Programme
Business Implementation of Mobile Broadband – Advanced Business Diploma

Day 1

Welcome and Introduction to the Case Study

This initial session sets the tone of the week, including the overall programme objectives, timing and administration, the speakers, and what is expected. Delegates find out about each other and meet their team members.

The case study is also introduced in detail. The scope, format and expectations are set out to ensure each team is fully aware of the requirements, and that each participant can ensure they maximise the learning opportunity throughout the modules.

LTE Business Environment & Market Overview

LTE represents the next wave of technical innovation to hit the mobile telecoms industry. It has the potential to change the way that business is done, the industry business models and what is possible on a mobile device.

It has already provided challenges and opportunities and will continue to change the face of telecoms radically over the next few years. This module provides a comprehensive analysis of the current situation, as well as predicting some future trends and the strategies that are likely to be employed. Regulatory issues are considered along with competing and complementary technologies such  as WiFi, Femto Cells, WiMAX and HSPA+.

The aim is to provide a clearer picture of the way ahead for LTE, enabling more informed decisions and choices. The information is drawn from Informa‟s vast market intelligence resources.

Day 2

LTE Technologies Briefing

This section provides a useful and comprehensive overview of LTE technology within both the radio access network and the core network. This is presented in sufficient detail to enable a full and detailed analysis of network performance and costs, fully utilised within the business case study. The issues of backhaul and capacity planning are explored, along with overall system performance. The impact on handsets and user applications are described.
Monetising LTE Services

LTE provides a leap forward in performance at the user device and consequently provides massively enhanced user experiences for customers. In this section, the potential of LTE is explored from the customer‟s point of view, including vertical markets, applications such as social networking/Web 2.0, video, advertising, and mHealth. The business models are explored.

Day 3

Successful LTE Implementation/Projects

Telecom companies implement their corporate strategy through the projects that they undertake. The environment has become much more complex and fast moving in recent years as the pace of innovation has accelerated. The role of partnerships has increased in importance. 
Implementation  of LTE and the opportunities and challenges that it brings will further accelerate this change. This module sets out the key issues of modern technology projects.

The starting point of this module is aligning projects with corporate strategy, through the project planning and analysis stages through to presentation of a successful project proposal. 
Areas such as modern work breakdown structure, customer beta testing, project planning, scoping, resourcing and risk analysis are explored in detail within the context  of fast-paced environment of the telecoms company. Partnerships such as key supplier management are also explored.
Change, Leadership and People Issues

This module is used to consider change management, leadership and people issues within the fast changing telco business environment. It is also practically applied in the context of the ongoing business case study. The overall structure, management team, existing workforce, new hires and key business partnerships and relationships are considered within the wider context of establishing a  successful and motivated team to drive implementation and to make the right decisions.

Day 4

LTE Cost & Planning Models (Price/GigaByte)
Planning for LTE implementations is discussed in some depth. Special emphasis is placed on radio network planning, core network infrastructure and backhaul capacity  planning. A practical tool is introduced to enable useful simulation of the various cost elements of the LTE system. This model provides an overall estimate of the cost of carrying data over the LTE network. This is immediately  applied to the business case study. This model is useful in real-life LTE planning situations and may be applied in practice to delegates‟ actual business roles.

Calculating Return on Investment The LTE project is assessed in terms of its financial performance. In this module, concepts such as net present value, cash flow and return on investment are explored and practically applied to the business case study. It is designed to give participants an excellent commercial foundation on which to assess and make decisions. Learning is immediately applied to the  business case study.

Day 5

The Business Simulation

Throughout the week, participants are grouped into teams and provided with a simulated business case based on a fictitious country. The teams are provided with a detailed scenario and realistic data. Their objective is to produce a fully costed and analysed plan to implement LTE. Their plan must be coherent and credible, and appropriate for the scenario provided. It must also be comprehensive, covering technical, service/customer proposition, regulatory issues, business models, implementation, people issues and change management, and the financial aspects. Each team is asked to present its plans to a board of directors for approval.

This provides a theme for the week’s programme as well as additional motivation for delegates to engage fully in the learning experience. Delegates benefit from direct and candid feedback from the ‘board’ as well as from their colleagues. It provides a very  tangible focus for the week’s activities and a fitting climax to their hard work.

The business simulation provides an opportunity for delegates to apply and test immediately the new concepts and ideas that they have developed. It also allows  delegates to think through how these concepts could be applied to their own real-life work situations