ArcGis
ABHILASH V A
Senior Lead-Network Planning
Bangalore
Summary
Senior Telecommunications Professional with 8+ years of experience in FTTH/FTTx network planning, GIS engineering, OSP design, permitting, quality assurance, and 7+ years of experience in network deployment. Over the past 15 years, I have successfully delivered large-scale fiber network projects from planning through execution, leading cross-functional teams and collaborating with clients, contractors, and stakeholders to achieve project goals. My expertise includes GPON network design, end-to-end project delivery, CAPEX optimization, process improvement, and ensuring high standards of quality, safety, and operational efficiency. I am passionate about building scalable broadband networks, solving complex technical challenges, and delivering reliable solutions that create long-term business value.
Overview
5
5
Languages
4
4
Certifications
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Lead – Network Planning and QA
VCTI Pvt Ltd
05.2022 - Current
- Led end-to-end FTTH/FTTx Greenfield and Brownfield Passive Optical network planning, design, and delivery for multiple U.S. ISPs under BEAD, BIO, and RDOF broadband expansion programs, ensuring compliance with FCC standards.
- Directed the complete network design lifecycle, ensuring engineering quality, deployment feasibility, standards compliance, and on-time project delivery through effective collaboration with engineering and client stakeholders.
- Directed network design lifecycle, ensuring engineering quality, deployment feasibility, standards compliance, and on-time project delivery through collaboration with engineering and client stakeholders.
- Proactively identified technical and execution risks during the planning phase, implementing mitigation strategies that minimized construction challenges, reduced rework, and improved project delivery efficiency.
- Delivered scalable, cost-effective network solutions by developing HLD, LLD, Permit documents, As-Built designs, BOQs, cost estimates, and technical proposals, enabling clients to expand network coverage, optimize CAPEX, and maximize ROI.
- Collaborated with Product Management and Software Development teams to enhance the Network Design platform by driving automation, workflow optimization, and feature improvements that increased engineering productivity and design quality.
- Established network architecture standards, engineering best practices, and technical documentation to ensure consistency, compliance, and operational excellence across projects.
- Collaborated with product management and software development teams to enhance network design platform through automation, workflow optimization, and feature improvements that elevated engineering productivity and design quality.
- Provided technical leadership and stakeholder engagement throughout the project lifecycle, fostering strong client relationships and cross-functional collaboration to consistently deliver projects on schedule, within budget, and without compromising quality.
Assistant Manager – FTTH Network Planning and Engineering
Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd
04.2018 - 04.2022
- Managed multiple cross-functional teams including Planning, Design, QA, Field Deployment, and Customer Delivery to achieve project milestones while meeting SLA, quality, and schedule commitments.
- Designed and delivered end-to-end FTTx GPON network plans for aerial and underground deployments using AutoCAD and COMSOF FiberPlanIT, producing Civil Designs, ODN Designs, Splicing Schematics, and Construction Release Packages for commercial rollout programs.
- Generated and managed Bill of Materials (BOM), Bill of Quantities (BOQ), permit data, CAPEX estimates, and OPEX optimization models to enhance investment planning and control costs.
- Led capacity planning and network expansion activities, optimizing OLT port utilization, augmenting line cards, and developing patching plans based on OTDR validation and route acceptance.
- Conducted In-Building Design (IBD) surveys for MDUs, high-rise residential, and commercial buildings, delivering tailored fiber distribution network designs and infrastructure placement strategies.
- Performed network quality assurance audits for passive fiber infrastructure, civil construction activities, and OLT site readiness to ensure compliance with engineering standards, quality benchmarks, and deployment requirements.
Network Maintenance Specialist
Saudi Telecom Company (STC)
12.2010 - 12.2017
- Contributed to the successful delivery of STC’s GPON FTTx Giga Fiber Program, supporting end-to-end FTTH and FTTB network rollout, including OLT, feeder, distribution, splitter hierarchy, drop network, and ONT architecture design and deployment.
- Designed Outside Plant (OSP) fibre and copper access networks, including conduit systems, manholes, feeder routes, distribution networks, and in-building fibre distribution architectures utilizing centralized and cascaded splitter configurations.
