January 2016 Vol. 71 No. 1
Features
Ericsson Joins The FTTH Construction Business
Company Has Developed Strategic Partnership With Ditch Witch, Vermeer
Last fall, Ericsson announced plans to become a major provider of broadband deployment (fiber-to-the-home (FTTH)) services in the North America which would provide consumers with faster delivery of high-speed broadband services.
The global, Swedish-based company already is a major force in the world’s networked society, supporting networks around the world that serve more than 2.5 billion subscribers.
Citing growing demand for fiber optic broadband in the U.S., the press release regarding Ericsson’s plans also announced that Ericsson has joined forces with “world-leading” underground equipment companies Ditch Witch and Vermeer.
Under the plan, Ditch Witch and Vermeer will provide Ericsson with equipment, training of construction personnel and field support to create new, qualified crews with the latest tools and technology.
“By working with industry-leaders Ditch Witch and Vermeer, Ericsson can deliver both the network design expertise and the quality fiber deployment services at the scale to meet the needs of our North American customers,” said Angel Ruiz, head of Ericsson North America. “This makes Ericsson unique in the industry,” added Ruiz.
At the end of 2015, training was under way. By mid-January 2016, the first directional drilling crews had completed training.
“Ericsson has completed the training of the first three crews,” said Ed DeLong, vice president of Ericsson North America. “As part of this rolling training program, three new crews will be introduced each month.”
Details about how Ericsson’s ambitious broadband deployment plan would be implemented in this exclusive interview with DeLong.
Underground Construction (UC):
It appears that Ericsson is positioning itself to be a primary contractor to bid turnkey telecommunications projects. Correct?
DeLong: Yes. Ericsson has a strategic position to provide turnkey solutions for customers spanning the scope of survey, permitting, detailed design services, material procurement, construction, cable placement, reclamation, splicing, testing and quality assurance.
UC: Is the Ericsson plan for underground only, or also aerial plant?
DeLong: As Ericsson continues to grow the crews to self-perform, the initial focus is in the underground space. Based on the demand models, it aligns well with the current movement to drive utilities underground and away from aging and overloaded aerial infrastructure. Ericsson is also capable of supporting aerial construction and will adapt to the needs of our customers and the marketplace we are serving. Ericsson has established MSA’s with multiple contractors who specialize in aerial construction. We are also open to discussing this with leaders in the aerial construction industry where relationships are not yet established.
UC: Does the program focus on fiber construction only?
DeLong: Ericsson is capable of supporting all fiber and other OSP installation. Our focus is primarily on the engineering and construction of passive optical fiber networks supporting fiber-to-the-home, multi-dwelling units and businesses. We also have a rich history in wireless and wireline which complements our ability to support and build fiber plants. Whether a project requires construction in dense urban environments, or in rural areas, Ericsson has the qualified and trained workforce to do the job.
UC: Will Ericsson make fiber connections of a system’s plant once fiber is in the ground or in the air?
DeLong: Ericsson already provides this level of support to a number of our customers, along with troubleshooting, network monitoring, emergency restoration and plant protection.
UC: There are issues with telecom clients about low compensation and slow pay by the big telecom providers. Has that been a consideration in planning?
DeLong: Yes. Ericsson understands this to be the normal course of business in the telecom industry and has a strategic focus in two key areas to address this concern: by leveraging Ericsson’s unique ability to scale, thus fostering lower cost models; by bringing new technology to the industry, allowing improved efficiency, real time documentation and quality assurance processes which will enable shorter accep-
tance intervals and issue resolu-tion timelines.
UC: Currently there are many fiber projects in small towns and rural areas that may have only 2,000 customers. Is this a market of interest to Ericsson?
DeLong: Ericsson believes that coupling the growing fiber construction business with its history in the wireless business is a very strong combination to address connectivity to rural and underserved areas of the country.
UC: There are large contractors installing fiber nationwide on a turnkey basis. How is Ericsson’s approach different?
