Verizon Discusses Network Transformation at Ribbon Insights
In a recent presentation, Verizon’s Steve Ownes discussed their strategic initiative to accelerate the decomissioning (decom) of TDM switches, underlining the significance of repurposing legacy infrastructures in favor of modern architectures. Ribbon’s guest Steve Owens kicks things off with a light-hearted reference to "Sanford and Son” showing how relics can be transformed into gold through effective management and innovation. Steve tells Verizon’s decommissioning story that is driven by: reduced power consumption, cost savings, regulatory compliance concerning emissions, and technical space recovery. Check out Steve’s presentation, it’s a gem and challenges others to consider this beyond just expense savings!
Key Insights
Power Reduction and Cost Savings
The dual focus on reducing power consumption and minimizing operational costs is crucial for Verizon's strategic rationale in TDM switch decom. These savings not only improve the bottom line but also align with corporate environmental responsibilities, directly addressing local emission regulations in cities like New York and Boston.
Technical Space Recovery
As Verizon deals with legacy infrastructures, the recovery of technical space becomes a monetary aspect of the switch decom process. By utilizing freed-up technical space, the company can avoid expenditures related to cooling and space outfitting, a significant factor in their long-term financial planning.
New Architectural Framework
The shift to a ribbon architecture provides Verizon with a competitive edge—not only addressing current operational requirements but also offering a scalable solution for the growing demands of their network. This adaptable architecture is designed to be cost-effective while ensuring reliability for upgrading services.
Long-Term Reliability Objectives
Modernizing the network includes a focus on ensuring that the new architecture meets long-term objectives for network reliability. Concurrently, the integration of legacy services into the newer framework facilitates a smoother transition that ensures customer satisfaction.
Impact of Process Changes
The shift away from combining fiber upgrades with switch decomissioning represents a fundamental operational change, allowing Verizon to better allocate resources and accelerate decom projects. This strategic pivot has already exhibited tangible benefits in deployment timelines.
Inter-Company Collaboration
The partnership between Verizon and Ribbon exemplifies how collaborative synergies can significantly enhance the execution and efficiency of decom strategies. This approach showcases best practices in vendor relations that can be modeled by other companies in the telecommunications sector.
Decomissioning Urgency
As many TDM switches are on the verge of becoming obsolete, Verizon highlights the increasing urgency to develop actionable decom plans. The need for proactive management of legacy networks is critical to maintaining operational integrity and customer service levels, serving as a blueprint for the telecommunications industry’s future.
In summary, Verizon's strategic move towards TDM switch decomissioning encapsulates a multi-dimensional approach that integrates innovation, collaboration, and urgent action in managing legacy systems—a common challenge facing many companies in the telecommunications industry today.