- Reviewed, optimized, and approved network planning deliverables, ensuring technically compliant, scalable, and cost-effective network designs prior to construction release.
- Reviewed and optimized network planning deliverables for technical compliance, scalability, and cost-effectiveness before construction release.
- Conducted root cause analysis on recurring network faults, driving corrective actions and coordinating escalations with regional NOC teams to achieve network reliability.
- Developed and maintained accurate as-built network records and GIS-based network inventory using ArcGIS, ensuring alignment between deployed infrastructure and operational databases.
- Managed broadband service operations and fault management for ADSL and Triple Play services (Data, Voice, IPTV), maintaining SLA compliance and enhancing service availability and customer experience.
- Led field survey teams for MDU, residential, and commercial infrastructure assessments, collecting critical network data and identifying CAPEX optimization opportunities to improve deployment efficiency and reduce project costs.
- Produced operational dashboards and reports on installation progress, fault trends, and performance metrics to inform management decisions and drive service improvements.
- Coordinated cross-functional stakeholders including planning, operations, construction, maintenance, and customer service teams to ensure seamless project execution and service delivery.
- Supported network modernization and expansion initiatives through technical evaluations, field assessments, and implementation planning for next-generation broadband infrastructure.
O&M Engineer
Bharti Airtel Ltd (Contract)
07.2008 - 09.2010
- Managed Operations & Maintenance (O&M) activities across five Alcatel-Lucent telecom exchanges, ensuring high availability and performance of Voice, DSL, VDSL, and ISDN (PRI/BRI) services while consistently meeting SLA, TAT, and Network Performance Framework (NFP) targets.
- Led operational support and service assurance activities for fixed-line and broadband networks, proactively monitoring network performance, service quality, and customer experience metrics.
- Coordinated cross-functional teams, vendors, field engineers, and network operations groups for installations, fault resolution, preventive maintenance, and service restoration, enhancing operational efficiency.
- Managed customer provisioning and network deployment, coordinating civil works, trenching, cable routing, building access approvals, distribution point (DP) installation, and service activation per organizational standards, ensuring timely service delivery.
- Oversaw broadband network maintenance and ADSL service delivery, ensuring rapid fault resolution, reduced downtime, and adherence to operational service levels.
- Prepared, reviewed, and validated Bills of Quantities (BOQ) and project cost estimates for network expansion and infrastructure enhancement, supporting strategic resource allocation.
- Conducted network audits, infrastructure assessments, and quality checks to ensure compliance with engineering standards, operational procedures, and service delivery requirements.
Education
B.E. - Electronics & Communication Engineering
Anna University
India01-2008
Skills
Network infrastructure design
Expansion of broadband infrastructure
AI infrastructure planning
Geospatial analysis
Project coordination
Effective project execution
Risk evaluation and management
Budget forecasting
Quality management
Technical team leadership
Stakeholder collaboration
Agile project management
Accomplishments
- Recognized with a Promotion in 2023 for implementing an innovative cost estimation process that improved the accuracy of aerial and underground (UG) network planning.
- Received the 2025 Q4 Achievement Award in recognition of significant contributions to the Network Design tool by proposing innovative features, driving enhancement initiatives, and supporting continuous product improvement.
- Received the 2026 Q1 Manager's Award for successfully delivering the Giga Fiber project, maintaining high quality standards throughout execution, and consistently exceeding customer expectations.
Software
Qgis
AutoCAD
Ericsson NE
3Gis Web
IQGeo
MS-Excel
MS-Power BI
Certification
PMP
Timeline
Senior Lead – Network Planning and QA
VCTI Pvt Ltd
05.2022 - Current
Assistant Manager – FTTH Network Planning and Engineering
Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd
04.2018 - 04.2022
Network Maintenance Specialist
Saudi Telecom Company (STC)
12.2010 - 12.2017
O&M Engineer
Bharti Airtel Ltd (Contract)
07.2008 - 09.2010
B.E. - Electronics & Communication Engineering
Anna University