Bilal Ashraf Khawaja Email & Phone Number

Bahrain

- 5G/4G/3G Radio planning, optimization & performance- Leading an inhouse team of 12+ mix of senior and junior staff (+60% localized)- Strategy planning and future technologies engagement (recently participated in 6G workshop)- Utilizing AI/ML expertise into daily operations & deep-dive to improve business decisions- Leading Annual TRA Benchmarking with objective mindset to innovate and maintain Batelco as market leader with best-in-class services- Strategy layout to sustain… Show more - 5G/4G/3G Radio planning, optimization & performance- Leading an inhouse team of 12+ mix of senior and junior staff (+60% localized)- Strategy planning and future technologies engagement (recently participated in 6G workshop)- Utilizing AI/ML expertise into daily operations & deep-dive to improve business decisions- Leading Annual TRA Benchmarking with objective mindset to innovate and maintain Batelco as market leader with best-in-class services- Strategy layout to sustain Batelco’s Ookla speedtest ranking among top 10 countries (since 2021)- Customer experience management and VIP issue resolution- Business planning OPEX management based on zero budgeting & yearly Business planning (FY, 3+9, 6+6, 9+3 forecasts)- Daily Engagement with OEM vendors for supporting network growth and future prospects- Staffing and workload management for insource & outsource teams- Mentoring the junior team members and cultivating skillsets- 5G/4G/3G Radio planning & optimization including: Network business plans | Forecast & strategy development | Spectrum studies & management | Network growth & expansion management | Local and Global competitive Benchmarking drive | New technologies trials and adoption | Vendor drive- Technology strategy layout including:5G SA trials | mmWave trials | Spectrum sharing options | Satellite services study | 2G shutdown & 3G Sunset | 5G 2CC aggregation | Competition & market intelligence Show less

Saudi Arabia

• STC Aspiration project leader (regional) for RF Rollout & delivery• Delivery for L1800 expansion, L2300 expansion, U900 & U2100 refarming, L2100 expansion• Expansion strategy finalization• Customer management and acceptance for expansion layer

Middle East

Senior RF Consultant for LTE Rollout & Optimization working in Middle East Region as Regional staff. Projects majorly include:1) Zain KSA 5G Rollout and Antenna Modernization Rollout(Jan 2019 - Mar 2019)• Pilot sites refarming for L1800 UL de-coupling sites• 5G Antenna modernization swap scenarios acceptance• 5G NR radio planning parameters• 5G field test mentoring and acceptance scenario finalization2) Zain KSA LTE 800 CA Rollout (Sep 2018 -… Show more Senior RF Consultant for LTE Rollout & Optimization working in Middle East Region as Regional staff. Projects majorly include:1) Zain KSA 5G Rollout and Antenna Modernization Rollout(Jan 2019 - Mar 2019)• Pilot sites refarming for L1800 UL de-coupling sites• 5G Antenna modernization swap scenarios acceptance• 5G NR radio planning parameters• 5G field test mentoring and acceptance scenario finalization2) Zain KSA LTE 800 CA Rollout (Sep 2018 - Jan 2019)• Responsible for L800 new layer RF Rollout and Pre Launch optimization • 3CC CA implementation • FTK sites Rollout with complex architecture of G900, U2100, L1800, L2100 and L8003) VIVA-STC Bahrain LTE (3.5GHz) MS and Rollout(Jan 2018 - Aug 2018)• TDD network expansion CA 2CC and Rollout of new S444 sites 8T8R• Pre 5G trial on Band 42, achieved ~1.2 Gbps• Massive MIMO introduction and implementation as well as parameter fine tuning using 8/16 layer beamforming • Managed services team operations and daily task completion including mentoring of junior team members 4) Menatelecom Bahrain LTE TDD (3.5 GHz) Managed Services & Rollout (Jan 2015 - Dec 2017)• LTE TDD RF Optimization Lead• CXO level Interface for the RF department• Responsible for supporting/managing 2 departments & 2 technologies at same time• Responsible for reporting and submission of contractual KPIs to customer• Managing a team of 7+ Engineers (including managing GNOC offshore resources remotely)• LTE RF Optimization including eRAN 7.0 and eRAN 8.1 parameters• Carrier Aggregation successful trial in TDD LTE network, first of a kind in the region• LTE PCI planning, LTE RACH planning, LTE Link Budget analysis• Spectrum Refarming of LTE (whole network parameter plan)• Carrier Aggregation analysis & Trials and its business case for the operator• Cross border Interference issues resolution• Mentoring of junior staff & professional grooming and skills enhancement Show less

Bahrain

Huawei (Managed Services for Menatelecom, Bahrain)• Responsible for managing 2 departments & 2 technologies at same time• Responsible for reporting and submission of contractual KPIs to customer• Managing a team of 9+ Engineers• LTE TDD RF Optimization including eRAN 6.0 parameters• 3.5GHz LTE TDD optimization which is first of a kind in the world and has deep challenges• LTE Initial RF Planning for 3.5 GHz band (first nationwide LTE TDD launch in 3.5… Show more Huawei (Managed Services for Menatelecom, Bahrain)• Responsible for managing 2 departments & 2 technologies at same time• Responsible for reporting and submission of contractual KPIs to customer• Managing a team of 9+ Engineers• LTE TDD RF Optimization including eRAN 6.0 parameters• 3.5GHz LTE TDD optimization which is first of a kind in the world and has deep challenges• LTE Initial RF Planning for 3.5 GHz band (first nationwide LTE TDD launch in 3.5 GHz)• Spectrum Re-farming Plan from WiMAX TDD to LTE TDD• Co-Existence plan of WiMAX with LTE and Network migration strategy• Active Resolution of Cross border Interference case between Bahrain and KSA• Full scale RF Optimization Study proposal for WiMAX Network Improvement• Weekly/Daily Congestion Study/KPI Reporting to Customer• SLA/KPI Reporting for major RF KPI benchmarks to Customer• Cluster Level Coverage optimization Recommendations to Customer• Capacity analysis and new site/sectors/solutions Recommendations to Customer• Internal and External Interference Analysis faced by Menatelecom Bahrain• RF ATP studies and approval• Parameter Optimization proposals study for improving existing WiMAX network• Complaint handling and Capacity studies for corporate customers Show less

