Stephen Starr Email & Phone Number

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Developing within MATRIXX, following successful completion of an OCS replacement project in Afghanistan, I transitioned into my current role in 2021 as a Global Program Manager to lead multiple parallel projects deploying and upgrading MATRIXX. This role covers the complete project lifecycle from RFP response to post go-live support handover for multiple, geographically dispersed projects.

Kabul, Afghanistan

Joining Matrixx as the E2E Solution Architect to perform the on-site SI function for the OCS replacement project, my responsibilities were split between technical customer management and E2E solution architecture/governance. The solution involved the replacement of the legacy Huawei CBS with the Matrixx Digital Commerce Platform (DCP) along with Voucher Management / CRM / Mediation and Provisioning components from the solution partners.• Client facing E2E solution architect• Partner facing design authority and SI functions• Creation of project artifacts such as HLD/LLD/SIT/Testing/UAT documentation

Jamaica

Recruited by Digicel Group Jamaica to lead the digital transformation, strategy and architecture of OSS / BSS / Core networks for the groups 30+ markets. My role was focused on providing guidance to "C" level management relating to various emerging technologies including Virtualized Services (Compute / SDN / SD-WAN / NFV) / Service Migration / Business Transformation / 5G / Quad Play entertainment / Smart City initiatives / Regional IoT services / Retail eSIM solutions / Digital Transformation of existing OSS / BSS stacks.• Input to and alignment with the Digicel 2030 Digital Transformation Strategy• Primary target to provide, where possible, the virtualization of functions and services (NFV, NVF, SDN, SD-WAN, ESX) into new, regional specific Tier 1 Data Centers (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS)• Enterprise IT architecture migration to AWS / Azure cloud platforms• Engage with suppliers / regulators to determine current and emerging technologies / standards / roadmaps • Domains covered included Service Management, Enterprise IT, Customer Management Systems, Customer facing digital services, Radio Access Network, Access / Transmission / Core networks together with OSS / BSS stacks • Technology scope: Mobile voice/data, Fixed line services, FTTx, IPTV entertainment services, operational efficiency, network optimization, virtualized infrastructure (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS) and preparing for 5G compliant technology solutions

Reading, United Kingdom

Retained by Aricent to provide E2E Service mapping of the OSS/BSS systems for the current Nokia led 5G Compliant Virtualized Core project for Three UK (Cloudband [NFVO, VNFM, NFVI, VIM], SDN [SD-WAN Nuage] using ETSI NFV MANO)• Determine the inter-relationship and flow of the existing process/services within the legacy OSS/BSS systems• Produce a mapping solution for Products / Product Catalogues / Customer Facing Services / Resource Facing Services • Determine which of the new virtualized components were required to perform each new E2E service• Define the E2E services and their inter-connections and dependencies.• Define new Business Process, Operational Processes and Operational Readiness documentation to create value from the investment in 3rd party, distributed compute platforms supporting bespoke, AWS and Azure capabilities

Auckland, New Zealand

Deployed to act as implementation SI for the final stages of the launch of the country’s first nationwide IPTV service provided by Nokia’s “Velocix CDN” solution. This short-term, fire-fighting role, entailed providing Delivery Management / Project Management and Technology Build services to manage the disparate vendors involved in the project.• Identify the missing elements in the E2E solution• Design/Build/Implement the missing functionality – “Pre-Staging and Testing environment” / “Integration the CMS [Content Management System]” / “Distributed CDN [Content Delivery Network]” – using virtualized compute / SDN / NFV• Integrate solution components into the clients existing OSS / BSS solutions [Service Management / Provisioning / Orchestration / Billing)• Define operational management processes for the FTTH infrastructure, provisioning solution and OCS (On-line Charging System) including Operational Readiness and Migration documentation• Client / Vendor relationship management• Business Process re-engineering in-line with the ITIL / eTOM models.

Malaysia

Continuing on from my previous engagement, I defined, designed and built an IoT compliant, virtualized (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS) End 2 End OSS / BSS Service Management platform aimed at MVNO’s and smaller Mobile Telco’s, capable of supporting global clients using a multi-vendor, multi-technology, multi-protocol and multi-service mediation layer approach incorporating an integrated data management solution. • Designed / Deployed Virtualized server platform based on VMware Hypervisor / ESX chassis with AWS and Azure enterprise compute• Modular solution design based on re-usable and scalable NVF, NFV, SDN, Micro-Services components built on the Docker Container architecture and deployed using CI/CD (Continuous Integration / Continuous Delivery) philosophy• Solution implementation based on the OpenStack platform

