Charlie Winch
Cardiff,Wales
Summary
Thirteen years of experience in network planning with specialization in fibre network architecture, including FTTP, FTTC, and G.fast technologies. Expertise in Openreach network architecture, both legacy and current, with advanced skills in Openreach systems such as Piper, INS, BERT, and NGWFMT. Proven ability to coach peers and manage internal and external stakeholders effectively. Strong communication skills applied to drive successful outcomes in complex projects.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
4
4
years of post-secondary education
Work history
Planning & Design
Openreach
Cardiff
2012.07 - 2021.09
- Wideband 20C & 21C Planning – Sub-2Mbit solutions, stakeholder coordination, SLA adherence.
- Ethernet Service Fulfilment – Provision/modify/cease of Ethernet; engineering & project coordination.
- Physical Infrastructure Access – SME for civils, duct/pole upgrades & new team training.
- National Spine Allocation – Allocation of cables, jointing & OCR tasks under spine principles.
- Civils Planning – Blockages, ducting, poling, cabinet builds, highways liaison.
- Apprentice NGA/BDUK Surveyor – Accredited FTTx surveys; supported national superfast rollout.
Network Planner
Openreach
Cardiff
2021.09 - 2026.03
- Lead planner across Exchange Exit, Core Cables, New Sites, Service Desk & Optimisation.
- Provide routing validation, technical assurance and scalable fibre architecture solutions.
- Support planners and engineers with complex routing, backhaul design and migration feasibility.
- Exchange Exit
- Plan fibre migrations from closing exchanges & OHPs.
- Identify impacted FTTC/G.fast/FTTP services & design cut-ins/re-routes.
- Produce survey packs & support engineering cut-over activity.
- Design new backhaul into target exchanges & coordinate CP PEWs.
- Core Cables
- Plan & validate core routing for expansion/resilience builds.
- Ensure routing compliance & duct capacity adherence.
- Resolve OCR/ODF technical queries.
- New Sites
- Provide spine design inputs for new residential/commercial builds.
- Validate headend integration & surrounding network capacity.
- Assess duct, cable sizing & jointing feasibility.
- Spine Service Desk
- Resolve routing/escalation queries & unblock delivery delays.
- Guide engineers on routing rules & feasibility.
- Improve processes & record integrity.
- Spine Optimisation
- Review legacy utilisation for efficiency/resilience.
- Support single-fibre aligned redesigns.
- Improve data integrity through record updates.
Education
A-Levels - Welsh Baccalaureate (A), Business Studies (B), Product Design (C)
Whitchurch High School
CardiffGCSEs - English, Maths, Science, Systems & Control (A), Business Studies (A), plus others
Whitchurch High School
CardiffBT Group High Apprenticeship - IT Software, Web & Telecoms Professionals
BT Group
Cardiff 2012.07 - 2015.07
City & Guilds Electrical Installation Level 1 & 2 - Electrical
Coleg Morgannwg
Cardiff 2011.09 - 2012.06
Skills
- 13 years’ experience within network planning
- Fibre network architecture (FTTP, FTTC, Gfast)
- Excellent understanding of Openreach network architecture (legacy & current) — FTTC, FTTP, Spine, Ethernet
- Advanced user of Openreach systems — PIPeR, INS, BerT, NGWFMT etc
- Subject Matter Expert in current & previous roles, including coaching and supporting peers
- Excellent communication skills
- Stakeholder management, internal & external including partners
Additional information
- Keen gym enthusiast, skier, cyclist and golfer (Llanishen Golf Club member).
- Volunteering: Action for Children school renovation, Nazareth House care home garden, Movember fundraising (£1,750 raised).
- Travel: Previous sabbatical covering Dubai, Thailand, Bali & Australia.
Affiliations
- Gym
- Running
- Cycling
Timeline
Network Planner
Openreach
2021.09 - 2026.03
Planning & Design
Openreach
2012.07 - 2021.09
BT Group High Apprenticeship - IT Software, Web & Telecoms Professionals
BT Group
2012.07 - 2015.07
City & Guilds Electrical Installation Level 1 & 2 - Electrical
Coleg Morgannwg
2011.09 - 2012.06
A-Levels - Welsh Baccalaureate (A), Business Studies (B), Product Design (C)
Whitchurch High School
GCSEs - English, Maths, Science, Systems & Control (A), Business Studies (A), plus others
Whitchurch High School