Client Context

A large mobile network operator was undertaking a nationwide programme to decommission legacy telecom sites and replace them with newer, more efficient infrastructure. Each site migration required the simultaneous deactivation of old services and activation of new ones, making service continuity critical.

The programme involved multiple sites, tight timelines, and dependencies across planning, engineering, transmission, and outage management teams.

The Challenge

The organisation needed to:

• Coordinate multiple site migrations without customer impact

• Manage complex dependencies across technical and operational teams

• Minimise service downtime during cutovers

• Maintain visibility and control across a high-risk delivery programme

• Ensure fallback options were available if activations failed

Any failure during cutover could have resulted in extended outages and reputational damage.

ClearPath’s Approach

ClearPath applied a structured programme coordination and risk-management approach, focusing on planning precision, ownership, and proactive communication.

1. Programme Breakdown & Planning

• Broke each site migration into clearly defined phases:

  • Decommissioning of legacy infrastructure

  • Pre-cabling, testing, and readiness of new sites

  • Activation, validation, and quality assurance

• Established clear dependencies and milestone ownership

2. Cross-Functional Coordination

• Coordinated planners, circuit designers, field engineers, transmission teams, and outage managers

• Ensured all teams were aligned on timelines, responsibilities, and readiness criteria

• Addressed resource conflicts early to avoid delays

3. Risk Mitigation & Rollback Planning

• Designed detailed rollback plans to protect service continuity

• Ensured every stakeholder understood their role in a rollback scenario

• Validated fallback options prior to each activation window

4. Stakeholder & Customer Communication

• Provided regular progress updates and readiness reporting

• Flagged risks early and transparently

• Maintained customer confidence through clear and proactive communication

Results Achieved

Across the programme:

• All sites successfully migrated without unplanned service outages

• Service downtime during cutovers kept below 1%, exceeding expectations

• Delivery completed five weeks ahead of schedule

• 25% reduction in average site turnaround time

• 30% improvement in resource utilisation, reducing operational cost

• No rollback plans were required during live activations

Impact

The programme demonstrated that complex, high-risk migrations can be delivered safely and efficiently with the right planning, coordination, and governance. The structured approach improved delivery confidence, reduced operational risk, and strengthened trust with stakeholders.

Key Takeaway

High-risk technology transitions succeed when planning, communication, and risk control are treated as core delivery disciplines.