With cities rapidly expanding and densifying as well as new technological breakthroughs offering unprecedented possibilities, telecommunication companies, utilities and municipalities should always be looking for possible improvements to their existing OSP infrastructure. 

More often than not, offering a better service or new products to customers does not require a complete infrastructure revamp. With a holistic process that involves accurate planning, inspections, design, optimization and analysis, it is possible to bring your service delivery to a whole new level without long and costly disruptions on the ground. 

That is exactly how the OSP design process works at Encepta. 

1. Plan

‍The first question we ask ourselves on every new project we take on — how can we help our clients do more, save more and provide more value for their customers? 

Our engineers are involved throughout the design process, so we benefit from practical ideas being discussed in the earliest stages of client engagement. We analyze project objectives and ponder how we can optimize the solution to not only meet the objectives but provide extra value as well. We discuss initial suggestions together, making sure each one is possible within the given constraints. 

The next stage of planning is leveraging all available data sources. We go through the client’s records and compare them to other publicly-available infrastructure data used in telecom planning. We also incorporate all open-source GIS data, enriched with our own records from past projects completed in the same area. 

Finally, we evaluate and make sure we align our work with the client’s business objectives. We estimate the prospective customer base and demand for any given service, and conduct high-level pricing research — all of which inform our initial recommendations for new and future route planning and possible upgrades. 

2. Inspect 

As soon as our initial plans are formalized, we send a team to the field to confirm that all the records we have been using are accurate.

While auditing the sites, we collect pole measurements, actual capacity and any undocumented changes. Nearly every project contains new data that has been omitted in the client’s or publicly available records. Recording that data not only lets us identify unforeseen opportunities and constraints but also improve the quality of information for all stakeholders. 

Our field technicians use our proprietary fielding software and project management tools that have complete access to all files and information related to any given project. This allows them to synchronize with designers back in the office in real time and gather any extra information required right away. 

Diligently collecting and digitizing data also means that we can reuse correct information throughout the projects we work on, whether they take place next month or 10 years from now. 

3. Design

For us, design is always about looking at the big picture. What is the best way to meet (and exceed) the client’s requirements? 

We do not provide cookie-cutter designs — no job is the same, and we always adjust our approach for a better-fitting outcome. Overall, we specialize in custom design solutions that are practical, efficient and grounded in the data we verify to be correct. 

After planning and inspection, we move to a design phase, improving on preliminary designs, applying for permits, polishing ideas and reframing our initial assumptions. In the end, all designs are optimized to be built as efficiently as possible.

Our goals during the design phase are reducing the need for unnecessary new infrastructure construction, minimizing environmental impact, ensuring easy maintenance and maximizing safety. 

4. Optimize

Planning new or adding capacity to existing infrastructure is fundamentally about reworking and optimizing, so that it is possible to turn a single project investment into a long-lasting and productive asset. 

We present our initial OSP designs and then often come back to the drawing board to polish them down to the finest details and finalize them by evaluating new suggestions, additional materials and alternative routes.

5. Analyze

After the OSP design is complete, reviewed and confirmed, we move on to analysis. 

Throughout the project, we strive to not only digitally record data but also provide complete transparency by integrating with the client’s corporate system of record, be it analytical or project management software (e.g. Jira). 

We then mark our step-by-step progress on the project management side and display project performance data in customized dynamic dashboards. 

Our quality control process is also highly automated, using apps and software tools to help capture any errors and inconsistencies between data and design. 

We take continuous improvement seriously, investing in R&D and building our own AI-powered tools that are able to analyze vast quantities of data and suggest areas where we could add more value for the client as well as exercise additional efficiencies in our process. We make sure that all project performance is tracked and measured for future adjustments. 

In the end, the OSP design process at Encepta is created around a singular objective — to provide maximum value to our clients, whether we are working with telecommunication companies, utilities or municipalities — and we make sure that each project stage reflects our commitment to excellence. 

Are you planning an OSP design project? Get in touch to discuss how our fast and cost-effective approach could be tailored to your specific needs.