Islamabad, Pakistan

• Leading a team of 4-5 optimization engineers• Vendor management and key issues discussion• Business plan planning including budget presentations

Islamabad, Pakistan

• Nominal coverage/capacity planning based on the marketing input, subscriber forecast, SLA mix, available bandwidth and other related inputs• Hands on experience of coverage/capacity planning/optimization with Mentum Planet• Model Tuning of existing propagation model based on field survey data using Mentum Planet• Capacity planning considering the available bandwidth and the throughput limitations• Field surveys including search area definition, potential candidate… Show more • Nominal coverage/capacity planning based on the marketing input, subscriber forecast, SLA mix, available bandwidth and other related inputs• Hands on experience of coverage/capacity planning/optimization with Mentum Planet• Model Tuning of existing propagation model based on field survey data using Mentum Planet• Capacity planning considering the available bandwidth and the throughput limitations• Field surveys including search area definition, potential candidate identification, on-field evaluation and finalization of candidate with full RF specifications• Optimization of the existing network sites, network wide reporting, redesign of RF parameters, pre-post optimization implementation analysis, interference analysis• Daily KPI monitoring of the region using M2000 and Maxzilla, responsible for the troubleshooting and earliest resolution of day to day issues, managing the timelines for assigned tasks• Managing field ATP and other acceptance tests with vendor• Cluster level optimization and operators’ benchmarking• Pre-implementation analysis with forecasted impact of the upcoming new services offered by marketing department• Drive Tests of integrated/troubled sites using Agilent Wireless Measurement tool and performing their evaluation to validate the network KPIs; if required, proposing change in Antenna type, Azimuth, Tilt, Heights• Customer complaints handling regarding coverage/capacity critical issues Projects:• Model Tuning: Successfully tuned and implemented CRC propagation model for Islamabad/ Rawalpindi city using Mentum Planet• Interference Analysis: Successfully pointed the source of interference at one of the sites, by using innovative triangulation approach through Spectrum Analyzer• Acceptance test: Managing the vendor for carrying out Acceptance test for new sites based on field tests measurements Show less

• Nominal GSM Cell Planning including Coverage and Traffic Capacity Planning, Network Expansion Planning, Traffic and coverage prediction analysis on tool• Automatic and Manual Frequency planning for sites to be integrated• Field surveys including search area definition, potential candidate identification, on-field evaluation and finalization of candidate with full RF specifications• Site sharing analysis for troubled and pending sites with other operators• RF Repeaters planning… Show more • Nominal GSM Cell Planning including Coverage and Traffic Capacity Planning, Network Expansion Planning, Traffic and coverage prediction analysis on tool• Automatic and Manual Frequency planning for sites to be integrated• Field surveys including search area definition, potential candidate identification, on-field evaluation and finalization of candidate with full RF specifications• Site sharing analysis for troubled and pending sites with other operators• RF Repeaters planning to extend network coverage in the complaint areas• Indoor Building solutions planning and Outdoor Micro street level sites design to enhance network performance• Business case and Break even analysis for planning of sites in a cost effective manner, and proposing solutions to reduce CAPEX/OPEX costs• Traffic Analysis, Traffic Balancing and Redesign Analysis on weekly basis to maintain the QoS benchmark• Efficient use of Optimization techniques, BSS features, parameter tuning, powering down, uplink/downlink path balance, antenna tilt and azimuth changes to maintain and optimize the quality and coverage of the network with the assistance of Ericsson’s RNO tools like MRR, FAS, FOX, NOX, NCS• RF propagation model tuning using TEMS Cell Planner• Drive Tests of integrated/troubled sites and performing their evaluation to validate the network KPIs; if required, proposing change in Antenna type, Azimuth, Tilt, Heights• Customer complaints handling regarding coverage critical issues • Database management and updateProjects:• USF (Universal Service Fund): Planned and evaluated the vendor nominal plan for 2 un-served districts of NWFP to meet coverage/capacity requirements. • Model Tuning: Learned and performed propagation model tuning for one of the city in our network, specifically for the Ericsson-9999 propagation model in TCPU. Show less

Major responsibilities include design, development and simulation of an army project demonstration “Air Defense Information Grid”. Being part of the developers’ team, I was engaged in developing specified network and communication protocols for this project. Some of my contributions include serial port communication/interfacing between YAESU/Kenwood VHF Radios, IP over serial port communication between HARRIS RF-5800 HF Radios using ALE, FIX, 3G mode of operation and establishing VSAT… Show more Major responsibilities include design, development and simulation of an army project demonstration “Air Defense Information Grid”. Being part of the developers’ team, I was engaged in developing specified network and communication protocols for this project. Some of my contributions include serial port communication/interfacing between YAESU/Kenwood VHF Radios, IP over serial port communication between HARRIS RF-5800 HF Radios using ALE, FIX, 3G mode of operation and establishing VSAT (Satellite) and GPRS links among remote sites. I also worked on extracting and parsing GPS data in Real time operation. Show less

Major responsibilities were to ensure the deployment of hardware equipment for BTS commissioning, send equipages of RF-Plans at OMCR and NSS, visit RFC sites, carry out site expansion activities and to send reconciled inventory sheets to warehouse.