DeLong: Ericsson will train its crews in coordination with Ditch Witch and Vermeer. By embracing the legacy of skills and expertise brought by these two professional companies, it enables us to release informed, safe and highly skilled crews on day one.
Ericsson will leverage its global partners, Ditch Witch and Vermeer, to procure top of the line equipment. Both companies are releasing new lines of HDD and excavation equipment coupled with new technology packages that allow greater efficiency and greater visibility of field operations than ever before. We have also implemented a full scale training program which is currently under-way to not only inject new crew growth, but to produce the most highly qualified crews in the industry.
The training plans, which were created jointly with our global partners, will allow for swift ramp up of highly productive crews utilizing the most advanced technology available today.Through the training lifecycle, all new crews will be provided with an opportunity to use state-of-the-art HDD simulators for immersion exercises, thus allowing crews to have a head-start during the field training phase of the curriculum.
Ericsson employs best-in-class project management to keep the drills “drilling” and advanced planning for pothole crews which will result in 25 to 45 percent more daily production than the average crew in the U.S. today.
Ericsson crews will properly maintain and implement drilling fluid techniques to substantially increase productivity and recycling/reclaiming materials, thus making every project highly efficient and “green.”
Ericsson will work towards creating strategic partnerships with the local utility. We will provide real-time daily reporting and management tools which will allow greater visibility into daily production and quality.
UC: Currently, many fiber projects employ numerous HDD specialty subcontractors. Would that continue under Ericsson’s plan?
DeLong: Yes. Ericsson looks forward to continuing our strong relationship with our current subcontractors, and will establish new relationships with a number of additional subcontractors. The company will seek to create new relationships with skilled suppliers in the contractor space to ensure only the highest quality output for our customers.
UC: Will you seek employees with previous HDD experience?
DeLong: Not initially. Ericsson believes that the greatest opp-ortunity to differentiate itself in the fiber space is by creating new crews who are qualified through our state-of-the-art training pro-gram. That said, our policy is to be open to reviewing and considering all candidates.
UC: Will you seek field supervisors with HDD experience?
DeLong: Ericsson is bringing new resources to the industry. The belief is that by investing in the development of new resources, it allows us to train them from day one on the methods and technologies being brought to the field without legacy thoughts and ideas that more experienced resources bring. We are also confident that there will be a number of resources with HDD experience that will gravitate towards our methodologies and philosophies as we revolutionize the industry.
UC: Who will provide management support for difficult projects?
DeLong: Ericsson, Ditch Witch and Vermeer subject matter experts will provide on-site support on difficult projects. With the global partnerships established, Ericsson is able to utilize the expert skills from resources at both companies, in addition to our in-house experts.
DeLong concludes by observing that Ericsson is poised to start an industry-changing evolution in fiber and outside plant construction.
“Working with industry-leading partners and embracing our heritage of success in engineering,” DeLong said, “Ericsson can deliver both\network design expertise and the quality fiber deployment services unique in the industry. With our portfolio of unique services that embrace cutting-edge technology and training, our customers, our employees, and our strategic partners all benefit from this new, unique approach.”
Ericsson’s Training Curriculum
Training construction crews for Ericsson’s ambitious entry into the broadband market is under way and the first crew members have completed training.
“Ericsson is leveraging training from both Ditch Witch and Vermeer,” said Ed DeLong, vice president of Ericsson North America. “Both companies offer state-of-the-art training focused specifically on horizontal directional drilling and have facilities located in each of the key market areas.”
- Training content includes:
- Horizontal directional drilling;
- Vacuum excavation;
- OSHA;
- Job-site safety;
- Traffic control;
- Utility locating;
- First aid and CPR;
- Activity management tools and processes;
- Work print reading;
- Cultural awareness;
- Bonding/grounding; and
- CDL Driver Training.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Ericsson
(972) 583-0000 (U.S.), www.ericsson.com
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