Talking about TCIL’s roadmap for the next five years, focusing on high-margin domains, and international expansion into Africa, the Middle East, East Asia, and CIS countries and the integration of 5G, IoT, and AI technologies, D. Porpathasekaran, Director (Technical) of Telecommunications Consultants India Limited (TCIL), shares his exclusive insights with Elets News Network (ENN). Edited excerpts.
You have managed the operations and maintenance of various critical telecom networks, such as the Wi-Fi NOC, NMS NOC, and SSTP NOC. Can you delve into the specific challenges you faced in each of these roles and the solutions you implemented to ensure seamless network operations?
I was in charge of the operations and maintenance of three critical telecom networks simultaneously: the Wireless Fidelity Network Operations Center (Wi-Fi NOC), the Network Management System Network Operations Center (NMS NOC), and the Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol Network Operations Center (SSTP NOC). Each one had unique challenges.
The Wi-Fi NOC is responsible for managing and monitoring Wi-Fi networks to ensure smooth operation. We faced the challenge of maintaining high uptime for Wi-Fi access points, which are devices that provide wireless internet to users. To address this, we implemented a Service Level Agreement (SLA)-based escalation matrix—a structured plan outlining expected service levels and steps to quickly resolve issues. This led to improved reliability of the Wi-Fi network.
NMS NOC utilises software tools to monitor and control network devices and services. Our main challenge was integrating Customer Premises Equipment (CPEs) from multiple vendors. CPEs are devices like routers or modems at the customer’s location that connect to the service provider’s network. Different technologies used by various vendors made integration difficult. We overcame this by standardising protocols and interfaces, ensuring all devices could communicate effectively within our network management system.
SSTP NOC handles secure communication channels over the internet to ensure safe data transmission. We struggled to obtain customised reports necessary for effectively monitoring the SSTPs and the data traffic they handled. These reports were crucial for assessing network performance and security. To solve this, we actively involved all stakeholders— including technical teams, management, and clients—to develop reporting tools that met everyone’s needs. This collaboration ensured the network remained secure and efficient.
As Project Director for TCIL in Tamil Nadu, the Southern Region, and on international assignments, you handled numerous turnkey projects. Could you provide details of these projects?
My stint as Project Director at TCIL, Southern Region, was for a period of six months only, and primarily we executed copper cable and fibre optic cable laying works, majorly for Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL). These projects involved extensive groundwork to establish and upgrade the telecommunications infrastructure across Tamil Nadu, ensuring reliable connectivity for both urban and rural areas. We also executed an Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) project for companies such as M/s Airtel and M/s Dishnet Digital Subscriber Line (DSL).
What are your strategic priorities for expanding TCIL’s business both domestically and internationally over the next five years? Can you share any ongoing or planned projects that exemplify TCIL’s commitment to growth and innovation in the telecom sector?
We have a clear road map for the next three years and we have plans to focus on certain specific domains where we can improve our profit margins from low to high. In those focus areas, TCIL will build its strength in Pre-sales and in-house Solution Design. Accordingly, we are re- structuring our internal resources to suit the business requirements. We are also focusing more on international business, especially in regions such as Africa, the Middle East, East Asia, and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries. These markets present many opportunities for growth due to their expanding telecommunications infrastructure and increasing demand for advanced services.
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The integration of advanced technologies like 5G, IoT, and AI is critical for the future of telecom. How do you plan to incorporate these technologies into TCIL’s operations to improve service delivery, enhance customer experience, and maintain a competitive edge?
Adoption of advanced technologies like 5G, IoT and AI is very much in our scheme of things. We recognise the importance of these innovations for the future of telecommunications and are actively integrating them into TCIL’s operations. We have a robust mechanism to empanel and support start-up companies that come up with innovative solutions and thus enable the Government’s initiative of ‘Make in India’.
In areas such as CCTV surveillance and e-education, we are shifting from standard ‘vanilla’ projects to advanced AI-based solutions. This means that instead of providing basic, one-size-fits-all services, we are incorporating AI to offer smarter, more efficient systems. We are also exploring business opportunities in IoT- based applications through the 5G network. The combination of the IoT and 5G provides faster, more reliable connectivity between devices, which can be utilised in various sectors like smart cities, healthcare, and industrial automation.
Given your expertise in sales, marketing, and enterprise business, what unique and innovative solutions is TCIL offering to its corporate clients?
We have an in-house talent pool to understand the specific needs of the customers and accordingly design such innovative solutions by partnering with OEMs and providing cost-effective unique solutions.
How do you envision the role of energy- efficient technologies in the future of telecom operations at TCIL?
Technology is ever-evolving, and there is a greater emphasis on manufacturing next- generation highly energy-efficient devices. Energy efficiency is becoming increasingly important as it reduces operational costs and minimises environmental impact. Since Telecommunications Consultants India Limited (TCIL) is not into product development, we always look for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) who have such energy-efficient products. By partnering with these OEMs, we can incorporate advanced, energy-saving technologies into our telecom operations. This approach allows us to enhance efficiency and sustainability without developing the products ourselves.
In what ways do you ensure that your team remains updated with the latest technological advancements and industry trends? Can you share any examples of how continuous learning and development have contributed to the success of your projects or initiatives?
Our Human Resources department has devised and launched a portal to identify the competency gaps in the functional, domain-specific, and behavioural areas of every employee at TCIL. Through this portal, each employee personally identifies their own training needs based on the roles and responsibilities assigned to them. With this input, our Human Resources team has been providing training—both conducted within the company (in-house) and through external organisations—in various technologies and soft skills to all our staff, including both executives and non-executives.
Having worked in various parts of India and abroad, how do you leverage your international experience to benefit TCIL’s global projects?
Having worked in countries such as Nigeria and Kuwait, I have gained first-hand experience that the business environment— as well as the opportunities and challenges— varies greatly from one country to another. It is essential to deeply understand the local business ecosystem, which includes how businesses operate, the resources available like skilled labour and infrastructure, and most importantly, the local laws and regulations. Clients in these countries expect timely execution of projects without any compromise on quality.
Reflecting on your diverse roles across ITI, DOT, BSNL, TCIL, and ICSIL, what are the most valuable lessons you have learned, and how have these lessons shaped your vision for TCIL?
Throughout my diverse roles across Indian Telephone Industries (ITI), the Department of Telecommunications (DOT), Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), Telecommunications Consultants India Limited (TCIL), and Intelligent Communication Systems India Limited (ICSIL), I have learned that wherever you are, you should fully understand the organisational needs and goals, as well as the roles and responsibilities assigned to you. This understanding enables you to align your efforts with the objectives of the organisation.
You should also inculcate the spirit of teamwork to achieve these goals, recognising that collaboration and collective effort often lead to better outcomes than individual endeavours alone. Always try to innovate, because even a small step in that direction could significantly improve your output.
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As Director (Technical), what is your vision for TCIL over the next five years? How do you plan to align this vision with the evolving trends and demands in the global telecom industry?
My vision for TCIL is to work on the identified focus areas and become a leader in those areas both in Domestic as well International markets. If I look back, TCIL has moved on with time and transitioned from Telecom External Plant construction projects to a variety of new Technology projects. We are now into Data centres, Cyber Security, AI-based CCTV surveillance systems, Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) and Software- Defined Wide Area Networks (SD-WAN), Perimeter security, e- Education, e-Health, AR/VR and Metaverse. I am hopeful that with the kind of agility within the organisation, we will be able to navigate the evolving trends of the global telecom industry.