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Case study

Fixed Wireless Access for Fast Internet Connectivity

To meet a challenging timescale for the launch of its iFWA system, Nortel Networks UK needed to quickly build a development team with specialist skills. A partnership involving experts from Nortel and Sagentia was the answer.

Nortel Networks UK Ltd is a global leader in telephony, data, eBusiness and wireless solutions for the Internet, including the Internet Fixed Wireless Access (iFWA) system which cost-effectively delivers ‘always on’ Internet connections at speeds of up to 326 kilobits per second.

In order to achieve challenging development timescales for the iFWA system, Nortel needed to quickly build a fixed wireless access development team. In particular, it needed a number of high calibre communications systems specialists, preferably with first hand experience in fixed wireless access, to help define and then implement the iFWA system.

Sagentia already had a long-standing relationship with Nortel Networks, and as a result of our broad capability in communications system development, we were able to provide an experienced and flexible team of specialists. Our consultants, managed locally by a dedicated Sagentia project manager, were fully integrated into Nortel’s own system development team; they participated in regular, project-wide progress reviews and had secure access to Nortel’s software development systems. Our solution was deliberately flexible – Nortel was able to change the profile of the team during the development programme, in order to employ the most appropriate specialists at the right time.

With our consultants on board, Nortel had a team with all the specialist skills required to ensure the success of the iFWA development programme. Nortel could adapt the team profile to changing business and development requirements, and still maintain access to the broader knowledge and skill based within Sagentia. Working as a true partnership, the close interaction and high level of trust between the two organisations helped ensure the seamless integration of Sagentia specialists into the Nortel development team.