Greater Jakarta Area, Indonesia

Engaged to define, design, build and project manage the implementation of new technology for the “Managed Power Services” division to complement their existing range of green energy products based on state of the art Hydrogen Fuel Cell technologies.• Defining the staffing and structural requirements for a new Managed Services division including NOC / SOC processes, procedures and technical documentation• Designing and building a Virtualized (OpenStack based IaaS, PaaS, SaaS) End 2 End OSS / BSS Service Management platform capable of supporting global clients using multi-vendor technologies• Technical Project Management of remote off-shore software design teams and vendors• Conformance to TM Forum standard eTOM / TAM frameworx• Producing design HLD / LLD documents, Operational Processes documentation, Build documentation, Support documentation and solution Roadmaps)• Project Managing an external, off-shore, dispersed team of fifteen software developers• Platform capabilities included Discovery, Inventory, Asset, Fault, Performance, Change, Configuration and Service Assurance Management covering the Power, RAN, Microwave, Access and Core Domains

Greater Jakarta Area, Indonesia

Deployed to work with Indosat as the lead Transformation Project Architect for the Inventory centric OSS technology refresh project, my roll encompassed solution design and ownership from RFI / RFP though evaluation, selection, implementation and business process re-engineering to operational business efficiencies with solution E2E documentation to deliver business benefit.• Engage with the business groups to define solution capabilities and integration points• Define component integration requirements with existing EMS, NMS, Fault Management, Performance Management, Service Management, Sales, CRM, Network Design and Radio Planning tools• Create RFI/RFP for distribution to possible vendors• Evaluate RFP responses / scoring matrix / compliancy matrix• Liaises with procurement to verify / confirm vendor commercial capabilities / acceptance criteria and best price• Stakeholder and Business team management to control the project and ensure the business was ready to utilize the additional features of the solution including operational readiness / source input data / updated process / updated workflow

Brussels Area, Belgium

Engaged on a short-term assignment to provide input into the corporate Telecommunications Strategy document for OSS / BSS covering the replacement of legacy systems and services together with the migration to an IPv6 compliant all IP core for unified Voice / Data / VAS / IPTV services to support the core business and expanding transit of emerging MVNO network services. • Strategy document input in relation to Compute Virtualization, NFV, SDN and SD-WAN• Strategy document input in relation to emerging OSS/BSS trends and standardization• Strategy document input in relation to best practice guidelines for systems replacement / upgrades• Defined the requirement to include E2E business processes re-engineering and support documentation• Provided input to the OSS / BSS component road map with the concepts of open API interfaces and the use of stateful, enterprise service bus connections between components to simplify support, upgrades and changes

Bangkok, Thailand

Engaged on a short-term assignment, for a Thai Mobile Operator, my role was split into two distinct functions, the technical project management for the customer / vendor interface and writing RFP’s for the provision of a complete Radio Network supply and Managed Services components for the 4th Mobile Operator license for Myanmar (Burma). • Technical Project Management to manage the RFP team and interface with the client• Create a Managed Services RFP for a Greenfield start up in Myanmar• Review and evaluate responses, manage vendor selection, make recommendations, then prepare / review the Managed Services MSA (Master Services Agreement)• Scope: The Managed Services RFP was written to provide a full “Turnkey” operation covering Radio Access Network, Transport Network, Core Network, VAS, CEM, SQM, CRM, Billing, BSS, OSS, Enterprise, Field Operations, Spares Management and local end user computing needs.

Reading, United Kingdom

Following my return to the UK from Huawei China, Huawei UK recruited me to define and deliver the Operational Transformation project required by the new Managed Services contract for Three UK. Interfacing with the client and technically managing the delivery from multiple Vendors, my initial task was taking responsibility for the TDA (Technical Design Authority) function for the predominantly OSS/BSS replacement solution then moving to Technical Project Management of the transformation project.• Goals: Convert Three UK Operations from an element based, reactive environment to a proactive, service-based organization using CE (Customer Experience) metrics as key business drivers• The end state was defined as an optimized, cost effective and scalable operational environment with fully integrated E2E OSS/BSS systems to allow the business to focus on new services, customer experience and business optimization• Implementation of new OSS / BSS systems• Business process re-engineering• Extensive documentation, Operational training, skills transfer and Operational readiness testing

