Alex Rotar

Currently driving the definition and delivery of VMO2’s next‑generation optical & IP transport roadmap; responsibilities include:

• Steer long‑range optical & IP transport strategy for VMO2’s converged fixed‑mobile network, shaping the company investment roadmap through 2030.
• Collaborated effectively with stakeholders to understand unique business requirements, delivering tailored network solutions accordingly.
• Build rigorous option appraisals and business‑case models (CapEx, OpEx, TCO) that influence executive decisions on 400G/800G coherent upgrades and next‑gen PON roll‑outs.
• Deliver concise, data‑driven presentations to VPs and MDs, translating complex DWDM, IP/MPLS and BNG concepts into actionable funding proposals. Evaluate “what‑if” technology‑change scenarios balancing risk, lead‑times and ROI network OPEX‑reduction opportunities.
• Orchestrate quarterly roadmap‑alignment forums with shareholder architecture teams and CTO Engineering, ensuring coherence across Core & Access domains.
• Provide strategic consultancy to architecture, engineering and planning teams, guiding vendor negotiations and substantiating commercially balanced technical direction.
• Designed backup strategies to ensure business continuity during technological disruptions or failures.
• Coordinated with vendors for procurement of necessary equipment, ensuring best value for investment.

At the helm of the design, engineering, testing, deployment, and operation of a groundbreaking national network in the UK, I drive the adoption of state-of-the-art technologies, including Ciena RLS, OME 6500, and WaveLogic 5, facilitating the support of 800Gbps lambdas. As the central figure overseeing the entire national network lifecycle, my responsibilities encompass strategically proposing solutions for future deployments, negotiating contracts with network services and hardware suppliers, and serving as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in optical testing and emerging technologies.

My active involvement extends to contributing to the development of network roadmaps, formulating optical network security policies, and overseeing the deployment of the optical network management system in the public cloud. This includes seamless integration into the Inventory Management Ecosystem, along with providing SME support to NetDevOps, actively participating in the creation of tools for automation and Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP) of the DWDM network.

Furthermore, my role involves hands-on experience in IPoDWDM solutions, business case creation, effective budget management, the establishment of new processes, enhancements to existing ones, providing training, and facilitating knowledge exchange. I have evaluated various network proposals from suppliers during Request for Information (RFI), Request for Proposal (RFP), and Request for Quotation (RFQ) processes, and actively participated in the transition of network operations from externalized to in-house.

As a pivotal contributor to the UK 21C Transmission Platform, my specialization in Next Generation WDM technology plays a vital role in orchestrating the delivery of broadband, internet services, and high-bandwidth optical products for external clients. In this impactful capacity, my responsibilities include:
- Addressing diverse and intricate problems with the potential for significant customer impact.
- Managing peer reviews and providing sign-off authority on designs for complex network components within platforms and customer solutions.
- Leading the creation of network designs for Sync, PDH, SDH, DWDM, and NGWDM platform models.
- Serving as the Project Manager for all lab-related activities.
- Offering leadership to a small team of technical experts, overseeing network design validation testing, and providing technical guidance.
- Making strategic decisions on the design scope and architecture of complex components in the network platform, along with estimating resource needs for successful deliverables.
- Collaborating seamlessly with suppliers and stakeholders to ensure integration and operation.
- Developing standardized designs and innovating non-standard solutions based on customer demand.
- Contributing expertise to the design scope for more complex end-to-end and inter-working network design activities.
- Setting up network models for design testing and determining methodologies to resolve customer-affected issues.
- Documenting and delivering training, while offering coaching to less experienced team members.
- Playing a key role in the development of design tools to enhance efficiency.
- Proactively addressing and resolving implementation issues with suppliers and fellow designers.
- Providing resolutions to in-life issues related to complex network components within platforms and customer solutions.
- Recommending network components, technologies, and/or vendors for platforms and customer solutions.
- Exerting a strong influence on the Platform Manager for budget allocation concerning lab equipment.

In this multifaceted role, I serve as a linchpin in steering the technological advancements of the UK 21C Transmission Platform, ensuring the seamless delivery of critical services and significantly contributing to its overall success.

As a vital member of BT's 3rd Level Support team within the Technology, Service & Operations division, I bring my expertise to the forefront of Global & Regional Transmission Networks and associated Network Management Systems. Operating across multiple countries, including Belgium, Netherlands, UK, Hungary, and the USA, my responsibilities are diverse and impactful.

