Actavo provided high speed broadband, TV, and fixed line services to customers on behalf of Digicel in seven Caribbean countries, Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados, Jamaica, Guyana, Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands and Suriname. The overall scope included the survey and construction of over 16,000 km and over 550,000 homes and businesses passed. These projects strengthened Digicel’s position as a market leader in the telecommunications industry.
Scope of works
Survey
The collection and recording of the following data in the field:
- Network Plant Infrastructure: manually posted on base maps and returned in the form of high-resolution jpeg/ PDF
- Pole and pole hardware information – GPS locations collected via GPS devices and photographic references
- Assessing and delineating between Single Dwelling Units (SDU) and Multi Dwelling Units (MDU) based on set criteria
- Delineating between home and commercial property
- Noting the scale and scope of gated communities
- Detailing addresses and associated mapping information to make construction easier
- Data recorded on GIS platform and live maps
- Survey data QCd and uploaded to design platform
Design
The detailed network design provided all specifications, design drawings, costings and bills of materials required to proceed to the network build phase. The scope included:
- Fibre route design
- Managing DCR process on client’s behalf
- Production of detailed GIS compliant maps with aerial and underground plant information
- Production of detailed Bill of Materials (BOM)
- Detailed splicing matrices and Straight-Line Diagrams (SLD)
- Handover of .shp files on schedule
- Design data compatible with proprietary
- Provisioning systems
Build
- Fibre to the Home network construction
- Fibre to the Business network construction
- Network overbuild and expansion
- Cabling and splicing
- Bi-directional testing and troubleshooting
- Quality control
- Network handover – construction registers
- Back-office support
- Procurement and logistics
- Project management
Services delivered – Tortola British Virgin Islands 2022-2023
- 169km surveyed and constructed
- 8,000 homes and businesses passed
- 738 devices (fibre access terminal, splice enclosures, fibre distribution terminals, Multi Dwelling Units) spliced, installed, and tested (bi-directional, ILM)
- Handover register submitted
Services delivered – Guyana 2020 – 2022
- 3266km surveyed and constructed
- 12,000 homes and businesses passed
- 1,400 devices (Fibre Access Terminal, Splice Enclosures, Fibre Distribution Terminals, Multi Dwelling Units) spliced, installed, and tested (bi-directional, ILM)
- Handover register submitted
Services delivered – Trinidad 2022
- 350km surveyed and constructed
- 20,000 homes and businesses passed
- 1750 devices (Fibre Access Terminal, Splice Enclosures, Fibre Distribution Terminals, Multi Dwelling Units) spliced, installed, and tested (bi-directional, ILM)
- Handover register submitted
Services delivered – Cayman Islands 2022
- 77km surveyed and constructed
- 114 devices (fibre access terminal, splice enclosures, fibre distribution terminals, Multi Dwelling Units) spliced, installed, and tested (bi-directional, ILM)
- Handover register submitted
Services delivered – Virgin Gorda British Virgin Islands 2021-2022
- 68km surveyed and constructed
- 3,500 homes and businesses passed
- 295 devices (fibre access terminal, splice enclosures, fibre distribution terminals, Multi Dwelling Units) spliced, installed, and tested (bi-directional, ILM)
- Handover register submitted
Services delivered – Suriname 2021
- 150km surveyed.
- ArcGIS Platform update including all homes passed, pole infrastructure condition, pole placement and made readies for construction.
Services delivered – Trinidad & Tobago 2014-2016
- 7,950km surveyed
- 225,000 homes and businesses passed
- Over 16,600 devices (fibre access terminal, splice enclosures, fibre distribution terminals, Multi Dwelling Units) spliced and installed for FTTH & FTTB
- Designed the FTTH network of 225,000 HP
- Handover of .shp files on schedule
Services delivered – Barbados 2014-2016
- 1,600 km surveyed
- 1,016 km of network constructed
- 26,500 homes and businesses installed (FTTH & FTTB)
- 102,500 homes and businesses passed (FTTH & FTTB)
- Engineering designs completed for 97,000 homes passed
- Over 6515 devices (fibre access terminal, splice enclosures, fibre distribution terminals, Multi Dwelling Units) spliced and installed for FTTH & FTTB
- 400 personnel deployed
Services delivered – Jamaica 2014-2016
- The survey of 165,000 HP (homes passed)
- Surveyed 800 MDUs/MCUs
- Actavo designed the FTTH network of 142,000 HP
- Constructed >1500 km of overhead FTTH network
- Constructed 80 km of Backbone/FTTB network including new underground chambers, duct and risers
- Spliced >10,000 devices and performed and recorded > 100,000 ILM & OTDR tests
- Deployed 20 splicing teams
Key successes
Planning
Actavo believes strongly in a pre-build survey. The verification of details contained in pre-build drawings ensured that potential problem areas were uncovered before the work began.
The survey allowed Actavo to:
- Identify all obvious landmarks where the route changed direction;
- Verify HH / MH positions; and
- Record crossings with other services on height and positions on service poles.
Experience
Actavo has demonstrable experience in the planning, construction, and upgrade of multiple networks within the telecoms sector. From making good existing networks to new network way-leaving, activation and commissioning, its systems ensure the quality, safety and environmental management of all works is never compromised. This is demonstrated through Actavo’s accreditation to ISO and OHSAS standards and its continuous achievement of major safety and quality awards.
Solutions to Challenges
Network mapping
The level of network service provided was the first of its kind in the Caribbean, which created challenges around mapping the network. Maps were often out of date which made surveying and accurate design difficult. Actavo responded by having engineers on the ground, mapping as they went along.
Training & Development
Actavo was responsible for providing all labour workforce, plant, and equipment for the construction of the FTTH networks. Initially, there was a shortage of qualified personnel for the job. Actavo invested heavily in personnel and quality equipment, including extensive training and supervision.
Benefits to client
- Projects delivered within agreed timeline and budget
- Fibre Optic Association (FOA) and Electronics Technicians Association (ETA) accredited operatives
- Extensive experience in Fibre-To-The-Home builds in other parts of the world
- The Caribbean governance team, made up of senior executives and industry leaders was established to successfully deliver the project