Shenzhen, Guangdong, China

Moving internally within Huawei China, I joined the new Assurance and Managed Services Multi-Vendor OSS/BSS team as the Lead Solution Architect with general responsibility to define/support/improve the Huawei Multi-Vendor MS global service solutions and provide technical project management to both new and existing projects. This role involved regular travel to primarily assist / manage project delivery for pre-sales and due diligence work in UAE (Du), Saudi Arabia (STC), Hong Kong (PCCW), Europe (KPN / Telefonica) and the Philippines (Sun Cellular) for E2E solution design, costing and planning for mobile/fixed network Transition and Transformation prospects. • Act as “C” level interface for new OSS/BSS Managed Services prospects• Act as “C” level interface for trouble shooting issues in existing Managed Services projects• Review and Improve the existing tools and internal roadmaps together with introducing conformance to eTOM/TAM• Provide a plan, including gap analysis and risk mitigation as input into the internal R&D process to begin tool set additions and improvements• Provide pre/post-sales technical support, solution design, project management, due diligence tasks and respond to RFP’s for new and existing sales opportunities with emphasis on BSS systems to improve and protect revenue of both legacy and new services.• BAU activities included skills transfer, mentoring and training of team members, representing Huawei MV-MS-BSS in client “C” level meetings, giving presentations to aid Field Operations, O&M solutions, OSS/BSS Transformation projects and responsibility for Pre-Sales bids for Managed Services RFP's.

China (Shenzhen)

Joining Huawei MS (Managed Services) in Shenzhen, China as a Field Operations O&M / OSS / BSS SME (Subject Matter Expert), my initial role was to assist Huawei R&D develop new Field Operations and Work Force Management tools for O&M solutions and aid generic OSS/BSS tool set deployment.Following Huawei winning the world’s largest Managed Services outsourcing contract with XL (Axiata group company), I was re-deployed to Jakarta, Indonesia to design and project manage, from a technical perspective, the Transition of Field Operations, Implement Work Force Management software and integrate the Huawei OSS/BSS solutions with the clients existing RAN/CORE/VAS/Billing/ICT infrastructure. • The Jakarta (XL) assignment involved working, on a weekly basis, with the clients “C” Level management and technology teams to implement the transition of Field Operations and NGOSS/BSS solutions (CRM, CEM, Billing, Revenue Assurance and traditional OSS)• Returning to Shenzhen, I then designed/wrote/coded a functional Managed Services Field Maintenance Dimensioning and Costing Tool which was used to evaluate and plan the performance of Managed Services, Filed Operations activities• Deployed to various projects, including Nawras (Oman) / Oman Telecom (Oman) / Zain (Kuwait) to review project status/issues/risks with both Huawei teams and client senior management to determine areas of the existing service/process where efficiencies/improvements could be made

Riyadh, Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia

My role with Logica, based in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, assisting Mobily (the Kingdoms second largest service provider for fixed line and wireless “triple pay” technology) in the provision of a new national O&M/OSS/BSS tool set deployment covering Fault Management, Performance Management, Service Assurance (CRM/CEM), Service Fulfilment, Network Inventory Management, Billing, Revenue Assurance, Spares / Repairs and automated Work Force Management for multiple domains (VAS Services, IP/MPLS core networks, fixed line and microwave access networks and microwave / fibre backhaul for wireless services such as 3G, 4G, WiMax and LTE).• Solution Architect / Technical Project Management / Stakeholder Management / Vendor Management• Responsibility for the Network Performance, Fault Management, O&M and Work Force Management work streams• Shared responsibility for the Billing, Revenue Assurance and Service Assurance (CRM/CEM) work streams.

Uk / Europe

Working as a Senior Solutions Consultant with primary emphasis on a number of IBM Tivoli tools.- Fault Management using the Netcool suite- IP network root cause analysis (RCA) using the ITNM Tool and Impact tool- Security and Compliance Management TSIEM (containing TSOM / TCIM)- Performance Management using the Proviso tool set

Newbury, Uk

Solution definition and integration of emerging 3G radio and microwave / fiber back-haul products into the existing core IP based Vodafone OSS.Integrating NBI (North Bound Interface) data from management systems from:- Nokia- Nera- Alcatel- Cambridge

Hook / Southampton, Uk

Providing 2nd / 3rd line internal support and design for OSS / BSS applications and technically managing a team of six support / developement engineers to liaise with the business to define / provide / support the OSS / BSS applications and participating in Next Generation B/OSS design.

Guildford, United Kingdom

Providing consultancy in OSS / Network Management product design, implementation, integration and support on various tools including:- InfoVista- Network Physics- HP OpenView- Concord e-health- Solarwinds- EMC SMARTS- IBM Netcool.

London, United Kingdom

Providing specialist Professional Services (Pre-Sales / Consultancy / Implementation / Support) across multiple OSS tool sets to corporate business specializing in financial institutions and second tier banks.

Uk

Many roles and clients in a 10 year period covering IP / MPLS / LAN / WAN design and support functions for Cisco and Juniper networking products.

Uk

Working for 10 years in a number of positions for a number of employers within Telecommunications area. Experienced in Microwave and Optical line systems maintenance with analogue and digital line systems.