2020 began for IMMCO with business as usual. Most network operators were in maintenance mode, as so much of our design work consisted of plant extensions and as-builts. Fiber was getting closer to the home, and node split work was on the rise, but there were few greenfield opportunities, as much of the world is already wired.
COVID changed how we use the internet, and many of us are now working and learning from home. We had to move a workforce of over 300 from their offices to their homes as many companies were forced to make similar changes, which forced providers to improve their networks. Mid-split / high-split designs and other technologies which increase the upstream bandwidth are being used to that end. IMMCO is providing those designs to several major operators to increase capacity.
Starting from 2019, IMMCO was part of a new build; working with a large US engineering company, and an international operator, to design and build a “Smart City” network. Municipalities are experimenting with smart city concepts, where infrastructure like traffic signals, parking meters, streetlights, etc., can be monitored via the telecommunications network. A city in California and a city in Massachusetts are currently in progress, with several more cities currently in negotiations to upgrade their city to a ‘smart’ one.
Meanwhile, wireless networks continue expand their footprints. IMMCO is working with an international engineering company to provide 5G designs for a large operator in Australia. As network bandwidths continue to increase with the advent of 5G and the number of connected devices on these networks rise as well, the need for quick and accurate network design becomes more important than ever.
As construction continues, companies are requesting that final design packages include construction drawings, and permits and traffic control plans. IMMCO has developed a team to work with operators and municipalities to prepare and submits those filings. We’re expecting a dramatic increase in that work next year, as network upgrades and its surrounding activities continue to increase.
Our team has been very adaptable this year. In a time when many companies have struggled to adapt, we’ve actually increased our workload in our normal LOBs, and have expanded our expertise to include new technologies. We are anticipating a very bright 2021, as the world of cable and telecom is quickly evolving to its next level.
About the Author
Pictured: Eric Herbert, Project Director, IMMCO Inc
Eric Herbert is the Project Director at IMMCO Inc.
He has been part of the IMMCO leadership team for 7 years, and brings with him over 2 decades of experience in applications engineering and project management in the telecom industry.
With extensive network design and mapping skills, Eric has helped many of our clients accelerate their design and drafting process. To get in touch with Eric, email him at eherbert@immcoinc.com.