling of external line-of-site (LOS) contractors.• Designed indoor pico-cell solution (distributed antenna system). Used a test transmitter to simulate the propagation characteristics within the building for determining optimal antenna placement.• Assisted in upgrading the Network operation and maintenance platform (NMS) from version T9 to T10 and performed verification checks and tests. Show less

Trainee GSM Engineer

• Jul 1999 - Oct 1999

• Attended a comprehensive GSM training program for three months which included but was not limited to GSM network architecture and functionality, Nokia’s implementation, BTS commissioning, interface integration, subscriber and routing administration, and network planning.• Courses completed are:• SYSTRA – GSM System Training and Nokia implementation• DXSYS & DXOM – Basic architecture and functionality of DX200 network elements• BTSSYS & BTSCOM – Base Transceiver Station architecture and commissioning• BSSSYS & BSSOM – Description of DX200 BSC, Abis and A interface integration, and Transcoder setup• NSSSYS & NSSOM – HLR and MSC Architecture, Subscriber and Routing administration• NMS – Fault, Performance and Configuration management using the NMS• Network Planning – basic understanding of network planning principles Show less