My core competencies encompass:

• Providing level 3 support for transmission SDH/DWDM equipment in crucial regions, including The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, and Spain.
• Demonstrating proficiency in handling a variety of transport equipment from leading brands such as Lucent, Alcatel, NOKIA, Marconi, and ADVA/Siemens. This expertise extends to various ADMs, OSMNs, WDMs, DXC equipment, ISA-ES series, and more.
• Showcasing a deep understanding of Network Management Systems, including OMS, MV36/MV38, TNMS, FSP Manager, 1354RM 7.4, and 1353NM 7.4.
• Offering on-call and remote support to Tier 2 teams and field engineers, specializing in troubleshooting and resolving critical and major issues on live networks.
• Collaborating closely with telecommunications license operators globally to address and resolve service issues
• Leading the planning, configuration, and implementation of new lines and services, including SDH/DWDM, Switching (Ethernet over SDH, Ethernet over DWDM), VLANs, Virtual Switches, and Spanning Trees, based on customer requirements over the existing SDH/DWDM British Telecom network.
• Assessing, implementing, and optimizing the running capacity of the current network, focusing on bandwidth, redundancy, traffic protection, and quality.
• Serving as the Continuous Improvement Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for the Budapest team.

In this dynamic role, my contributions span critical activities such as troubleshooting, planning, and optimizing network performance, ensuring seamless operations and continuous improvement in a global context.

In this role, I am responsible for various aspects of network operations and management within BT, including:

- Creation, management, and maintenance of all necessary documentation using defined BT tools.
- Providing support for error analysis and correction in the Test & Turn up, as well as the end-to-end process.
- Timely and independent processing of incoming orders and coordination with other BT divisions.
- Conducting technical validation of orders to assess feasibility, costs, and potential redundancies.
- Allocating SDH/Ethernet resources at network nodes to external access suppliers.
- Planning and configuring SDH/Ethernet/DWDM/CDWM connections using the BT-planning database and leveraging network expertise on various platforms, including Alcatel, Bosch/Marconi, Huawei, Ciena, and ADVA/Alcatel-Lucent 7750.
- Planning migrations and optimizations and implementing them through planned works on the SDH/Ethernet/DWDM network.
- Executing special projects based on management requirements.
- Monitoring quality reports to uphold BT's high-quality standards.
- Conducting circuit cease activities after intensive quality control within the BT process.
- Delivering SDH and Ethernet training for Customer Service Centre 1st and 2nd Line agents.

In this capacity, I play a crucial role in ensuring the efficiency, quality, and optimal performance of the network infrastructure, contributing to the overall success of BT's network operations.

Working on behalf of BT, I served in a Level 1&2 NOC capacity, specializing in Transmission Equipments (SDH, WDM) from Lucent, Marconi, Adva, Siemens, and Bosch. My responsibilities included supervising country networks in the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, and Belgium.

As part of the Level 1&2 NOC team, I held the day-to-day responsibilities of the Network Control Centre, operating on a 24-hour rotated attendance to manage BT’s Wholly Owned Subsidiaries (WOS) Multi Domestic Transport Networks worldwide. My duties encompassed:

- Conducting network surveillance, monitoring, and fault reception on a centralized level, both reactively and proactively.
- Performing first and second-line diagnostics for customer and network-reported faults on transport SDH and WDM networks, ensuring adherence to Service Level Agreements (SLAs).
- Initiating escalations and preparing fault reports.
- Managing the single point of contact for all internal and external requests to the NCC.
- Handling technical-level communication with in-country teams, network personnel, vendors, and service suppliers.
- Adhering to pre-defined network management procedures and generating operational reports.

In this role, I played a crucial part in maintaining the operational efficiency and reliability of BT's global transport networks, ensuring timely fault resolution and effective communication with various stakeholders.

I oversee the operation of a network surveillance, monitoring, and fault reception center, where I conduct centralized network surveillance, monitoring, and fault management both reactively and proactively. I provide first and second-line diagnostics for customer and network-reported faults on transport SDH and WDM networks, ensuring that all faults are repaired within the agreed-upon Service Level Agreements (SLAs). I take the initiative to escalate issues and prepare detailed fault reports. Additionally, I manage all technical-level communication with in-country teams, other network personnel, vendors, and service suppliers, ensuring effective collaboration and resolution of issues.