Problem

Integra Telecom, a Portland, WA-based telecommunications company providing business voice, data, internet and integrated solutions, changed its network management tools vendor from Hewlett Packard (HP) to IBM in 2007 and needed training on the product. Its staff lacked background and experience with the new product and Integra was concerned it could not properly make use of the capabilities it sought.

Background

Founded in 1996, the year of the landmark FCC Telecom Reform Act, Integra grew and evolved from its origins in 1945 as the Scott-Rice Telephone Company, which served the rural Minnesota communities of Prior Lake, Savage, Elko, New Market and Webster. In 1996 it acquired OGI Telecomm, a shared tenant provider of voice and data services to the Oregon Graduate Institute and businesses in the AmberGlen Business Park, a contiguous office park in Beaverton, OR. Integra received designation as a Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC) in 1998 and capitalized on early network "unbundling" opportunities. It was recognized nationally as the first competitor to purchase unbundled network elements from either US West or GTE in its developing network architecture. It became the first in Oregon to offer retail Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) service to its customer base.

Integra engaged in a program of aggressive growth, expanding its service offerings into 11 Western states. It built a best-in-class fiber-optic network comprising metropolitan access networks, a nationally acclaimed tier one internet and data network, and a 4,700-mile high-speed long haul network. With acquisitions in 2006 and 2007 of Electric Lightwave Inc. and Eschelon Telecom, Integra faced the need to integrate two legacy networks into a single network monitored by a common system. Its vision was to operate all back office systems from a single enhanced OSS platform.

The FTS Solution

With the decision to convert its network management tools from HP to IBM, Integra management sought an experienced vendor of consulting and training services. The solution was provided by FedTech Services. Principals from the company were engaged and provided training on usage and maintenance. The project was completed successfully, providing Integra confidence it could manage the product internally.